(F3) I work for a company that sells paints, and it is their custom to send lunches like pizza to contractors at their job sites. They also send beer that contains alcohol. I have been assigned to place an order for these items and deliver them to the site. Would delivering these products, whether it’s pizza containing pork or beer, be sinful for me?


The default ruling in such cases is stated in the Quran: “And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression.” (Surah Al-Ma’idah, 5:2). This is a comprehensive principle, and a Muslim should strive to abandon all sinful acts and anything that assists in committing them.
Secondly, we differentiate between direct actions and assisting in those actions, and assistance itself has various degrees. For example, it is forbidden for a Muslim to consume pork or drink alcohol, and these are direct actions. It is also prohibited to assist in those actions by preparing the food. However, the degree of sin varies between direct action and assisting in it.
Thirdly, Islamic jurisprudence distinguishes between the few and the majority, and we give the ruling based on what is predominant in many matters, which is the majority. There are specific branches of jurisprudence related to this. If, for example, the majority of what is sold in a particular place is halal, and only a small portion is haram, we give it the ruling of being halal based on the majority. If halal wealth is mixed with a small amount of haram wealth, we consider the wealth as halal based on the majority. This is similar to blood in meat, which is inherently haram, but its small quantity does not render the entire meat haram. No matter how much we wash the meat, there will still be traces of blood.
Therefore, if this person can avoid delivering these orders without it affecting their work and contract with the company, they should do so. However, if they cannot avoid it, they should consider the predominance of the haram in what is being transported. If the majority is halal and only a portion is haram, then this action would be permissible for them based on the predominant factor. If the haram is predominant and they are in need to that contract, they can follow the opinion of the Hanafi scholars who allow certain invalid contracts in non-Muslim territories, especially if they are beneficial for the Muslim. This is on the condition that they do not personally purchase the prohibited alcohol, and their role is solely transportation.
Fatwa by: Dr. Khalid Nasr