Working in a bank, being a broker or selling alcohol or pork… Here is a list of occupations that would be prohibited by Islam. A long, very long list, where all sectors seem prohibited by religion. Added to this are other functions such as lawyer, judge, tattoo artist, beautician or hairdresser, artist, singer and even model. It would also be forbidden to work in insurance or to be a dance teacher.
Initially published in early May on Facebook by the “Young Patriotic Influencers” account, the list in video form has been shared more than 4,000 times on the social network. Other similar claims can also be found on several blogs and forums. But is it really true? 20 minutes pondered the question.
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First of all, it’s a safe bet that this list of trades is obsolete since some trades listed do indeed exist in countries considered to be Muslim. It’s hard to imagine a society, for example, without a lawyer, judge, banker or even a hairdresser.
But we couldn’t just stop there. So we interviewed Tareq Oubrou, essayist and imam of France. Are there really professions forbidden by Islam? “Above all, there is one principle, that of the ethics of the person in question. For example, there are Muslims who forbid themselves to work in armaments or in trades related to pollution, ”he says. Before emphasizing: “We can have the same religion and different interpretations of ethics”.
“Ideas not always founded”
When we talk about orthopraxy, that is to say the practice of rites and the conduct to be respected, there are therefore different practices. “Like Catholicism, like Judaism”, compares Tareq Oubrou. But according to him, there would exist on social networks “a mass orthopraxy”. “These are ideas that are not always well-founded, or readings of canon law that come from another country, another age, another culture”.
Take the case of a business that sells alcohol. Ethically, a Muslim would refrain from working there because he does not consume it. But here there are several exceptions depending on the need and the context. “If his economic situation does not allow him for example”, quotes Tareq Oubrou. “There is the rule, but there is also its application according to the people, the necessities and the needs”. Also, another interpretation aims to demonstrate that it is possible to sell alcohol for a non-Muslim, without consuming it.
In the list, some prohibited professions remain doubtful, even improbable. “Working in banks is nonsense. They live in a world that never existed,” exults Tareq Oubrou. Following this logic, the essayist questions: “If it is forbidden to work in a bank, why put your money there? “. He thus calls for consistency and also for a broader knowledge of canon law, especially on the part of these misinforming accounts.