Q: I work in a warehouse where i have to handel alcohol products/ cases of wine beer etc. Sometimes the products also break and cover footwear/clothes. I have requested to not to work in this area as i understand handling and being involved in the transportation process of alcohol is forbidden according to hadith. The company requires some conformation and clarrification on this matter. I would be very grateful if you can clarify, if this is haram for a muslim, as I need to prove to the company that this is haram and forbidden for me to work in such an area as a muslim.
A: Any involvement with wine is deemed forbidden in Islam. ِAllah Ta’ala says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالْأَنصَابُ وَالْأَزْلَامُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ﴿المائدة: ٩٠﴾
“O you who have believe, indeed, wine, gambling, alters-stones, and drawing lots are from the work of shaytaan, refrain from it, so that you may be successful.”
Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam has said:
رقم 1295 – عن أنس بن مالك قال : لعن رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم في الخمر عشرة عاصرها ومتعصرها وشاربها وحاملها والمحمولة إليه وساقيها وبائعها وآكل ثمنها والمشتري لها والمشتراة له (جامع الترمذي 1/242)
Hadhrat Anas Radiallahu Anhu repotrts that Rasulullah sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam cursed ten people who have some involvement with khamr (wine), the one who squeezes it, the one who for whom it is squeezed, the one who drinks it, the one who carries or transports it, the one who it is delivered to, the one who pours it, the one who sells it, the one who uses the income from selling it, the one who purchases it and the one for whom it is purchased.
Answered by:
Mufti Zakaria Makada
Checked & Approved:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)