He cannot find any work except renovating churches

Question 36524

I am a civil engineer who has recently graduated. I have tried hard to look for work but I could not find anything, until I found a job three months ago in the office of one of my Christian professors. The project in hand involves doing research in order to restore ancient churches.
My God! What should I do? For the first opportunity in my life, should I stay home or go to work? I worked with him for three months then I left after I got fed up with him and the work. I continued to try hard to look for work and I found another job, but they let me go after three months without giving any real reason. Please tell me whether I made a mistake by leaving the first job after Allaah had blessed me with it, or was it a test for me from Allaah?.

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

You should praise Allaah for saving you from this calamity at a time of respite (i.e., in this world when you still have an opportunity to repent), because this work of renovating churches is one of the worst types of work, because it is helping in one of the greatest evils, namely disbelief in Allaah and His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).

The Standing Committee was asked about the Muslim who works in construction: is it permissible for him to build a church? He replied:

It is not permissible for a Muslim who believes in Allaah and the Last Day to build a church or any place of worship that is not based on Islam with which Allaah sent Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), because that is one of the most serious forms of helping kufr and manifesting its symbols. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Help you one another in Al‑Birr and At‑Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression”

[al-Maa'idah 5:2]

And Allaah is the Source of help.

Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 14/482.

The Committee also issued a fatwa stating that it is haraam to work as a guard or watchman for a church, because that is helping in sin.

Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah.

So praise Allaah and ask Him for a good and halaal provision. Remember that whoever gives up something for the sake of Allaah, Allaah will compensate him with something better than that.

“And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty).

And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine”

[al-Talaaq 65:2-3 – interpretation of the meaning]

Try to look for permissible work, and ask Allaah to give you strength, and do not give up.

Do not forget that no soul dies until it has had its full provision, sooner or later.

We ask Allaah to bestow His favour and generosity upon you and to make you independent of means by His bounty.

And Allaah knows best.

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He cannot find any work except renovating churches

Question 36524

Answer