Fraternal Organizations and Cults

Question: Is it permissible to be part of a fraternal organization? Is it permissible to deal with people who are part of a fraternal organization?

Answer:

Wa alaykum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

Dear questioner,

Thank you for your important question.

Allah Most High has said, ‘By time, indeed, mankind is in loss, except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience’ (Qur’an, 103).

And He has said, ‘Help one another in good and righteous works, and do not help one another in sin and transgression’ (Qur’an, 5: 2).

Any organization, fraternity, sorority, group, clique, or what have you that calls to belief in Islam and abidance by the Sacred Law and cooperates to further such goals is good. An example of this would be Tablighi Jamaat.

Any of the above that calls to disbelief and sin, and helps to facilitate disbelief and sin, is bad. An example of this could be a Satanist group. To actively and wholeheartedly be a part of such an organization when their sole aim is to promote disbelief, is disbelief.

To be part of such an organization is sinful if all they work towards is sin. An example of this could be organizations that facilitate international interest loans. To passively deal with such members of such organizations in a way that does not promote their agendas is permissible.

Any organization, fraternity, sorority, group, clique, etc. that simply gathers people, their efforts, or their wealth together for some worldly cause that is neither sinful (haram) nor reprehensive (makruh) is permissible. An example of this could be the Chocolate Society.

As for specific societies and their specific goals, and individuals specific interactions with those societies, it is the responsibility of the questioner to research that.

I pray this helps.

[Ustadh] Farid

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Farid Dingle has completed extensive years of study in the sciences of the Arabic language and the various Islamic Sciences. During his studies, he also earned a CIFE Certificate in Islamic Finance. Over the years he has developed a masterful ability to craft lessons that help non-Arabic speakers gain a deep understanding of the language. He currently teaches courses in the Arabic Language