Is Picking-Up Passengers Who Carry Alcohol Permissible?

Question: Is it permissible to pick up passengers who are carrying or drinking alcohol?

Answer:

Wa alaykum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

Dear questioner,

Thank you for your important question.

Picking up passengers who carry or drink alcohol is permissible. It does not count as helping others commit sin (al ianah ala al haram). It should however be avoided as much as possible.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Allah has cursed alcohol, he who drinks it, he who pours it,  he who sells it, he who buys it, he who presses [the grapes], he for whom it is pressed, he who delivers it, he to whom it is delivered, and he who uses the money from it.” [Abu Dawud and others]

These people are all cursed because they either drink alcohol itself or directly enable others to drink it. Merely taking someone home while they drink or have alcohol on them is not directly instrumental in drinking itself.

Please also see:
https://seekers.flywheelstaging.com/answers/hanafi-fiqh/can-i-carry-boxes-of-wine-as-a-job/
https://dev.seekers.flywheelstaging.com/answers/hanafi-fiqh/can-a-taxi-driver-serve-the-opposite-sex-transport-customers-to-haram-locations-or-transport-customers-carrying-haram-items/

I pray this helps.

[Ustadh] Farid Dingle

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Farid Dingle has completed extensive years of study in the sciences of the Arabic language and the various Islamic Sciences. During his studies, he also earned a CIFE Certificate in Islamic Finance. Over the years he has developed a masterful ability to craft lessons that help non-Arabic speakers gain a deep understanding of the language. He currently teaches courses in the Arabic Language.