Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil fī Ḍawʾ al-Qurʾān wa al-Ḥadīth, Vol. 1
A friend in America wants to buy a gas station, but part of the condition is that alcohol and “lotto” (a form of gambling) must also be sold. He has made the intention not to use the income generated from these prohibited sources. The question is: will it still be permissible to purchase the gas station under these conditions?
Allāh ﷻ says in Sūrah al-Māʾidah:
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالْأَنْصَابُ وَالْأَزْلَامُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ﴾ (المائدة: 90)
"O you who believe! Indeed, wine, gambling, stone alters (idols), and divining arrows are abominations from the work of Shayṭān, so avoid them that you may be successful."
This verse declares alcohol and gambling as impure, satanic acts and orders the believers to completely avoid them.
The Prophet ﷺ forbade trade in prohibited items. Jābir (رضي الله عنه) reported:
«إِنَّ اللَّهَ حَرَّمَ بَيْعَ الْخَمْرِ، وَالْمَيْتَةِ، وَالْخِنزِيرِ، وَالْأَصْنَامِ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2276)
"Indeed, Allāh has forbidden the sale of alcohol, dead animals, swine, and idols."
This ḥadīth proves that not only consumption but also buying and selling such things is unlawful.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
❖ The Question:
A friend in America wants to buy a gas station, but part of the condition is that alcohol and “lotto” (a form of gambling) must also be sold. He has made the intention not to use the income generated from these prohibited sources. The question is: will it still be permissible to purchase the gas station under these conditions?
✦ Prohibition of Alcohol and Gambling in the Qurʾān
Allāh ﷻ says in Sūrah al-Māʾidah:
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالْأَنْصَابُ وَالْأَزْلَامُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ﴾ (المائدة: 90)
"O you who believe! Indeed, wine, gambling, stone alters (idols), and divining arrows are abominations from the work of Shayṭān, so avoid them that you may be successful."
This verse declares alcohol and gambling as impure, satanic acts and orders the believers to completely avoid them.
✦ Prohibition of Selling Ḥarām Items
The Prophet ﷺ forbade trade in prohibited items. Jābir (رضي الله عنه) reported:
«إِنَّ اللَّهَ حَرَّمَ بَيْعَ الْخَمْرِ، وَالْمَيْتَةِ، وَالْخِنزِيرِ، وَالْأَصْنَامِ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2276)
"Indeed, Allāh has forbidden the sale of alcohol, dead animals, swine, and idols."
This ḥadīth proves that not only consumption but also buying and selling such things is unlawful.
✦ Application to the Current Scenario
- In this case, the sale of alcohol and running lottery is a compulsory condition of owning the gas station.
- Even though the person intends not to use that portion of the profit, by operating under such a contract he will directly engage in sinful trade.
- Thus, purchasing the gas station with these conditions is not permissible.
✦ Alternative Path — Seeking Ḥalāl Income
- If a gas station can be acquired without such conditions, then it is permissible to buy.
- Otherwise, one must seek another form of livelihood. Allāh ﷻ has opened many doors of ḥalāl rizq.
- The duty of a Muslim is to strive for pure, lawful sustenance.
✦ What If Someone Already Operates Under These Conditions?
- In that case, only the income from petrol sales will be ḥalāl.
- But due to engaging in the sale of alcohol and gambling, the person will remain sinful — whether he uses the income from these prohibited sources or not.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
