Ḥarām Gains: Rulings on Muslim Involvement in Selling Ḥarām Food and Drink in Non-Muslim Countries

Practical Laws of Islam as per the teachings of Imam Khamenei

Ḥarām Gains: Rulings on Muslim Involvement in Selling Ḥarām Food and Drink in Non-Muslim Countries

English:

Question #1089:

Is a Muslim allowed to offer ḥarām food, such as pork, meat of not ritually slaughtered animals, or intoxicants to non- Muslims in non-Muslim countries? What is the ruling in the following cases?

1. The person dealing in these items is not the owner himself and he does not make any profit but his work is just offering these foodstuffs alongside other ḥalāl ones.

2. The person concerned jointly owns the business with a non-Muslim partner, in such a way that the Muslim owns the ḥalāl segment and the non-Muslim owns the non-ḥalāl segment and each one makes profit from his own goods separately.

3. The person works as a paid worker in the place where these mixed foods are being sold, irrespective of whether the owner is Muslim or non-Muslim.

4. The person either works for, or is a partner in, the business where ḥarām foods and alcoholic drinks are being sold, yet he is not involved directly in the purchase or sale of these foods and they do not belong to him. However, he has a hand in preparing and selling foods. What is the ruling on the activity of such a person, noting that the sold alcoholic drinks are not consumed in the premises?

Answer #1089:

According to Islamic law, it is ḥarām to involve in the offering and sale of intoxicant alcoholic drinks; working in places where these drinks are sold; taking part in manufacturing, selling and buying them, and taking instructions from the others with regard to dealing in them. However, there is no problem in selling or offering ḥarām foods and drinks other than intoxicants to the people who do not consider them as ḥarām according to their denomination; yet, it is caution to avoid earning money through buying and selling pork whether the person concerned is a paid worker, an owner, or a partner; whether these items are offered and sold separately or alongside other ḥalāl ones; and whether the involvement is for profit or as paid/unpaid work. In this regard it also does not make any difference whether the owner or partner is a Muslim or a non-Muslim; and whether offering/sale of the items is intended for Muslims or non-Muslims.

-Imam Khamenei, Practical Laws of Islam, Importance and Conditions of Ḥarām Gains