Working on project to translate the Bible into community's language
7-3-2006 | IslamWeb
Question:
My community are working on project under the supervision of the western workers in translating the bible in to our language so that the can be read by them {Rem, There are no Christians in my community at all}.The translators are saying that it is OK to do that since it is a job and ye get paid, and they even come up with may arguments to support their work. What is the Islamic ruling of involving oneself in this kind of activity?
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger 
as well as the of his family and all his companions.
The work that your community is doing is absolutely forbidden; claiming that they get paid for such work is not a sound reason for them to do such work, as the permissibility of the job itself is a condition in permitting undertaking it. This work is forbidden because they help the missionaries in inviting and turning the Muslims, who are brothers in faith for your community members, to Christians. Indeed Allaah forbade helping in sin and transgression as He Says (what means): {And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And fear Allaah; indeed, Allaah is severe in penalty.}[Quran 5:2]. This work is worse because it is not only committing an ordinary sin, rather it is turning Muslims to Christians, and making the Muslims doubt their religion and possibly apostate.
Therefore, the people in the community who are doing this work must immediately stop this job and look for another job. Allaah Says (what means): {And whoever fears Allaah--He will make for him a way out [to his difficulty]. And will provide him from sources he never could imagine.}[Quran 65:2-3]. If they do not do so [i.e. if they do not stop this work], we fear that they will be included in the Saying of Allaah (which means): {That they may bear their own burdens [i.e. sins] in full on the Day of Resurrection and some of the burdens of those whom they misguide without [i.e. by lack of] knowledge. Unquestionably, evil is that which they bear.}[Quran 16:25].
Allaah Knows best.