Working in a multi-national corporation

Question:
Somebody has informed me that all multi-national corporations (MNCs) are agents of the Western powers, who are pursuing a particularly anti-Islam agenda, that they are unethical in nature, and therefore, as good Muslims, we should neither have business with them nor should we join them as their employees. What do you say about this opinion?

Response:
As Muslims, we are asked to always remain positive. We are not allowed to have negative opinions about others unless we can prove something objectively. We are required to cooperate in everything good and to not cooperate in anything bad. This requirement, according to the Qur'an, is expected to be fulfilled even in the case of those people who are our religious enemies. The Almighty wants us to be fair in deciding about all worldly matters and to pursue the path of justice even if it favours our enemies and goes against our own interest, the interest of our parents, or relatives. The Qur'an says:

"Believers, be dutiful to Allah and bearers of just witness. Do not allow your hatred for other men turn you away from justice. Deal justly; it is nearer to true piety. Have fear of Allah; He knows what you do." (5:8)

"Believers, conduct yourselves with justice and bear true witness before Allah, even though it be against yourselves, your parents, or your kinsfolk." (4:135)

The enmity of the Jews of Madinah with prophet, alaihissalaam, was quite open and yet Muslims were not expected to discontinue trading with them. In fact, it said that at the time of the prophet's death, he had one of his assets with a Jew from whom he had borrowed money. The reason for this attitude is that the prophet was the bearer of truth. He had the obligation of disseminating the truth to all people without any discrimination save the ones about whom the Almighty had informed him that they were incorrigible disbelievers who would never believe. How could one preach and influence
others positively if one were to spread malicious, negative propaganda against the very people who are to be preached the message of God?

Unfortunately, our traditionalist Muslims have a negative mindset against the non-Muslims. In the traditionalist jurisprudence (fiqh), the world of ours has been divided into two parts: Darul-Islam (the land of Islam) and Darul-Harb (the land of war). This is a seriously misleading analysis of our world from an Islamic point of view. If we were to divide our world into two parts according to the Qur'an, those parts would be Darul-Islam and Darul-Da'wah (the land of people who are to be invitated to Islam). We have to live in this world positively as good individuals and good Muslims, and thus, be effective models of our great religion, the religion that is meant for all, not just the Muslims.

Unfortunately the gentleman who has tried to pollute your mind against the MNCs is a traditionalist who takes what his elders say more seriously than what has been mentioned in the Qur'an and Sunnah. I would advise you to ignore what he says and choose a good career for yourself. Avoid anything that is directly against the Shari'ah; be a good employee; be good to others - Muslims as well as non-Muslims; be always fair in your dealings with others; and avoid the company of all those people who have a negative
mindset about others. In other words, be a good Muslim.

May Allah enable you to have the best of both worlds.

Views: 424