Can a Muslim own an alcohol shop?

Question

Can Muslims own alcohol shops in USA?

— Ali, Silver Spring, USA

Answer

It is impermissible to own an alcohol shop regardless of whether one is in the USA or in another country. Anything that is ḥarām for a Muslim to consume is also ḥarām for a Muslim to sell, whether it is sold to a Muslim or a disbeliever. The sale of alcohol has explicitly been prohibited by the Noble Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم. It is stated in a ḥadīth:

لعن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم في الخمر عشرة عاصرها ومعتصرها وشاربها وحاملها والمحمولة إليه وساقيها وبايعها وأٰكل ثمنها والمشتري لها والمشتراة له

The Messenger of Allāh صلى الله عليه وسلم cursed ten [individuals] involved in wine: The one who presses it, the one who has it pressed, its drinker, its carrier, and the one it is carried to, its server, its seller, the one who consumes its price, the one who purchases it and the one it was purchased for."

[Jāmi` al- Tirmidhī, Kitāb al-Buyū` `an Rasūl Allāh ﷺ]

'A`lā Ḥaḍrat 'Imām 'Aḥmad Riḍā Khān, Allāh is pleased with him, writes:

شراب کابنانا بنوانا چھونا اٹھانا رکھنا رکھوانا بیچنا بکوانا مول لینا دلوانا سب حرام حرام حرام ہے۔ اور جس نوکری میں یہ کام یاشراب کی نگاہداشت اُس کے داموں کاحساب کتاب کرنا ہو سب شرعًا ناجائزہیں۔ قال اللہ تعالیٰ: وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوۡا عَلَی الۡإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ

“The production of alcohol, having it produced, touching it, picking it up, placing it, selling it, having it sold, purchasing it, and having it purchased, are all ḥarām, ḥarām, ḥarām! And whichever occupation requires any of this, or watching over alcohol and accounting for its price, is impermissible in the Sharī`ah. Allāh, the Exalted, states: And do not assist each other in sin and transgression.” (Sūrah al-Mā'idah, 2)

[Fatāwā Riḍawīyah, Vol. 23, Pg. 565-566]

Ṣadr al-Sharī`ah `Allāmah 'Amjad `Alī, Allāh is pleased with him, states:

کافر یا بچہ کو شراب پلانا بھی حرام ہے اگرچہ بطور علاج پلائے اور گناہ اسی پلانے والے کے ذمہ ہے

To feed wine to a kāfir or a child is also ḥarām, even if it is given as a cure. And, the one who gave it is sinful.

[Bahār-e-Sharī`at, 'Ashribah ka Bayān]

Allāh, the Exalted, knows best.

Faqīr Salmān al-Nūrī · (May he be forgiven)

Verified by Muftī Zāhid Ḥussain al-Qādirī