Can I Deliver Non-Halal Food During COVID-19 Pandemic?

15 June, 2020
Q During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, people are not leaving their homes. So, companies such as, Uber Eats or DoorDash, deliver food items on demand, some of which may contain impermissible (haram) products such as pork and pork byproducts. What is the ruling on working for these types of companies as a driver, delivering such non-halal food to people’s homes?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. 

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.


In this fatwa:

1- If it is not obvious that there are non-halal products, there is no need to pose this question and there is no need to investigate the ingredients.

2- If the proportion or percentage of non-halal items is relatively small, then we do not deem this type of work to be impermissible.

3- We advise you to stay away from what is haram as much as possible, and to distribute whatever amounts of your wealth that will purify it.

4- If most of the products are haram, it is not permissible to work there unless there is a dire need to do so, which is currently hard to imagine.


Answering your question, the Resident Fatwa Committee (RFC) of AMJA (Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America states:

Basically, Muslims are to stay away from what Allah has prohibited and avoid buying it, selling it, consuming it, or assisting others in doing that. However, for those who live in a non-Islamic country in which pork products are abundant and widespread, they are to consider the percentage of haram products in the delivery orders.

If the proportion or percentage is relatively small, meaning it is not the majority of what is being delivered, then we do not deem this type of work to be impermissible.

This is because the drivers’ support role is not direct, the majority of what is being delivered is halal, and the majority of the customers are non-Muslims—for whom the requirement of adherence to Islamic substantive law is a topic of debate.

Additionally, there is a need (for Muslims) to work and earn a wage during these difficult circumstances.

So, we advise the one who has posed this question to stay away from what is haram as much as possible, and to distribute whatever amounts of his wealth that will purify it, as was mentioned in the statement of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): “O merchants, selling involves (false) oaths and idle talk, so mix some charity with it.” (Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasai, and Ibn Majah)

 Also, if possible, the questioner should find work which is purer and more pious in the future.

The answer above is based on the questioner’s confirmation that there are impermissible products included in the delivery orders. If it is not obvious that there are, there is no need to pose this question and there is no need to investigate the ingredients, so long as what is produced or delivered by the company are mostly, if not completely, permissible.

On the contrary, however, if most of the products are haram, it is not permissible to work there or to make deliveries for them unless there is a dire need to do so, which is currently hard to imagine.

We ask that Allah grant everyone relief and success.

Almighty Allah knows best.

Source: https://www.amjaonline.org