Q: A questioner from Gambia asks: What is the ruling on a Muslim who sells wine or drugs? Can we consider him a Muslim? What is the ruling on a Muslim who works in a factory that produces wine? Should he leave that work even if it is the only work he finds?
A: It is a great evil and prohibited for a Muslim to sell wine or other unlawful items or to work in factories that produce wine. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) states:
Help you one another in AlBirr and AtTaqwâ (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression.
Undoubtedly, selling wine, drugs, and tobacco is a form of cooperation in sin and transgression. Similarly, working in alcohol factories is a sort of helping one another in sin and transgression. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) states:
O you who believe! Intoxicants (all kinds of alcoholic drinks), and gambling, and AlAnsâb, and AlAzlâm (arrows for seeking luck or decision) are an abomination of Shaitan's (Satan) handiwork. So avoid (strictly all) that (abomination) in order that you may be successful. Shaitân (Satan) wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants (alcoholic drinks) and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allâh and from AsSalât (the prayer). So, will you not then abstain?
It is authentically narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) cursed Khamr (intoxicant), the one who drinks it, the one who serves it, the one who squeezes it (the grapes, etc), the one for whom it is squeezed, the one who carries it, the one to whom it is carried, the one who sells it, the one who buys it, and the one who consumes its price.
Also, it is authentically narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated: Verily, Allah made a covenant to those who died while drinking Khamr (intoxicant) to make their drink Tinat alKhabal. They said: Allah's Messenger, what is Tinat al Khabal? He said: It is the discharge of the denizens of Hell or the sweat of the denizens of Hell.
This person is a disobedient Fasiq (someone flagrantly violating Islamic law) due to his actions. His faith is not complete and on the Day of Resurrection he will be left to the Will of Allah. He may forgive and pardon him or He may punish him. This is the opinion of Ahlu lSunnah walJama`ah (those adhering to the Sunnah and the Muslim main body) concerning such a person if he dies before repenting. Allah (may He be Praised) states:
Verily, Allâh forgives not that partners should be set up with Him (in worship), but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He wills
This ruling applies to a person who does not hold that consuming wine is lawful. If he does believe it is lawful, he is considered a disbeliever and no Funeral Prayer is offered for him and his body should not be washed if he dies in that state. This is the opinion of the majority of scholars, because declaring consumption of wine as lawful is considered belying Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) and His Messenger (peace be upon him).
The same ruling applies to the Muslim who holds that Zina (premarital sexual intercourse and/or adultery), sodomy, Riba (usury/interest), undutifulness to parents, severing ties of kinship, and killing humans unjustly, etc. as lawful.
One who commits any of these sins believing that they are prohibited and disobeying Allah by doing them is not considered a disbeliever; he is a Fasiq and is left to the Will of Allah (may He be Praised) in the Hereafter; if he does not repent before his death, as stated above. Allah is the Grantor of success.