Follow the law as long as it does not contradict Islam

12-10-2003 | IslamWeb

Question:

In my country to do a small business we need to get government approval and need a license. I intend to sell ice cream from home to some children who always play near my house where there is a playground. I am not going to get any license or approval. Is it Halal or Haram to sell food which is going to be in a minor quantity in this case? Am I committing a sin of this? Please explain in details. I am just doing this to supplement my income.

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

A person should respect the laws of the government, if they are for public interest and if they do not contradict Islamic Shariah rules. If they contradict Islamic Shariah rules then one should not follow them. If the government imposed this law to ensure that only valid and healthy goods are sold to the public in order to guarantee the safety of the public and make sure that no harmful things are sold to them, then every Muslim must abide by such a law. If such a law is imposed only to collect the taxes or to take part of the income, in this case businessmen can evade payment of such taxes (if the government is not providing services against them), if it does not cause any greater harm such as punishment, imprisonment, fine, etc. If one fears of such treatments then one should avoid this because a Muslim is not allowed to expose himself to humiliation.

Allah knows best.