Ruling on the Buying and Selling of Alcohol and Working in Alcohol Production Facilities

Author: Dr. Muhammad Zia-ur-Rahman Azmi (رحمه الله)

The Issue:

What is the ruling on the sale of alcohol and working in facilities that produce it? How does Islam view those involved in such transactions or production processes?

Ruling:

  1. Prohibition of Alcohol Sale and Production:
    • The buying, selling, or production of alcohol is among the major sins in Islam. Working in factories that produce alcohol is also prohibited. This is based on the Quranic command:

      "And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression." (Surah Al-Ma’idah: 2)
    • Selling alcohol, narcotics, or cigarettes is considered cooperation in sin and transgression, which Islam strictly forbids.
  2. Clear Prohibition in the Quran:
    • Allah has explicitly declared alcohol as impure and forbidden:
      "O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful. Satan only wants to cause between you animosity and hatred through intoxicants and gambling and to avert you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. So will you not desist?" (Surah Al-Ma’idah: 90-91)
  3. Curse on Those Involved with Alcohol:
    • The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) cursed all those associated with alcohol at any stage, including:
      • The one who drinks it.
      • The one who serves it.
      • The one who produces it.
      • The one who has it produced for them.
      • The one who carries it.
      • The one for whom it is carried.
      • The one who sells it.
      • The one who buys it.
      • The one who consumes its earnings.
        (Sunan Abi Dawood, Hadith 3674; Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 3380)

Consequence of Engaging in Such Activities:

  1. For Those Aware of its Prohibition:
    • A person engaging in these activities, while knowing their prohibition, is considered sinful, disobedient, and of weak faith. Such a person is not regarded as a disbeliever (kafir), provided they do not consider it lawful.
  2. For Those Who Consider it Permissible:
    • If someone believes that alcohol production, sale, or consumption is lawful, they are considered a disbeliever (kafir) because this belief contradicts clear Quranic and Prophetic guidance.
    • If such a person dies holding this belief, they will not be given ghusl (ritual washing), nor will their funeral prayer (janazah) be performed.
  3. Repentance and Allah’s Will:
    • If a person commits such acts but acknowledges their sin and does not believe them to be lawful, they remain a major sinner (fasiq). If they fail to repent before death, their fate will rest with Allah’s will:
      "Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills." (Surah An-Nisa: 48)

Broader Implications:

The same rulings apply to other clearly prohibited acts in Islam, such as adultery, sodomy, disobedience to parents, and murder. If one commits these acts while believing them lawful, they are regarded as disbelievers. However, if they acknowledge their prohibition, they are considered sinful but not disbelievers.

Conclusion:

  • Selling or producing alcohol is unequivocally prohibited in Islam.
  • Working in alcohol production facilities is also haram, as it constitutes direct involvement in sin.
  • Those involved should repent sincerely and abandon such activities immediately.
Reference:
  • Sheikh Ibn Baz: Majmoo’ al-Fataawa wa al-Maqalaat, Vol. 19, Page 349.
 
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