Is Serving Alcohol and the Income gained Haram?

Serving alcohol or having anything to do with it is completely unlawful (haram) and brings about the curse (la’na) of Allah Most High.

Sayyiduna Anas ibn Malik (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) cursed ten people in connection with alcohol: the wine-presser, the one for who it is pressed, the one who drinks it, the one who carries it, the one for whom it is carried, the one who serves it, the one who sells it, the one who benefits from the price paid for it, the one who buys it, and the one for whom it is bought.” (Sunan Tirmidhi, no: 1295)

Sayyida A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) says: “When the last Verses of Surah-al-Baqarah were revealed, the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) stood up and recited them before us and then prohibited the trade of alcohol.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, no: 4269)

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) also said: “Verily He Who has forbidden it’s (i.e. alcohol & wine) drinking has forbidden its sale also.” (Sahih Muslim, no: 1579, reported by Abd Allah ibn Abbas, Allah be pleased with him)

The above and other such narrations from the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) quite categorically indicate that trading in alcohol, selling it, serving it to others and being associated with it in any way is, without doubt, unlawful and incurs the curse of Allah Most High. The income gained thorough selling and serving alcohol will also be considered unlawful.

Therefore, it is very important that you look for an alternative job. Unlawful income does have an effect on one’s worship (ibadah) and the acceptance of one’s supplications (dua).

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said: “Allah the Almighty is pure and accepts only that which is pure. Allah has commanded the faithful to do that which He commanded the Messengers, and the Almighty has said: “O Messengers! Eat of the pure things and do right”. And Allah the Almighty has said: “O you who believe! Eat of the pure things We have provided you.” Then he (Allah bless him & give him peace) mentioned (the case of) a man who, having journeyed far, is dishevelled and dusty and who spreads out his hands to the heavens (saying): “O Lord! O Lord!” —while his food is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, his clothing is unlawful, and he is nourished unlawfully, so how can his Dua be answered!” (Sahih Muslim)

One must always remember that being a practicing Muslim is not restricted to praying, fasting and going for Hajj. Rather, Islam is a complete way of life and has injunctions with regards to business, trade, marriage, divorce, inheritance and so on. Hence, one cannot be termed a practicing Muslim if one’s earnings are through unlawful means.

And Allah knows best