What is the ruling on working in programming and maintaining computer applications for a port project, given the existence of applications related to permits for exporting food and alcoholic beverages, and applications for sending and receiving goods lists for customs? Does the ruling differ for working on the latter two applications?

There is no harm in working on developing general software that allows exporters to declare their goods, even if some of these goods are forbidden (such as alcoholic beverages); this is because the application is general and not specifically designed to aid those who commit forbidden acts. Therefore, the work does not involve a direct prohibition or intentional assistance. The Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America has divided aiding in sin and transgression into four categories: direct and intentional, direct and unintentional, indirect and intentional, and indirect and unintentional. The Assembly prohibited the first three categories and permitted the fourth, which is neither direct nor intentional.