Wednesday, 29 April 2026 (12 Dhuʻl-Qiʻdah 1447 AH)
Question: An employee in the army works at the border between two states. He takes the utmost care to avoid wronging anyone or assisting in the oppression of anyone; indeed, he often helps those who are trying to evade (the authorities) and assists them in evasion. Is there any blame upon him for this work?
The answer – and success is from Allah: If the employee’s work is as described, then there is no sin upon him, if Allah wills. That is because working with an oppressor is not prohibited in and of itself, but (only) due to the corrupt consequences that may result from it. An employee who does not help the oppressor in his oppression, nor assist in wronging anyone, does not fall under the threat that has been reported regarding oppressors and the helpers of oppressors.
Supporting this is the fact that many of the righteous Companions assumed certain posts under some oppressors. And some of the Imams of the Prophet’s family (Peace be upon them) held the office of naqīb al-Ṭālibiyyīn (head of the Ṭālibid clan) in the time of Banū al-ʿAbbās, before calling to the Imamate.
What is better and safer, however, is to keep away from that. For this reason, Imām al-Qāsim ibn Ibrāhīm (Peace be upon him) did not accept the gifts of oppressors, nor was he content to do what would give them comfort, such as correspondence and the like.
Source: Min Thimār al-ʿIlm wa al-Ḥikmah vol.2