Receiving An Internship Through Someone Referring Me

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

I wanted to know the ruling about getting an internship through another person, i.e., a reference. I don’t know whether this affects others as I am not sure whether people have applied there or not or how many have. Would it be alright for me to be an intern in such a place and receive payment if offered?

Answer

I pray you are well.

Yes, it would be permissible to accept this internship. There has been no lying or deception on your part, and the employer is permitted to choose whoever he wants based on whatever criteria he chooses.

Many a time, people use deceptive means to gain positions such as this. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) forbade this, telling us that deception is not the way of the Believer: “Whoever deceives us is not from us.” (Muslim)

May Allah grant you every success.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim
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.