Doing a lawful job in a wine warehouse
11-10-2010 | IslamWeb
Question:
a salamo alaikom wa rahmatulahi wa barakatuhu I have 2 Questions: Question 1. I took this job since I was unemployed for over one year and I received no other work. I have now worked for two months in a warehouse handling wine boxes. I regret the day when I accepted the joboffer since I fear Allah and his punishment. My intention has been since the beginning that this would be a temporary job till I can get another. I told my employer that I´m a muslim and in Islam it´s forbidden to work with alcohol. The employer have given me Two choises. One choise is to work in another division where there Is no alcohol, it's clothing and it is not even in the same building. The second choise is to work with cables for The automotive Industry, but this is in the same warehouse as the wine. I would prefer the cable for the automotive Industry, but since it's in the same building as the Wine I hesitate (I want to no if it´s permissable). Below is a short description of my current working area: The warehouse has three sections under one roof. The sections are Petrolium, sorting of wine (alcohol) and cables for the automotive industry. There is no wall between the different sections, sometimes you can get in contact with a box of wine when you pass by. Is it halal to work on the cable section in this company? Or is it better to change to the clothing warehouse that is in another building(same company)? what is the best choise? Was my reason for taking this job a valid reason? Do I have to repent? Question 2 Is it permissable to put cartoon/animated pictures for children on the wall in a child's room? Such as Winnie the Pooh, giraffs and other pictures made for children. The child is almost 3 years. Jazakum Allahu Khairan Salamo alaikom wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.
As for your previous work in the wine warehouse, it is unlawful, since it is a form of helping people to drink wine. The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, cursed the one who drinks it, the one who presses it, the one who gets it pressed, the one who carries it, the one to whom it is carried, the one who sells it and the one who purchases it, as stated in the Hadeeth. In this way, the curse includes the drinker of wine and anyone who helps him to get it. Consequently, you are obligated to repent to Allaah The Almighty and pray for His forgiveness from that job, and get rid of the salary you took from it since it is unlawful, unless you are in dire need of it, in which case, you have the right to take from it according to your need.
As for your work in a field other than the wine warehouse, which is independent from it, there is no blame on you in it, even if the automotive industry cables warehouse is next to the wine warehouse, or even if both are in the same place, as long as your work has nothing to do with wine.
However, your work in the field of clothing, in a warehouse separate from that of wine and far from seeing its preparation, is better for you.
As regards whether or not you are excused for doing your unlawful job in the wine warehouse, then this depends on the extent of your need and whether or not you were forced by necessity to do that job, in this case, you would not be sinful, and your salary would be lawful for you. But if you were not forced by necessity to do that job, you would be sinful and your salary would be unlawful for you.
As regards hanging the cartoon pictures in the children’s room, then if the purpose is children’s play and amusement, it appears that this is permissible as it was reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, gave permission to ‘Aa’ishah 
to play with her dolls that she made of sticks and cloth when she was still young. The scholars depended on that to judge such toys as permissible, unlike the pictures that are used for purposes other than the children’s play, and the pictures which are not treated with disrespect, as shown in Fataawa 135486 and 83351.
Allaah Knows best.