Fatwa #1961422 November 2011India
Can my non muslim worker work during Jumuah salah in my shop?
Question
1. Our business is based in Mumbai in India. We have two non-muslim employees and one Muslim employee. They are the ones who handle all the transactions and business activities. We look into the accounts at night after closing time. Our interference is only of providing the goods to sell (bread, jam, butter, cheese etc). The Muslim worker is on night duty and the non-muslims work during the day. I have heard that all businesses should close down from the time of Jumah adhaan. We used to shut down but when I asked a local Alim, he said it is allowed for us to keep our business open as we are not standing at the counter selling, our workers are. What is the correct ruling?
2. Should we close down our business in Ramadhan at day-time? (Since we are selling eatables). Please clarify the above queries, Jazakallah
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
1. It will be permissible for you to keep your shop open after the Jumua῾h adhān. Your non-muslim employees are working at that time and they have no obligation of Jumua῾h salah.[1] [2]
2. It will be permissible for you to keep your shop open throughout Ramadhān during the day-time.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
[1] بأن من لم تجب عليه الجمعة مستثنى من الحكم كما في القهستاني يعني من لم تجب عليهما معا أما إذا وجبت على أحدهما دون الآخر أثما جميعا لأن الأول ارتكب النهي والثاني أعانه عليه
حاشية الطحاوي على مراقي الفلاح, ص.٣٣٥, المطبعة الكبرى الأميرية
...[2] أَنْ يَكُونَ الْمُشْتَغِل بِالْبَيْعِ مِمَّنْ تَلْزَمُهُ الْجُمُعَةُ، فَلاَ يَحْرُمُ الْبَيْعُ عَلَى الْمَرْأَةِ وَالصَّغِيرِ وَالْمَرِيضِ، بَل نَصَّ الْحَنَفِيَّةُ عَلَى أَنَّ هَذَا النَّهْيَ قَدْ خُصَّ مِنْهُ مَنْ لاَ جُمُعَةَ عَلَيْهِ
الموسوعة الفقهية الكويتية, ج.٩, ص.٢٢٥, وزارة الأوقاف والشئون الإسلامية