Series of Answers from the Eminent Scholar Ata bin Khalil Abu Al-Rashtah, Emir of Hizb ut-Tahrir
To Questions from Visitors to His Facebook Page "Fiqhi"
Answer to a Question
Dealing with Actually Belligerent Countries
To Abu Muhammad Salim
The Question:
Peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you
Abu Muhammad Salim
I ask Allah Almighty to keep you in good health and to grant you a mighty victory, and I ask Allah to open all doors of goodness to you.
I address to our Sheikh and beloved, the Emir of Hizb ut-Tahrir, Ata bin Khalil Abu Al-Rashtah, a question in which I say:
A brother asked me about working in a factory in the Burkan settlement for manufacturing containers, and recently a section of this factory has been converted for the benefit of the (Israeli) army and is manufacturing vehicles for transporting electricity generators and things related to the army. Is it permissible to work in this section that manufactures vehicles for the army?
May Allah bless you and reward you with the best of rewards.
May Allah shelter you, grant you victory, protect you, empower you, and make victory and empowerment happen through you. I ask Allah Almighty to protect and safeguard you from all evil and harm.
If it is possible to answer quickly, this would be of your kindness.
The Answer:
Peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you
Regarding the mentioned factory (and recently a section of this factory has been converted for the benefit of the (Israeli) army and is manufacturing vehicles for transporting electricity generators and things related to the army), which is a factory belonging to the Jewish entity, an actually belligerent state... the answer is in two cases:
The first is regarding the Muslims under occupation... and the second is regarding the Muslims outside the occupation...
As for the first, it applies to them the reality of the Muslims who remained in Mecca after the establishment of the state in Medina... so it is permissible for the people of Palestine under the occupation of the Jews to engage in buying and selling... etc., except in work that leads to the strength of the enemy... Likewise, for the Muslim who holds, for example, American citizenship, his ruling is like the Muslims in Mecca who did not emigrate, so it is permissible for them to deal with the land of war in which they reside except in what strengthens the disbelievers against the Muslims according to the verification of the condition.
As for the second, we have previously answered such a matter with multiple answers, including:
Answer to a question on 3/31/2009:
[1- Working directly with actually belligerent countries is not permissible, and likewise, it is not permissible to work with companies of those countries, because the relationship with actual belligerents is a wartime relationship and not a peaceful business relationship.
2- Working with institutions that deal with actually belligerent countries, it is considered:
a- If the project that the institution is undertaking is for the actually belligerent countries, then it is not permissible to work with the institution on this project.
b- If the project that the institution is undertaking is not for the actual belligerents, but rather for the people of the country, such as building a school or constructing a road... then the sin falls on the institution that deals with the actual belligerents, but work is permissible with it on this project as long as the project is not for the belligerent countries...].
Answer to a question on 7/24/2011:
[... Direct contracting with companies and organizations of countries occupying Muslim lands "actually belligerent" is not permissible because it is dealing with actually belligerent countries... As for contracting with the local government or a local organization that is not affiliated with the occupying country, but has a relationship with the occupying country, it is considered:
1- If the local organization's relationship with the occupying country is in military projects, then it is not permissible.
2- If the local organization's relationship with the occupying country is in commercial projects that do not harm the country, then it is permissible, but it is better not to work with it due to the suspicion of causing harm.
3- If the worker works with the local government as an employee, but his employment contract is directly with the occupying country, then it is not permissible.
4- If the worker works with the local government as an employee and his employment contract is with the state itself, then it is permissible if his wage is from the local government, even if the local government takes financial aid from the occupying country.
5- If the worker works with the local government as an employee and his employment contract is with the local government, but he takes his wage directly from the occupying country, then it is not permissible.
As for the evidence for that, it is the rulings of the relationship with actually belligerent countries].
I hope that this is sufficient, and Allah knows best and is most wise.
Your brother, Ata bin Khalil Abu Al-Rashtah
12 Muharram 1447 AH
Corresponding to 07/07/2025 CE
Link to the answer from the Emir's page (may Allah protect him) on:Facebook
