Fatwa ID: 08491

Answered by Alimah Maryam Badshah

Question:

I want pursue a career as a ramp agent or luggage handler also cargo handler but I got question in mind.

Is it haram for me to on load and offload luggage or even cargo of the plane which contains alcohol or haram food like pork or cigarettes on the the plane and you know that there is 100 percent haram items in the cargo and luggage.

This job role requires me to drive around with cargo and luggage and also to give the luggage to passengers that come of the flight so I don’t know if my income will be haram and if will be involved in sining directly or not.

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

According to the Hanafi mazhab, the occupation of carrying and transporting goods in and of itself is considered halal regardless of what the product is. The occupation of carrying and transporting impermissible items only becomes haram when coupled with the intent to promote or encourage sinful behaviour.

As the jobs you have mentioned encompass you transporting a variety of items and your intent is not to encourage the use of haram products, it would be considered permissible for you to be both a ramp agent and cargo/luggage handler.

References:

(قَوْلُهُ وَحَمْلُ خَمْرِ ذِمِّيٍّ) قَالَ الزَّيْلَعِيُّ: وَهَذَا عِنْدَهُ وَقَالَا هُوَ مَكْرُوهٌ ” لِأَنَّهُ – عَلَيْهِ الصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ – «لَعَنَ فِي الْخَمْرِ عَشَرَةً وَعَدَّ مِنْهَا حَامِلَهَا» وَلَهُ أَنَّ الْإِجَارَةَ عَلَى الْحَمْلِ وَهُوَ لَيْسَ بِمَعْصِيَةٍ، وَلَا سَبَبَ لَهَا وَإِنَّمَا تَحْصُلُ الْمَعْصِيَةُ بِفِعْلِ فَاعِلٍ مُخْتَارٍ، وَلَيْسَ الشُّرْبُ مِنْ ضَرُورَاتِ الْحَمْلِ، لِأَنَّ حَمْلَهَا قَدْ يَكُونُ لِلْإِرَاقَةِ أَوْ لِلتَّخْلِيلِ، فَصَارَ كَمَا إذَا اسْتَأْجَرَهُ لِعَصْرِ الْعِنَبِ أَوْ قَطْعِهِ وَالْحَدِيثُ مَحْمُولٌ عَلَى الْحَمْلِ الْمَقْرُونِ بِقَصْدِ الْمَعْصِيَةِ

Raddul Mukhtār (Vol.6, pg.391-2, Dār Al-Fiqr)

وَلِأَبِي حَنِيفَةَ إنَّ نَفْسَ الْحَمْلِ لَيْسَ بِمَعْصِيَةٍ بِدَلِيلِ أَنَّ حَمْلَهَا لِلْإِرَاقَةِ وَالتَّخْلِيلِ مُبَاحٌ وَكَذَا لَيْسَ بِسَبَبٍ لِلْمَعْصِيَةِ وَهُوَ الشُّرْبُ؛ لِأَنَّ ذَلِكَ يَحْصُلُ بِفِعْلِ فَاعِلٍ مُخْتَارٍ وَلَيْسَ الْحَمْلُ مِنْ ضَرُورَاتِ الشُّرْبِ فَكَانَتْ سَبَبًا مَحْضًا فَلَا حُكْمَ لَهُ كَعَصْرِ الْعِنَبِ وَقَطْفِهِ وَالْحَدِيثُ مَحْمُولٌ عَلَى الْحَمْلِ بِنِيَّةِ الشُّرْبِ

Badā’i’ Al-Ṣanā’i’ (Vol.4, pg.189-90, Dār Al-Kutub Al-’Ilmiyyah)

Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.

Written by Alimah Maryam Badshah

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham