I am an engineer working in a microelectronic company. This company produces electronic chips to be used in many fields: televisions, computers, mobile phones, planes, cars and satellites. There is mixing between men and women in my work as well, which can not be avoided in my country. But all praise be to Allah who blessed me with righteous companions at work. We advise one another to adhere to our Islamic teachings. My question is: is my earnings halal? Please guide and advise.
Firstly:
We ask Allaah to help you, guide you and make you steadfast, and we advise you to carry on cooperating in righteousness and piety, and striving to spread goodness, and calling people to it by whatever means are available.
Secondly:
Working in mixed workplaces leads to negative and harmful effects that are obvious to everyone, but the one who is faced with this problem and cannot find any other job, should fear Allaah, lower his gaze, avoid being alone with a member of the opposite sex or shaking hands, and avoid the causes of fitnah and evil. He should try hard to look for another job where he will be able to protect his religious commitment, even if it is for a lower salary, because protecting one’s religious commitment takes precedence over protecting one’s life and wealth. See question no. 50398.
Thirdly:
If the company is producing numerous kinds of chips, some of which are used in computers and others in airplanes, and a third in TVs and satellite dishes, etc, then avoid working with those that have to do with TVs and satellite dishes, because in most cases they are used for sinful purposes, whether watching or listening. Anything that is mostly used for sinful purposes, it is not permissible to help people with it, by manufacturing, repairing, installing or selling, except to someone who it is known will use it for permissible purposes. See question no. 39744.
If the system produces chips that may be used in all these applications (TVs, computers, cars, etc), then there is nothing wrong with working in the production thereof, because they are more often used for permissible purposes.
And Allaah knows best.
