Is it permissible to work in a gas/petrol station where they sell alcohol?

Question:

I work in a gas station.  They sell beer, wine, cigarettes etc.  They make most of their money by selling gas.  I work there as an assistant manager and usually work in the morning.  In the morning they don’t really sell beer or wine but they do sell cigarettes.  Since I work there as an assistant manager, I try my best to stay away from doing haram things there like standing on the register, filing up the beer cooler and many other haram, but I can’t stay away from them all the time.  I prefer to do halal things there like cleaning, making coffee, filling up the non alcoholic beverages cooler, fixing candies etc.  I also have to place grocery order twice a week there.  I don’t make the order of beer or wine but making cigarette orders is part of job.  Please help me.  Is my job halal?

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

As a principle, when analysing the Shari’ah compliancy of any job, one must examine the nature of the job itself.  If the hours at work are spent in permissible activities, then the job will be permissible.  If the work rendered is impermissible, the job will be impermissible.[1]

You state you do the cleaning, make coffee, fill up the non alcoholic beverages cooler, fix candies and make orders for stock.  These jobs you do at the gas station are of a halāl nature. [2]

With regards to scanning alcohol at the register, it is permissible according to the view of Imām Abu Hanīfah rahimahullah.  The person who stands at a register is merely scanning and handing over the item bought to the customer.    The individual at the cash register is similar to one who transports wine.  The opinion of Imām Abu Hanīfah regarding the transporter of wine is that it is permissible to do so.  Such a job does not constitute to assistance in sin.  The hadīth which states that the transporter of wine is accursed is referring to the one who intends sin when transporting the wine.[3]   The cashier here does not intend sin, he merely intends to do his job and check out the item on behalf of the buyer.[4]

Likewise, when filling up the beer cooler, you are not giving wine to anybody to drink.  You are merely transporting it to another place.  Hence, according to Imam Abu Hanīfah rahimahullah, this will also be permissible.  According to Imam Abu Yūsuf and Imam Muhammad rahimahumllah, the above jobs do constitute in sin and will be regarded as assistance in sin.  The juristic view of Imam Abū Hanīfah rahimahullah in this issue can be acted upon.        

In conclusion, your job at the gas station is permissible and the income is also halāl.  However, still try your utmost to stay away from the alcohol considering the view of Imam Abu Yūsuf and Imam Muhammad.  Taqwā (Allah consciousness) demands one to stay away from such jobs wherein one is acquainted with harām substances frequently, even though the job itself may be permissible.         

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mufti Faraz ibn Adam al-Mahmudi

www.darulfiqh.com