Can I Work for a Company That Sells Various Kinds of Lab Equipment, Including Some That is Used for Genetic Engineering?
Hanafi Fiqh
Answered by Sidi Salman Younas
Question: Dear Sheikh, would it be permissible to work for a science company that sells laboratory equipment of various different kinds, one of which is used for genetic engineering? The job role itself is for the technical help desk.
Answer: assalamu `alaykum
Yes, this would be permissible.
In the Hanafi school, the degrees of assisting another in sin are:
a. direct assistance in sin
b. indirect assistance in sin
c. possible cause for a sin.
It is impermissible (haram) to do something that directly assists in sin, slightly disliked (makruh tanzihan) to do that which indirectly assists in sin, and better to avoid something that may be a possible cause for sin. However, the earnings from work that fall into the latter two categories would remain halal and there would be no sin involved in such work. [Nahlawi, Durar al-Mubaha]
Even assuming that genetic engineering as a whole is impermissible, which is debatable due to the varying aspects this specific science deals with, the job you describe is not directly assisting in facilitating this “sin”. As such, it is permissible and your earnings are halal.
Wassalam
Salman
Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani
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