Assalamualaikum, I have a question regarding taxi cabs in Chicago. Is it allowable to tranport drunk passengers? Let me explain you the situation here: During morning shifts(5Am to 5PM) the passengers are mostly those going to office, airport or shopping malls. But during evening shifts, customers are mostly going to Bars/Pubs/strip clubs. There are certain streets which have bars one after the other. Going on those streets means you are going near bars. Also cabbies line up outside famous bars/pubs. If you want to avoid these customers you have to take small streets where you are almost certain of not getting any customers. Then to pick up customers you have to go to office areas which will be very far. After 11PM there is hardly anyone else on the streets other than drunk revelers. Another issue you can consider is that if anyone is trying to flag you down, you cannot refuse them. But that is just a rule and can be conveniently broken. In short avoiding bar areas is feasible but you make 1/3rd of what other people make. Jazakallah.
Answer:
(Fatwa: 1029/1022=D/1429)
In order to keep your income pure and perfectly halal, you had better refrain form those customers going to bars or returning form there. It is less undesirable to bring them back than to take them to bars. And, when there is likelihood that a person is going to have food or drink or to do both the things, then in such cases it is allowable to take passengers there but it is better to avoid it. A rupee earned in a lawful way is better, more blessed and a cause of illuminating heart compared to hundred rupees earned through suspected means.
Allah (Subhana Wa Ta’ala) knows Best
Darul Ifta,
Darul Uloom Deoband