What Precautions Should One Take to Earn Halal Money as an Interior Designer?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

I’m a UK final-year interior design student, and I’m now worried that my future jobs will be directly involved in sin and that my degree will be useless.

Companies or people approach interior design companies to design their space or business, e.g., restaurants, clothes shops, bars, offices, etc.

Being an interior designer includes and is not limited to deciding where to place things, for example, which area of a building should the kitchen, bar, reception, etc., be. Designing those areas in a lot of detail, for example, how far the cooker is from the fridge to creating bespoke items and more, choosing furniture and materials, etc.

Would being an interior designer be a haram profession?

Answer

Your job will be permissible, and so will your income. There is nothing haram about your role. What people do with the place afterward is up to them. [Maydani, al-Lubab]

You should, however, intend to design a place where suitable activities will take place and where Allah will be worshipped in such a place. The is a narration from the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) which states, “The intention of a believer reaches further than his deeds do.” [Bayhaqi]

This can even be when you’re designing a bar. I’ve been to Islamic conferences held in hotels where the lessons were broadcast in the room that is usually the bar. There is no alcohol present at the time, but the words of Allah and His Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) resonate there and benefit people.

May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.