Yasir Qadhi – Regarding Working for the Security Services of My Country – Ask Shaykh YQ #180

			This question actually is very sensitive. And I was wondering even to this or not, but obviously,
these are the questions that are necessary for people to know and to understand. And so Bismillah,
let's do this now, brother wishes to remain anonymous, you'll see why he writes from a European
country, which I will not mention by name. And he says that he's being offered a job, governmental
job that is suited for his talents, he likes it, it's skill set is perfect for him. He likes it.
However, it is in the branch of law enforcement that is equivalent to the elite of the security
apparatus, the highest level of security. So this isn't just a normal policeman. This is the elite
		

			of the police right there. Maybe in America, we have the FBI, for example, right. And he said that
his job will involve lots of things that are of a societal nature, tackling all types of crimes,
drugs, the mafia. And also he says, This is why he's asking me also issues related to terrorism and
monitoring radical groups. And he says that he has been told by some of the people in his community
that he should not take this job because he will be spying on Muslims, because he will be doing
something that is, he has been told an ethical
		

			one.
		

			I mean, Kobe league in Asia learn no hate, hey, lay him first.
		

			Recovery.
		

			Now, this is a very, very sensitive question, to be honest, and I'm not going to answer you haraam
or Helen, I'm simply make a discussion that I want you to think about these factors. And I asked you
to go to a scholar of your own land, who number one is well grounded in our Islamic tradition. And
number two is well grounded in reality as well, right? Because, again, we have all different types
of aroma. And for these questions, we do need to go to those scholars who are
		

			cognizant of living in the lives that we live in, and are connected to the communities and are not,
you know, living somewhat isolated from the struggles of the average people and somewhat cut off
from the realities. Because in the end of the day, you know, it's very easy to be a bubble, and a
marginalized, you know, a religious community on the fringes of society. And, you know, I see, you
know, why people would do that, but those types of people are not the best suited to answer these
sensitive questions, go to those that are a little bit more connected to the intricacies of how your
country is working, and the protocols of how change is going to take place. And you will find the
		

			shallow odema like this now. Go to them for your specific answer I'm going to speak to generically,
and so I'm not going to give you a hot almond head, I'm just going to give you some things to think
about. So firstly, obviously, as a Muslim, to, to to tackle the the larger crime issues, you know,
to tackle the mafia, drug gangs, violence, you know, or with, with, with a black child, you know,
evil then you get to talk about and, you know, trafficking, to tackle these things. Alhamdulillah No
problem, you'll get a double reward, you know, I mean, get your salary and, and, and for the sake of
Allah subhanho wa Taala makes society better. We don't want violent criminals, we don't want to drug
		

			gangs, we don't want people that are harming other people, and you know,
		

			extortion and bribery and whatnot. So all of this that is general crimes against society. And these
are crimes in the Sharia and crimes in society, in sha Allah, make your intention pure and and take
and take these these projects and expect Allah to reward you for doing some good service to the
community. No problem over there. However, as you pointed out, sometimes and perhaps because of your
skill set, and because perhaps because of your background, you will be asked to get involved in the
more sensitive issues of these radical, you know, elements and the jihadist groups and, and whatnot.
And this is where it gets extremely awkward. So I say and I have been saying this since post 911. I
		

			have not changed my tune at all. This has been my consistent mess message. And I have lived through
post 911 America I have lived through from the 2000s five since I came back from Medina, when all of
these terrorist groups were around when America invaded Iraq and in Afghanistan and Guantanamo. And
all of this happened in the rise of all of these movements came and they were
		

			And my message has been consistent. And I asked all of you to listen to my lectures, the same
message comes. And of course, the, it's a longer message. But in that message, I will always say
that what our own country is doing of its foreign policy and its invasions. And its Guantanamo. And
its, you know, other practices. You know, even people like Chomsky was not even a Muslim, they say
this is, you know, far worse than any terrorism that these other groups are doing. And the number of
deaths that these invasions, cause. And the flagrant abuse and and mis abuse of human rights, and
the the wanton destruction of peoples and civilizations, this is a crime that is far bigger than
		

			anything that these sub, you know, national groups are doing as a response. And the fact of the
matter is that pretty much all of these types of groups that are coming about they are the backlash
of the policies of the super powers. So I always begin and premise with that this is not an
exoneration at all of the foreign policy of the very lines that we live in, they have
		

			themselves caused so much harm and damage, and the backlash of these invasions, these are part of
what we are seeing here. Nonetheless, with all of that having been said, with all of them having
been said, I have always been consistent in this regard, even though it has caused a lot of
irritation and anger from the, from some of the segments of the Muslim community, that no matter
what is happening over there, it is not allowed for us Muslims over here to harm anybody in our
lands, it is not allowed. two wrongs do not make a right. And the classical things that are quoted
in the books of fic do not apply in the modern construct of the nation states. And that's why
		

			mainstream fuqaha across all them, and across all the globe, and across all of the mainstream
movements have not justified these terrorist movements, the actual terrorists that are, you know,
bombing, you know, people in western cities and, and doing these things, no mainstream scholar, no
reputable scholar has justified this, what is happening over there in Iraq, and Afghanistan and
Guantanamo are massive crimes against humanity. And they are acts of terrorism in and of themselves.
But that does not in any shape, or fashion justify what some people have attempted to do or want to
do, in our lands against innocent people, innocent civilians, and therefore, I said this very clear
		

			actually said this. Long stories I have with the hot tub, I have had lots of experience with these
types of movements. And it has caused some issues for me as well. But I have maintained this, and
I'm gonna say this, again, I said this literally 17 years ago, when I first came here, this this
statement, I said it and it caused a huge controversy back then. And it might even cause it now. But
it doesn't matter. This is what I believe that if I knew of such an attack, and if I had knowledge
of people wanting to do this in our soils, to people in our land over here, I personally would do
everything in my power to prevent that. Including without a moment's hesitation, getting the law
		

			enforcement involved, calling them myself, making sure that nothing like this happened because I
genuinely believe that it is a crime in the eyes of Allah subhanho wa Taala to take these innocent
lives and to do something that's going to harm people. And I believe that the harm that comes to
those innocent people add to the religion of Islam and to the reputation of our Muslim community,
and to the laws themselves of this of the backlash is gonna happen. It's simply without any without
even hesitation, we say that this is simply how long and sinful and unethical and immoral and a huge
problem the damages that it does, is far, far infinitely, you know, greater than any good that these
		

			people because I don't think results in any good, but in their minds, it does. So why do I say all
of this because if your job if your job involved, actually targeting those people, ie the real
terrorists, I will say no problem. Mr. Miller, go for it. Of course, why should we not we should be
at the forefront of making sure that none of these types of actual terrorists that want to kill
innocent people blow up buildings, take a machine gun and mow people down in the name of our
religion. No, never. We will be the first to stop that. And we will work with anybody to make sure
that that does not happen. But dear brother, this is theory. As for reality, reality is radically
		

			different than theory. And this is where the problem comes. You see, realistically in practice, the
problem comes that pretty much all Western nations
		

			America, Canada, your European countries, pretty much all of them, their policing force their you
know, FBI equivalents basically have gone overboard. They've lost the plot. They've acted with a
rashness of foolishness, foolishness that is actually counterproductive and unethical, and actually
ends up harming innocent people, and in trapping innocent people and jailing innocent people and
terrorizing communities for the wrong reason. So we have a difference between theory and between
practice, in theory, we are at the forefront against the actual crazy people, the actual radical,
the actual lunatics, the actual French, you know, pseudo jihad, as we call them, no problem, we
		

			should be at the forefront. But the problem comes to your brother that, in practice, these
governments cannot tell the difference, or they don't wish to tell the difference between, let's
say, a conservative Muslim, who's a pacifist, and somebody who is an actual threat to society. And
so a lot of problems come because of these agencies. First and foremost, again, where does one begin
the secret of surveillance and the monitoring of innocent Muslims? Not there's no problem. If you
genuinely are going to monitor a terrorist, there's no problem. But to throw the the net as it were
so wide, and to encompass the entire Muslim community, or the entire mustard going community, or
		

			anybody who's praying five times a day, or anybody who has a beard or has a hijab, we're reading the
Quran. And all the while ignoring the far right terrorists and the white supremist terrorists and
the local domestic terrorists, because they're one of us, basically. And we have seen in America
time and time again, the FBI itself for the last six years has said the number one threat to
American on American soil is far right, right wing national white terrorists. That's the number one
threat. And yet still, it is the Muslim community that is being monitored more than those four right
groups. Why? Because again, the problem is in the practice, also, the problem of criminalizing
		

			legitimate dissent. In other words, we clearly see that people of a certain race and background will
get away with certain things with criticizing with vocally, you know, protesting, whereas people
with, you know, different background, Muslims and skin color names and beards, the same things being
done will be considered criminal. And a simple example of this is France, where it is now a criminal
offence, a criminal offence to verbally disagree verbally disagree with the publication of those
blasphemers cartoons. Yes, what happened afterwards was a crime, and nobody should have been killed.
And I've said they have all heard about this. But can't I say that I was insulted by the cartoons
		

			and I'm also insulted by this Muslim who killed Yes, both of these I can condemn canta condemned
both. But according to French law, if I were in France, I'm not even allowed to say that I disagree
with the publication. I'm not allowed to say that was not something that it's just something that
ethics the norm says you should not do socially, not legally. And still I'm not allowed to say that.
So we and the same here in America is that what happened was that legitimate dissent, legitimate
criticism that the First Amendment allows allows, was perceived to be terroristic in nature, and
people were thrown into jail people I know were thrown into jail simply because they said something
		

			first amendment issues, they said something or translated something and this was deemed to be in and
of itself, you know, terroristic. And all the while, of course, the far right does what it is doing,
it actually engages in military training. And, you know, and and, you know, doing things of nature
that are far more dangerous, but they're given a complete leeway to do so. Also, we see over here,
another major problem of these agencies is that they do not will invite, look, it's been 20 years
since 911 21 years, if you're still going to remain ignorant, you have chosen to remain ignorant.
And most of these agencies have chosen to remain ignorant. The the average Muslim can tell you that,
		

			you know, the conservative, you know, religious crowd, the majority, the vast majority of them are
pacifist, they're only interested in their own lives and their families. They're not going to be a
threat. But most most agencies in the Western world are going to view conservative religious
sentiment with suspicion of terrorism. So somebody who starts to pray regularly, somebody who, you
know, wants to wear their hijab, a sister wants to wear the hijab or niqab. The brother wants to,
you know, do something extra religious, all of a sudden, they think, oh, because he's praying or
because he's going to the masjid. This is a sign he's on his way to become radical on his way to
		

			become terrorists. And that's obviously completely unethical and immoral and of course,
		

			The issue of guilt by association, which has never done on other people, how many are the criminals,
and how many are the terrorists in other groups, and just because they're walking around and meeting
people, they will all don't get become associated. But in the Muslim community, you know, any one
person who's accused, anybody around him automatically becomes a person of suspicion. And of course,
perhaps the worst of all of these are the blatant policies of entrapment, that pretty much all
Western Secret Service institutions have done, including the FBI. And I've criticized this multiple
times directly, by the way to the FBI agents that I've had to sometimes they come and interview me
		

			and speak, I've always said to this, them, this is your most nefarious tactic that is turning people
away from even wanting to help you in any fashion or form, you should help the Muslim community and
they will help you back and don't criminalize religiosity, and do not entrap innocent people, which
is one of their worst tactics, which is basically take somebody who's typically mentally not normal,
and then, you know, bring about a whole plot to push and coax him to do something illegal, he would
never even thought of the plot, much less cotton, the equipment, much less do something where it not
for millions of dollars spent by dozens of FBI agents, in order to trap this young boy, he typically
		

			1920 years old, and then gets a life sentence or 25 years in jail simply because, you know, an FBI
agent walked into the mosque and decided that's the kid, I want to try to interrupt. And if you're
involved in something like this, then I wouldn't be shame on anybody shame on anybody who thinks
that that is going to be of benefit. So the problem I do brother is not in the theoretical, in the
theoretical notion of tackling actual terrorism. If that were the case, I would be the first to say,
Yes, we should be at the forefront. And you know what, despite all that they're doing and despite
all of their ludicrous tactics, still, for the sake of my religion, if I were to know of something,
		

			I would try to prevent it for the sake of my Lord, not for the sake of tit for tat, I don't care
about you know, their tactics in the eyes of Allah, they have to answer but I have to answer to my
Lord as well. And if I know of someone or something that is going to genuinely be, you know,
harmful, then I will be the first to to try to stop that. But again, as I said, there is a
difference between theory and practice. Now, I'm sure, my dear brother, that you're going to say,
oh, but I'm going to join them in order to change their policy in order to bring about a sensible
policy in order to help them target the right, you know, people and not the wrong people. And to
		

			this, I say, I appreciate that sentiment. I'm just skeptical. That's all. That's all I will say, I
appreciate that sentiment. But I feel that it is somewhat naive to think that You alone are going to
enter an established organization and from the bottom, you know, change it immediately. And somebody
can argue, counter argue to this and say, Well, how else is change is going to happen? And to that I
say, you know, I I sympathize with that sentiment as well. So I that's why I'm not going to give you
a blanket answer of yes or no. I will say though, that if you are able to get involved in all of
these other vices, the mafia and the drug gangs and the work and all of this, you know, the not the
		

			worst of the Sorry, I meant the the the murder rackets and all of this, if you're able to get
involved in all of those evils, then definitely no problem with such a job. May Allah reward you, if
you're able to get involved with actual monitoring of the groups that are genuinely problematic. And
we know who you know, the types of thoughts that those people have, then I don't have any problem
with that as well. But if you find yourself getting involved with in trapping innocent people out
with a Billa, right, or doing something that is causing more harm than good, then really you have to
ask yourself, What am I doing? What am I doing over here acting in an unethical manner? And you
		

			don't it's not just against the Muslim community. If you know the reality of some of these agencies,
look at what they did to you know, there is a movie that came out I obviously haven't watched it,
but a movie came out about how they targeted Martin Luther King, and how our own agency in America,
you know, they did so many unethical things against him. And the same goes for any leader that they
don't like, even if the mainstream leader Nelson Mandela, whoever it might be, you know, so these
types of state apparatuses, generally speaking, generally speaking, they don't work in an ethical
manner, especially when it comes to anything that they deem is against their current government's
		

			policies. Right. And because of this, it's a little bit awkward. I don't want to say no, at the same
time, I will say that if you find that you are involved in doing hair and good for your community,
Alhamdulillah and if you find that you're getting involved in unethical and dubious things, then you
have to answer to your Lord and it's best for you to you know, resign or leave that that opportunity
and
		

			Allah subhanho wa Taala knows best in this regard.