Working for Insurance Companies
Commercial insurance contracts are unlawful in Islam and making contracts or promoting them is not permissible unless one cannot find any other legitimate job, and that he intends to change his job the soonest.
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Working for the Government
It is permissible to a Muslim to work in the departments and institutions of a non-Muslim government such as the nuclear or strategic studies as long as this does not harm Muslims and is likely to bring benefit.
Working for the Tax Department
Working for the Tax department in a non-Muslim country has become very common. It is permissible if this is with the intention to maintain fairness. It is also preferable to change this job the earliest possible.
Working in Accountancy
Working in accountancy is lawful unless it serves a forbidden business. If permissible and forbidden work is mixed, they are weighted and a decision it taken whether to continue or leave at the first opportunity.
Working for Usurious Banks
The main ruling is that it is prohibited to work in usurious banks and this applies to whoever works in such banks. But an exception has been made in case of necessity for jobs that are not dealing directly with usury.
Working as an Estate Agent
To work as estate agent is permissible as long as the deals are lawful from Islamic point of view. If the work may lead to something forbidden but the majority of agency business is lawful an exception has been made.
Working in Construction
It is not permissible to work on the architecture of buildings that will be used for forbidden purposes. If it is not possible to work elsewhere and the forbidden activities are rare then an exception is made.
Working as a Taxi Driver
In non-Muslim countries a Muslim can work as a cap driver and take any passengers carrying forbidden things unless the passenger declares that he is transporting unlawful stuff or will commit a forbidden act.
Operating a Franchise or Restaurant Selling Forbidden Food
It is not permissible for a Muslim living in non-Muslim country to apply for franchise or agency that sells forbidden items. It is only possible if he has a non-Muslim partner who will own and manage this part.
Leasing a Property to Install Cash Machines
A Muslim living in non-Muslim country can lease a space of land to a bank to install cash machines. This is permissible as the machines are a tool mostly used to obtain cash on spot drawing it from one’s account.
Selling to Customers Using Credit Cards
Paying for goods using credit card instead of people carrying cash is perfectly permissible in Islam as long as this transaction is lawful. Nothing can be cited to prohibit buying and selling with credit cards.
Working in a Jewellery Shop
Working or investing in jewelry shops is permissible as long as conditions outlined in Islam are observed such as the jewelry don’t have any figurines or engravings belonging to creeds that are contrary to Islam.
Selling Forbidden Articles at Petrol Stations
It is forbidden to work or to invest in a shop selling prohibited things like lottery tickets. If something is forbidden then its price is forbidden and it is prohibited to sell it as this helps people to commit sins.
Letting a Shop to a Person Selling Some Forbidden Articles
If a Muslim living in non-Muslim country rents his shop to someone and the lessee business is mostly permissible but he sells some prohibited articles then the fault in this arrangement is born by the lessee alone.
Insurance
Cooperative insurance is permissible, but commercial insurance is not as it involves acts like usury. It is accepted in case of necessity but it is better to establish Insurance companies with Islamic patterns.
Buying a House with a Usurious Loan
Contemporary scholars have two different views on mortgage; the majority forbids it as it involves usury. The other says it is possible in case it is for personal residence and no other place is available to live.
Giving Bank Interest to Charity
Taking interest from the bank and paying it for charity is subjected to different views; the first says it is prohibited to save money in usurious bank. The other says the interest could be taken and paid to charity.
Partnership with non-Muslims
In principle partnership is permissible. In case the other partner is a non-Muslim; the project must be run by the Muslim partner and care must be taken so that this partnership does not lead to what God has forbidden
Receiving Unemployment Benefit When in Work
Some countries give unemployed citizens statutory benefits. It is forbidden to exploit this if they are working and earning wages unless the earnings are within the low-pay limits allowed by the government.
Student Loans
It is permissible for Muslim students to receive government students’ loans from non-Muslim countries during their studies if it is ascertain that the amount will be repaid without any interest incurred.