The third question of Fatwa no. 16575
Question #3:
I work in a bakery at night. Is it permissible to work during the night? Does it contradict Allah’s statement: And We have made the night as a covering (through its darkness), And We have made the day for livelihood. ?
[78:10-11]
Answer:
There is no harm in working by day or night if it does not lead to evil such as abandoning Salah in congregation or delaying it past its due time.
May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.
The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’
[Taken from here]
Some of the Companions radiallahu anhu used to work at Night
Proof:
The Hadith of Abu Said al-Khudri raidallahu anhu about Safwan ibn Mu’attal radiallahu anhu:
وَأَمَّا قَوْلُهَا إِنِّي لاَ أُصَلِّي حَتَّى تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ فَإِنَّا أَهْلُ بَيْتٍ قَدْ عُرِفَ لَنَا ذَاكَ لاَ نَكَادُ نَسْتَيْقِظُ حَتَّى تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ . قَالَ ” فَإِذَا اسْتَيْقَظْتَ فَصَلِّ
As for her statement that I do not pray until the sun rises, we are a people belonging to a class, and that (our profession of supplying water) is already known about us. We do not awake until the sun rises. He said: When you awake, offer your prayer.
[Saheeh Abi Dawood no. 2459]
Imam al-‘Adheemabaadi rahimahullah said:
( فإنا أهل بيت ) : أي أنا أهل صنعة لا ننام الليل ( قد عرف لنا ذلك ) : أي عادتنا ذلك وهي أنهم كانوا يسقون الماء في طول الليالي
I am belonging to a class of people: that is, I am from the people of a profession that we do not sleep at night; It is already known about us: that is: our custom is that we supply water throughout the night
[Awn al-Ma’bood]
Shaikh Abdul-Muhsin al-‘Abbad hafidhuhallah said:
قيل: إنهم كانوا يشتغلون بالليل فيصيرون كالمغمى عليه، وأنه ليس هناك من يوقظه، ومن يكون كذلك فإنه يصلي حينما يستيقظ، لكن على الإنسان أن يأخذ بالاحتياطات فيكون هناك من يوقظه
“It was said: they used to work at night and become like one unconscious [due to sleep] and there was not anyone to awake them. So the one who is like this, then he prays when he awakes. However, it is upon a person to take the precautions so there is one who can awake him”
[Sharh Sunan Abi Dawood no. 287]
So there is no harm with working at night and a person should try their best not to miss the prayer in its time.
Translated by
Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan
