Assalam o alaikum.
First of all I want to apologize if my question seems like a duplicate question, but I tried to search on this website, and couldn’t find the answer . I live in United States, and in a remote part of the country. We do not have too many muslims living in this town, and closest big town with muslims, is more than two hours away.
We are trying our best to live our lives according to Islam, as much as possible. Please do not disregard this question as just another halaal/haraam question, as our livelihood depends on it.
Our question is that can we own a gas station/convenient store that has beer, and lottery in it, and still be ok with shariah as to earning halaal rizq? the second part of the question could be that is it ok to just work at that kind of gas station, just as an employee?
We had someone get an answer once saying that if majority of the income is halaal as gasoline, food items, cigarettes, then beer and lottery could be overlooked . We just don’t know and want an answer that can help us now, and will help our future generations in America.
Jazkallah khair, and please,please answer this question for us.
In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salaamu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullaahi wa-barakaatuh.
It is pleasing to note that you are trying your best to live your life according to the teachings of Islaam. We make du’aa that Allaah Ta’aala grants you the ability to remain steadfast on Deen.
Shari’ah has emphasized on earning halaal income. Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said,
طَلَبُ كَسْبِ الْحَلَالِ فَرِيضَةٌ بَعْدَ الْفَرِيضَةِ[1]
Translation: “Seeking halaal earning is an obligation after the primary obligations (such as salaah, zakaah, etc.).” (Sunan Bayhaqi 11695)
It is permissible to own a gas station. However, it is not permissible to sell beer and lottery therein. The profits from the sale of beer and lottery are haraam. If one sells beer and lottery tickets, the profits must be given away in sadaqah[2].One should also make tawbah and istighfaar and change one’s source of income.
As far as working in such a gas station is considered, if the employer is a Muslim, then there are two aspects to consider: a) the job description and b) the source of payment. If more than half of the employer’s income is from haraam sources, it is not permissible for the employee to receive any remuneration from the employer. However, if half or more of the employer’s income is from halaal sources, the salary will be permissible[3].
However, if the employer is a non-Muslim, then only the job description will be considered.
And Allaah Ta’aala Knows Best
Muajul I. Chowdhury
Student, Darul Iftaa
Astoria, New York, USA
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
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[1] (السنن الكبرى للبيهقي 6/ 211 حديث 11695) (شعب الايمان 8367) (معجم ابن الأعرابي 1167)
أَخْبَرَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ عَبْدَانَ , ثنا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ الصَّفَّارُ , ثنا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ السَّرَّاجُ , ثنا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى , أنبأ عَبَّادُ بْنُ كَثِيرٍ , عَنْ سُفْيَانَ الثَّوْرِيِّ عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: ” طَلَبُ كَسْبِ الْحَلَالِ فَرِيضَةٌ بَعْدَ الْفَرِيضَةِ ” تَفَرَّدَ بِهِ عَبَّادُ بْنُ كَثِيرٍ الرَّمْلِيُّ، وَهُوَ ضَعِيفٌ أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ الْحَافِظُ قَالَ: قَرَأْتُ بِخَطِّ أَبِي عَمْرٍو الْمُسْتَمْلِي، سَمِعْتُ أَبَا أَحْمَدَ الْفَرَّاءَ يَقُولُ: سَمِعْتُ يَحْيَى بْنَ يَحْيَى يُسْأَلُ عَنْ حَدِيثِ عَبَّادِ بْنِ كَثِيرٍ فِي كَسْبِ الْحَلَالِ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، قَالَ: إِنْ كَانَ قَالَهُ
[2] حاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (6/ 385)
لِأَن سبِيل الكسب الْخبيث التصدق إذا تعذر الرد على صاحبه
البحر الرائق شرح كنز الدقائق (8/ 229)
لأن سبيل الكسب الخبيث التصدق إذا تعذر الرد
تبيين الحقائق شرح كنز الدقائق (6/ 27)
لأن سبيل الكسب الخبيث التصدق إذا تعذر الرد على صاحبه.
احسن الفتاوى (7/ 16)
فتاوى محموديه (16/ 381)
[3] امداد الاحكام (4/ 386)
Contemporary Fatawaa by Mufti Taqi (pg.162)