Question (Q-85)
I am planning to work as a delivery driver for companies like Uber Eats, Deliveroo, Just Eat and other such companies but I am concerned that sometimes one is expected to deliver alcohol or food that is not Halāl. Would it be permissible for me to do such a job in light of this? Some companies allow you to select the jobs that you are able or willing to carry out whilst others do not. I am also considering working for a courier company. In this instance, I would not be aware in relation to the contents of the package. What is the ruling in relation to working for such a company?
Answer:
With the Name of the All Knowing.
If the company provides you with an option to accept or reject a particular delivery job then you should not accept any such order which involves the delivery of alcohol or food that is not Halāl. You should work for such a company that provides you with the option to accept or reject jobs or for such a company in which you are not aware of the contents being delivered. Nevertheless, as the money a person receives when working for any of the aforementioned companies is in renumeration for delivering items and the main purpose of the work is not pertaining to the delivery of alcohol or food that is not Halāl, the money received for the work carried out for these companies is permissible. Caution should nevertheless be exercised as the person who delivers alcohol has been cursed in the Blessed Ahādīth (Prophetic Narrations). It is narrated in Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Hadīth Number 3674,
قال رسول الله ﷺ لعن الله الخمر وشاربها وساقيها وبائعها ومبتاعها وعاصرها ومعتصرها وحاملها والمحمولة إليه
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Allah’s curse is upon wine, the one who drinks it, the one who serves it, the one who sells it, the one who buys it, the one who presses it, the one for whom it is pressed, the one who delivers it and the one to whom it is delivered.”
It is stated in Radd ul Muhtār, Kitāb ul Hadhr wal Ibāhah, Fasl fil-Bay’,
لعن ﷺ فى الخمر عشرة وعد منها حاملها
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ cursed ten types of people in relation to wine and he included amongst them the one who delivers it.”
It is stated in Al Fatāwā Al Hindiyyah, Volume 4, Page 508,
إذا استأجر رجلا ليحمل له خمرا فله الأجر فى قول أبى حنيفة رحمه الله
“When a person employs a man to deliver alcohol for him then the wage is permitted for the employee according to the statement of Abū Hanīfah (Allah shower mercy upon him).”
And Allah knows best.
Written by: Shaykh Omar Khan (Allah preserve him)
Verified by: Mufti Shamsulhuda Khan Misbahi (May Allah preserve him)
