Answered by: Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Question

Is it permissible for me to work as a bouncer in a club, I don’t touch the alcohol I’m just there to do my job, I recently came out of prison, and it’s tough for me to get a job as you might imagine, they were the only club that would employ me. I’m the only male in my family and also the oldest.

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer

In the Holy Qur’an Allah (SWA) has said:

“O people eat of what is in the earth permissible and good.” (Surah Baqarah v.168)

Sahl Ibn Abdullah has said salvation depends on three things eating halal, fulfilling obligations and following the Sunnah of the Prophet Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam. (Maariful Qur’an p.419 v.1)

Allah (SWA) has ordered us to eat from the things which are halal and good for us hence the income we earn should be lawful in order for our sustenance to be lawful.

Furthermore, the Prophet of Allah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam has cursed 10 things connected with alcohol and one of them is the seller. (Sunan Ibn Majah p.242 v.2)

Regarding your question, the nature of the actual job, which in other words being a security guard outside the nightclub in itself is permissible. However, the wages you would be getting will be from unlawful sources i.e. income from the nightclub, therefore, in a nutshell, it will not be permissible for you to work in such an environment.

Only Allah Knows Best

Written by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham