Fatwa ID: 08989
Answered by Maulana Iqtidar Ahmed
Question:
Salaam, is taxi driving permissible in regard to transporting non mahram women and driving to or from places where the haram is done such as pubs or clubs (I’ve heard conflicting things such as this is not considered sin but rather assisting in sin which Abu Hanifa considered as makruh tanzihan instead of haram)?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Generally speaking, taxi driving is permissible [1]. In essence the work simply entails transporting a person or people from one place to another. It may only become haram if there are haram elements involved.
When there are haram or potential haram involved, it is advised that one should stay clear [2]. As such, if one can avoid driving the opposite gender (such as females driving female only taxis for example) then that would be superior. Likewise, one should avoid the times and places where people may be moving around to commit sins such as Friday night for example in many places.
This is the best way to avoid tainting one’s wealth with any doubt.
However, if one must work in that situation, there are some guidelines the ulema mention:
For driving (even a single member of) the opposite gender in a taxi with normal windows (not tinted or covered) in a public place during the day where people can see through the windows inside – this strictly speaking is not considered proper khalwah (seclusion) [3]. As a result, this would not reach the level of hurmah (haram), though again it should be avoided where possible.
However, if those conditions aren’t found, like there are tinted windows, or the road is such that there is always no one around, or driving at night such that no one would be able to see inside – then this may constitute proper khalwah which may thus be impermissible.
The advice would be to ensure the windows aren’t tinted, drive on busy roads and during the day if there is a likelihood of carrying single passengers of the opposite gender.
As for driving to and from places of haram, then again, this is to be avoided. One should try to avoid areas known for sin, or times known for sin. Strictly speaking, the view of Imam Abu Hanifa (RH) is that it would not be haram [4], because in essence, you are simply moving someone from place to place. Perhaps they will not go into the club but will visit a house next to it, perhaps they would go to be a bodyguard outside, not intending to commit any clear sin. It is viewed as possible indirect assistance not direct assistance. That being said, because of the risk that one may be indirectly assisting in sin, one should avoid.
May Allah grant us all success and a means of halal sustenance.
Only Allah ﷻ knows best.
Written by Maulana Iqtidar Ahmed
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
[1] – Ibn Abidin, Radd Al-Muhtar Ala Ad-Durr Al-Mukhtar, vol 1, p.105, Kitab At-Tahara (Dar Al-Fikr).
الْمُخْتَارُ أَنَّ الْأَصْلَ فِي الْأَشْيَاءِ الْإِبَاحَةُ
[2] – Sahih Muslim 1599 a
رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُول” فَمَنِ اتَّقَى الشُّبُهَاتِ اسْتَبْرَأَ لِدِينِهِ وَعِرْضِهِ وَمَنْ وَقَعَ فِي الشُّبُهَاتِ وَقَعَ فِي الْحَرَامِ “
[3] – Ibn Abidin, Radd Al-Muhtar Ala Ad-Durr Al-Mukhtar, vol 3, p.116, Kitab An-Nikah (Dar Al-Fikr).
قَوْلُهُ عَدَمُ صَلَاحِيَةِ الْمَكَانِ أَيْ لِلْخَلْوَةِ وَصَلَاحِيَتِهِ، بِأَنْ يَأْمَنَا فِيهِ اطِّلَاعَ غَيْرِهِمَا عَلَيْهِمَا كَالدَّارِ وَالْبَيْتِ
قَوْلُهُ كَمَسْجِدٍ وَطَرِيقٍ … وَالطَّرِيقُ مَمَرُّ النَّاسِ عَادَةً وَذَلِكَ يُوجِبُ الِانْقِبَاضَ فَيَمْنَعُ الْوَطْءَ بَدَائِعُ
[4] – Ibn Abidin, Radd Al-Muhtar Ala Ad-Durr Al-Mukhtar, vol 6, p.391, Kitab Al-Hathr Wa Al-Ibahah (Dar Al-Fikr).
وَجَازَ بَيْعُ عَصِيرِ عِنَبٍ مِمَّنْ يُعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ يَتَّخِذُهُ خَمْرًا لِأَنَّ الْمَعْصِيَةَ لَا تَقُومُ بِعَيْنِهِ
قَوْلُهُ وَجَازَ أَيْ عِنْدَهُ لَا عِنْدَهُمَا بَيْعُ عَصِيرِ عِنَبٍ أَيْ مَعْصُورُهُ الْمُسْتَخْرَجُ مِنْهُ فَلَا يُكْرَهُ بَيْعُ الْعِنَبِ وَالْكَرْمِ مِنْهُ بِلَا خِلَافٍ، كَمَا فِي الْمُحِيطِ لَكِنْ فِي بَيْعِ الْخِزَانَةِ أَنَّ بَيْعَ الْعِنَبِ عَلَى الْخِلَافِ قُهُسْتَانِيٌّ قَوْلُهُ مِمَّنْ يَعْلَمُ فِيهِ إشَارَةٌ إلَى أَنَّهُ لَوْ لَمْ يَعْلَمْ لَمْ يُكْرَهْ بِلَا خِلَافٍ قُهُسْتَانِيٌّ