I am offered a job in a company with very good benefits. My part is to do research with pig embryos in the company's laboratory. The ultimate objective of my research is to improve the production and genetic quality of pigs (i.e. more pigs with good meat characteristics) to the market for human food consumption. In other words, the source of my salary comes from the consumption of pig meat (pork) which is haram. My question is: Is this money halal and I can take the job, or should I decline it? I apreciate your quick response to give my word. Jazakumu Allahu Khairun.
The meat of pigs is haraam for the Muslim because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Say (O Muhammad): ‘I find not in that which has been revealed to me anything forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it, unless it be Maytah (a dead animal) or blood poured forth (by slaughtering or the like), or the flesh of swine (pork); for that surely, is impure or impious (unlawful) meat (of an animal) which is slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allaah (or has been slaughtered for idols, or on which Allaah’s Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering). But whosoever is forced by necessity without wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits; (for him) certainly, your Lord is Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful.’” [al-An’aam 6:145]
Buying it and selling it are also forbidden.
It was reported from Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah (may Allaah be pleased with them both) that he heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say during the year of the Conquest [of Makkah] when he was in Makkah: “Allaah and His Messenger have forbidden the sale of alcohol, dead meat, pork and idols.” It was said: “O Messenger of Allaah, what about the fat of dead animals, which is daubed on ships and animal skins, and which people use in their lamps?” He said, “No, it is haraam.” Then the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “May Allaah curse the Jews, for when Allaah forbade the fat (of dead animals) for them, they melted it then they sold it and consumed its price.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 2121; Muslim, 1581).
When Allaah forbids a thing, He forbids its price. Similarly, the means to something haraam is also haraam; the means comes under the same rulings as the end. It is not permissible for a Muslim to help evildoers in their evil. He is obliged as much as possible to come between them and their evil, and try to prevent them from doing that, not to improve the haraam thing and help to develop it.
Would you like to be the means of improving and making haraam things attractive and encouraging people to do them, so that you are helping to spread them further? I think you would reply: I do not want for myself anything that my Creator would not be pleased with, I will not work for falsehood, no matter what they pay me. Provision is in the hand of Allaah, so you must look for other, permissible, work. We ask Allaah to give you sufficient from what He has permitted so there will be no need of that which He has forbidden. May He make us independent by His bounty so that we will have no need of anything else.