Question
I am a civil engineer employed at a multi-national consulting engineering company. I work as a structural engineer; my job entails structural design of buildings in general. Simply put, I need to ensure that the building is structurally sound and safe. Typically I calculate loads on different elements of the buildings (eg foundations, beams, columns etc) and design these elements accordingly.
My query is as follows:
I have recently being asked by my manager to be involved in the design of a proposed new church. The church is still in pre conception stage, and I would be required to roughly calculate the loads and give an estimate of the sizes of different structural elements, as well provide some preliminary drawings to quantify these.
Should the structure go ahead, I would be required to do a detailed design of the structure as well as attend meetings and do site inspections.
Is it permissible for me to work on this project? Due work resourcing it is not possible for anyone else in the office to work on this at this stage. Note that I will only be designing the structure, not any idols etc.
Answer
Being an engineer is not contrary to the teachings of Islam, however being involved in projecting and designing a building (such as a church) wherein the disobedience of Allah will be advocated surely is out of the bounds and limits of Shari’at. This ruling has been issued by Hadhrat Mufti Taqi Uthmani (madda zillahu).
We thus advise that you approach your manager to absolve you from being part of such projects.
Checked and Approved By:
Mufti Muhammed Saeed Motara Saheb D.B.
References
لا يجوز لمهندس مسلم أن يصمم معابد الكفار لقوله تعالى:(وتعاونوا على البر و التقوى ولا تعاونوا على الأثم و العدوان)
بحوث فی قضا افقهية المعاصرة ص ۳۴۵