Can I Work as a Copyeditor and Edit Non-Islamic Religious Words?
Hanafi Fiqh
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
I format books for non-Muslim clients, and I occasionally see the words of Jesus, Bible quotes, and Christmas in their books; am I allowed to do this when formatting books?
Please understand my services first. I format and layout the book by adding fonts, page numbers, headers, table of contents, and so on, and I make the book according to Amazon requirements before they upload it, or sometimes I upload it.
I am a Muslim, but in 50% of the books, I find religious words, bible quotes, Christian religious concepts, or Christmas greetings. Sometimes I see only a few words, and other times I find many, so can I do it or not? Please respond.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
I pray you are well. Thank you for your question.
There are two types of work:
- Work that requires one to directly assist in the prohibited, such that one has a direct role in choosing the work, such work is not permitted.
- Work, which is an indirect association in the prohibited, like in your case, the job in itself is permissible, but certain tasks may involve indirectly assisting in impermissible acts, then the ruling is given that it is permissible even if disliked (makruh). [Usmani, Fiqh al-Buyu’]
This is because the formatting is like “delivering a job,” while the choice is from the one who sent the work.
Caution
If it is causing you anxiety, try to speak to the employer and carry out tasks that do not fall in the above category.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Leave what makes you doubt for what does not make you doubt.” [Tirmidhi]
Linked Answer
indirect assistance in sin Archives – SeekersGuidance
What Are the Principles of Work and Assisting in Sin? [Video] – SeekersGuidance
Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersGuidance?
I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey. He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete the hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled in an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for several years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to children and adults onsite and online extensively in the UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences. He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His interest is a love of books and gardening.
