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Fatwa CenterWorks in a store that sells lottery tickets
Question
I had a question regarding lottery. I work in Canada where lottery is well advertised. I am a cashier at a convenient store where lottery sales are also included. However, regardless of customers asking for lottery tickets, my pay is independent. I am paid on hourly basis and not on lottery. I know buying lottery is Haraam. Is my work Haraam? If it is, then this means I can't really work in any store because every store in Canada carries Haraam products, e.g. chocolates that may have pork products or Haraam magazines, etc. pork is Haraam as well so I believe even if am not part of lottery sales my work is still Haraam because I have to scan Haraam chocolate bars, etc. Please comments as I have heard different opinions.
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 is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.
There is no doubt that Allaah has forbidden gambling, and lottery is one of its kinds. Indeed Allaah paralleled it to intoxicants in the same verse as He says (which means): {O you who believe! Intoxicants (all kinds of alcoholic drinks), gambling, Al Ansaab*, and Al Azlaam (arrows for seeking luck or decision) are an abomination of Satan's handiwork. So avoid (strictly all) that (abomination) in order that you may be successful.}[5:90]. [* Al-Ansaab were stone-altars at fixed places or graves, whereon sacrifices were slaughtered on certain occasions in the name of idols, jinn, angels, pious men, saints in order to honour them or to expect some benefit from them].
Working as a cashier for lottery tickets is helping in sin and propagating it. Allaah says (which means): {Help you one another in virtue, righteousness and piety but do not help one another in sin and transgression.}[5:2]. Therefore, it is not permissible for you to accept work as a lottery cashier even if this will lead you to be dismissed from your work unless, by leaving your work, you might cause destruction to the people you are obliged to provide for. In this case, it is permissible for you to carry out this type of work but you have in the meantime to look for another job. Saying that in every store there is something forbidden, is not an excuse. You have to know that even if there are many forbidden things, it does not mean that there are no lawful jobs at all. It is not permissible for a Muslim to carry out a forbidden job; rather he is obliged to look for what is lawful as long as he lives. Allaah says (which means): {And whoever fears Allah, He will make for him a way out. And will provide for him from where he does not expect.}[65:2-3] Allaah further says in the same verse (which means): {And whoever fears Allah, He will make for him of his matter ease.}[65:4].
As regards the ruling of living in a non-Muslim country, please refer to Fatwa: 86405.
Allaah knows best.
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