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Fatwa CenterWorks at a cafe shop and has to be friendly with women
Question
Asalam u alikum. May Allah reward you for your efforts. I am working at a cafe shop in a very busy area with many business customers. Many of my costumers are women and they tend to be very friendly with me. In Islam it is written that we should lower our gaze when talking with women and only one look is allowed. That is not possible as I need to interact with them at least three times before the order is served. In if I do not look at them and not be friendly then I will loose my customers and I will also look funny if I try to aviod looking at them. This will also affect the dawah process and I am afraid that it will give a weird impression of islam as they find it weird that men should not talk with them and behave weird in their presence. So I am confused what to do? If I avoid looking at them, I might loose my customers and will not give a good impression of islam and if I do I will get sin? So what should I do? Thank you for your time and patience.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.
If your work in this café shop is lawful, then it is permissible in principle, because Allaah The Almighty says (what means): {But Allaah has permitted trade and has forbidden interest.}[Quran 2:275] Sometimes, a lawful act may involve something that makes it unlawful, and talking with non-Mahram women freely without abiding by the Islamic rules is not permissible and leads to temptation.
Therefore, if this work requires doing prohibited acts, you are not permitted to continue in it because it is not permissible for the Muslim to relinquish any part of his religion in order to please people or for fear of their mockery. A believer may hardly be safe from such mockery; Allaah The Almighty says (what means): {Indeed, those who committed crimes used to laugh at those who believed. And when they passed by them, they would exchange derisive glances. And when they returned to their people, they would return jesting.}[Quran 85:29-31]
In fact, a Muslim's adherence to his religion before such people better influences them. They may be pleased with you when you agree with them, but this will not make you have any effect on them.
Finally, we advise you to look for another job away from doubtful matters, and when you fear Allaah, He will facilitate that for you. Allaah The Almighty says (what means): {And whoever fears Allaah - He will make for him a way out. And will provide for him from where he does not expect.}[Quran 65:2-3] The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "You will never quit something out of fearing Allaah The Almighty but He will give you something better than it." [Ahmad]
Allaah Knows best.
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