Answered by Shaykh Mazhar Mahmood
Question:
My husband works in a company, which requires him to deliver ḥaram meat, namely pork to shopkeepers. I fear that his income is from a ḥaram source and due to this we are greatly losing out on blessings. What is your advice with regards to our situation?
Answer:
We thank you for sending your much important query to Mathābah. We commend you upon your concern of living a halal lifestyle.
As for careers which revolve around delivering, or solely moving items from one place to another, we find that the prophetic narrations only encompass the prohibition of delivering wine in this regard.
The narration is as follows:
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ لَعَنَ اللَّهُ الْخَمْرَ وَشَارِبَهَا وَسَاقِيَهَا وَبَائِعَهَا وَمُبْتَاعَهَا وَعَاصِرَهَا وَمُعْتَصِرَهَا وَحَامِلَهَا وَالْمَحْمُولَةَ إِلَيْهِ ”
The Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) said, “Allāh has cursed wine, its consumer, its server, its seller, its buyer, its presser, the one for whom it is pressed, the one who delivers it, and the one to whom it is delivered.” (Sunan Abī Dawūd)
For a practicing Muslim, it will be deemed impermissible to sell pork undoubtedly, or even to establish such a career. However, if one is merely delivering pork from one place to another, we cannot genuinely deem the salary received from such a career to be impermissible.
“And assist one another in matters of righteousness and piety, and do not assist one another in sin and aggression.” (Qur’ān: 5:2)
Based on the broad sentiments expressed in the above verse, we do advise that a Muslim tries their best to find an alternate career in place of the career in discussion. This will not leave a speck of doubt in the income generated Allāh willing.
We ask the Almighty to grant us the finest of His provisions, which will be a means of strengthening our connection with the Almighty with every passing day.
Allāh Almighty Knows Best
