QUESTION:
Is it permissible to work in a hospitality-like environment where alcohol is sold, handled, or served, especially for a person who desperately needs the job?
ANSWER:
In the Name of Allah, the All-Beneficent, the All-Merciful.
May Allah bless Muhammad and his Family and damn their enemies.
It is not permissible to sell, handle, or serve alcohol. Yes, it is permissible to work where alcohol is sold, handled, or served, as long as you are not involved in the process, such as working in a department which does not handle alcohol.
However, some workplaces may exempt their employees from certain roles on religious grounds, so it may be worthwhile to request to be exempt from handling alcohol or being transferred to another department, if possible.
Also, one should not worry about their livelihood, for Allah, the All-Powerful, is the one who provides all sustenance. If one decides to quit a job to satisfy their Lord, He will provide them with a better alternative. All that is required is that we submit to Allah’s will and trust in His judgment.
The Office of Sheikh al-Habib