Source: Excerpt from the book “Aḥkām wa Masāʾil: Kitāb o Sunnat kī Roshnī meṅ” by Shaykh Mubashshir Ahmad Rabbānī ḥafiẓahullāh
Some Muslims sell prohibited items, such as alcohol, in their shops alongside permissible goods.
① What is the ruling on such income?
② Is it permissible to accept donations from them for religious causes?
③ If their business involves both ḥalāl and ḥarām, can donations still be accepted?
Please provide full guidance from the Qur'an and Sunnah.
Three matters are under discussion:
① Selling prohibited items while being a Muslim
② Accepting donations from such individuals for religious purposes
③ Accepting donations when the individual deals in both ḥalāl and ḥarām
It is not permissible for any Muslim to buy or sell ḥarām items. A true Muslim is one who accepts as ḥarām whatever Allah and His Messenger ﷺ have declared forbidden, and as ḥalāl whatever they have permitted. Engaging in ḥarām while being a Muslim is categorically impermissible.
Sayyidunā Jābir رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said on the day of the conquest of Makkah:
❝Indeed, Allah and His Messenger ﷺ have forbidden the sale of alcohol, dead animals, swine, and idols.❞
Someone asked, “O Messenger of Allah! What about the fat of dead animals? It is used for greasing boats, tanning hides, and lighting lamps.”
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
❝No, it is forbidden.❞
Then he added:
❝May Allah destroy the Jews! When Allah made the fat unlawful, they melted it down, sold it, and consumed its price.❞
Sayyidunā Anas رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ cursed ten categories of people related to alcohol:
✖ The one who produces it
✖ The one who has it produced
✖ The one who drinks it
✖ The one who carries it
✖ The one for whom it is carried
✖ The one who serves it
✖ The one who sells it
✖ The one who consumes its price
✖ The one who buys it
✖ The one for whom it is bought
Thus, selling or purchasing alcoholic beverages or other ḥarām products is prohibited, and the seller becomes worthy of curse (laʿnah). A Muslim should only sell ḥalāl products in their business and completely avoid ḥarām items.
If a person’s primary business is based on ḥarām, then accepting donations from them for religious causes is not permissible.
The Qur’an declares prohibited items as impure and filthy:
“He (the Messenger ﷺ) makes lawful for them the pure things and prohibits for them the impure.”
(Sūrah al-Aʿrāf 7:157)
Thus, filthy wealth cannot be spent in the path of Allah.
Another verse states:
“O you who believe! Spend from the good things you have earned.”
(Sūrah al-Baqarah 2:267)
Sayyidunā Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
❝Indeed, Allah is Pure and accepts only what is pure. Verily, Allah has commanded the believers as He commanded the Messengers:
﴿ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلرُّسُلُ كُلُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ وَٱعْمَلُوا۟ صَـٰلِحًا ﴾
“O Messengers! Eat of the good things and do righteous deeds.”
(Sūrah al-Muʾminūn 23:51)
﴿ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا كُلُوا۟ مِن طَيِّبَـٰتِ مَا رَزَقْنَـٰكُمْ ﴾
“O you who believe! Eat from the good and pure things We have provided for you.”
(Sūrah al-Baqarah 2:172) ❞
Thus, a Muslim should only spend ḥalāl and pure wealth in noble causes and must avoid ḥarām and impure wealth.
Even the disbelievers in the age of ignorance (Jāhiliyyah) refrained from using unlawful wealth for sacred causes, such as rebuilding the Kaʿbah.
In the commentary of Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī wrote:
❝Abū Wahb said to the Quraysh:
“Do not use anything but pure wealth in the construction of the Kaʿbah. Do not include the earnings of prostitution, interest-based money, or anything taken through oppression from others.”❞
❖ Question:
Some Muslims sell prohibited items, such as alcohol, in their shops alongside permissible goods.
① What is the ruling on such income?
② Is it permissible to accept donations from them for religious causes?
③ If their business involves both ḥalāl and ḥarām, can donations still be accepted?
Please provide full guidance from the Qur'an and Sunnah.
❖ Answer:
Three matters are under discussion:
① Selling prohibited items while being a Muslim
② Accepting donations from such individuals for religious purposes
③ Accepting donations when the individual deals in both ḥalāl and ḥarām
① Selling Ḥarām Items While Claiming to Be a Muslim
It is not permissible for any Muslim to buy or sell ḥarām items. A true Muslim is one who accepts as ḥarām whatever Allah and His Messenger ﷺ have declared forbidden, and as ḥalāl whatever they have permitted. Engaging in ḥarām while being a Muslim is categorically impermissible.
Sayyidunā Jābir رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said on the day of the conquest of Makkah:
❝Indeed, Allah and His Messenger ﷺ have forbidden the sale of alcohol, dead animals, swine, and idols.❞
Someone asked, “O Messenger of Allah! What about the fat of dead animals? It is used for greasing boats, tanning hides, and lighting lamps.”
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
❝No, it is forbidden.❞
Then he added:
❝May Allah destroy the Jews! When Allah made the fat unlawful, they melted it down, sold it, and consumed its price.❞
Reference: Bukhārī: 2236; Muslim: 1581
Sayyidunā Anas رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ cursed ten categories of people related to alcohol:
✖ The one who produces it
✖ The one who has it produced
✖ The one who drinks it
✖ The one who carries it
✖ The one for whom it is carried
✖ The one who serves it
✖ The one who sells it
✖ The one who consumes its price
✖ The one who buys it
✖ The one for whom it is bought
Reference: Tirmidhī: 1295; Ibn Mājah: 3381
Thus, selling or purchasing alcoholic beverages or other ḥarām products is prohibited, and the seller becomes worthy of curse (laʿnah). A Muslim should only sell ḥalāl products in their business and completely avoid ḥarām items.
② Accepting Donations from Those Who Deal in Ḥarām
If a person’s primary business is based on ḥarām, then accepting donations from them for religious causes is not permissible.
The Qur’an declares prohibited items as impure and filthy:
﴿ وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمُ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْخَبَـٰٓئِثَ ﴾
“He (the Messenger ﷺ) makes lawful for them the pure things and prohibits for them the impure.”
(Sūrah al-Aʿrāf 7:157)
Thus, filthy wealth cannot be spent in the path of Allah.
Another verse states:
﴿ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا أَنفِقُوا۟ مِن طَيِّبَـٰتِ مَا كَسَبْتُمْ ﴾
“O you who believe! Spend from the good things you have earned.”
(Sūrah al-Baqarah 2:267)
Sayyidunā Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
❝Indeed, Allah is Pure and accepts only what is pure. Verily, Allah has commanded the believers as He commanded the Messengers:
﴿ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلرُّسُلُ كُلُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ وَٱعْمَلُوا۟ صَـٰلِحًا ﴾
“O Messengers! Eat of the good things and do righteous deeds.”
(Sūrah al-Muʾminūn 23:51)
﴿ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا كُلُوا۟ مِن طَيِّبَـٰتِ مَا رَزَقْنَـٰكُمْ ﴾
“O you who believe! Eat from the good and pure things We have provided for you.”
(Sūrah al-Baqarah 2:172) ❞
Reference: Muslim: 1015/65
Thus, a Muslim should only spend ḥalāl and pure wealth in noble causes and must avoid ḥarām and impure wealth.
Even the disbelievers in the age of ignorance (Jāhiliyyah) refrained from using unlawful wealth for sacred causes, such as rebuilding the Kaʿbah.
In the commentary of Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī wrote:
❝Abū Wahb said to the Quraysh:
“Do not use anything but pure wealth in the construction of the Kaʿbah. Do not include the earnings of prostitution, interest-based money, or anything taken through oppression from others.”❞
Reference: Fatḥ al-Bārī 3/444]
But alas! Today many Muslims care little about ḥalāl or ḥarām while donating for religious causes, such as mosques, madrasahs, charity, or jihād. They spend all kinds of wealth, regardless of its source.
If a person deals in both ḥalāl and ḥarām, and confirms that the donation he is giving is purely from ḥalāl earnings, then it is permissible to accept it.
However, if he does not distinguish or clarify whether the donation is from ḥalāl or ḥarām, then it is better to avoid accepting such money.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
Sayyidunā Ḥasan ibn ʿAlī رضي الله عنهما reported that he memorized this from the Prophet ﷺ:
Hence, one should avoid and be cautious of doubtful earnings. However, if we have no knowledge about a person’s earnings, we are not obliged to investigate. If he donates wealth, it may be accepted. His matter is between him and Allah.
But alas! Today many Muslims care little about ḥalāl or ḥarām while donating for religious causes, such as mosques, madrasahs, charity, or jihād. They spend all kinds of wealth, regardless of its source.
③ Donations from a Mixed (Ḥalāl & Ḥarām) Income
If a person deals in both ḥalāl and ḥarām, and confirms that the donation he is giving is purely from ḥalāl earnings, then it is permissible to accept it.
However, if he does not distinguish or clarify whether the donation is from ḥalāl or ḥarām, then it is better to avoid accepting such money.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
❝The ḥalāl is clear and the ḥarām is clear, and between them are doubtful matters that many people do not know. So whoever avoids the doubtful has protected his religion and honor. But whoever falls into doubtful matters may fall into the ḥarām.❞
Reference: Bukhārī: 52; Muslim: 1599
Sayyidunā Ḥasan ibn ʿAlī رضي الله عنهما reported that he memorized this from the Prophet ﷺ:
❝Leave what makes you doubtful for what does not make you doubtful.❞
Reference: Tirmidhī: 2518; Musnad Aḥmad: 1/200, Ḥadīth 1723
Hence, one should avoid and be cautious of doubtful earnings. However, if we have no knowledge about a person’s earnings, we are not obliged to investigate. If he donates wealth, it may be accepted. His matter is between him and Allah.
