Making researches and collecting data for alcohol producers

20-5-2009 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalaam Alaikum,
I am a Kenyan Muslim working in a Market Research firmin Nairobi. As a researcher, I am supposed to be managing project and conducting surveys for companies-collecting views and sometimes organizing product tests and making reports.
Some of our clients are Alcohol producers, and I have been requested on several occasions to manage this account and I always declined saying it contravenes my faith. Recently a friend suggested to me that I can handle as the research work and collecting data on beer is not Haraam since (according to his reasonning) it is part of my Job description. Kindly advice if I can handle this account or if it is Haraam

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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.

 

It is not permissible for a Muslim to work as an accountant in a firm that trades in alcohol or any prohibited thing, for this is helping in sin and aggression; Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And fear Allaah; indeed, Allaah is severe in penalty.}[Quran 5:2]

On the other hand, the statement of your friend that research and collecting data about beer is not unlawful needs to be discussed in detail. If the purpose of research and data collection is to endeavor to put an end to those prohibited things, and find the best ways to do so, then that work is permissible. But if the intention is to know the quantity of production and search for ways to increase and market it, and compensate for the decrease in its production or similar matters, then, undoubtedly, this is unlawful. For further information see Fataawa 83599 and 85407.

Allaah Knows best.