[Q 267] Ruling on working as a food delivery man

Question

Zaid is a delivery driver where he picks up food from different restaurants or even other things from different stores and delivers to the customers (Food Panda + Bykea in Pakistan)

Zaid is concerned if he can do this delivery job and asked Bakar. Bakar’s argument is that Ziad can drive because he’s not selling the product, but only getting paid for his driving service (similar to renting his property to someone where the renter may open a non halal restaurant or sell alcohol)

Is it Haram for Zaid to work as a delivery driver since the contents being delivered could be haram?

How about Uber or Taxi driver as there might cases where Zaid’s ride might be going to a place of sin?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الجواب بعون الملك الوهاب اللهم هداية الحق والصواب

Answer

In the above-mentioned scenario, if he does not know whether the food ordered is haram or halal, then the one delivering it will not be sinful. However, if he is certain or that his predominant suspicion (ظن غالب) is that the order contains haram items, such as alcohol etc then zaid cannot perform the delivery, because in this case he is helping another perform an impermissible and sinful act, which is itself impermissible and a sin.

Allah says in the Quran:

“ولا تعاونوا على الإثم والعدوان”

Translation:

“And do not help each other in sin and transgression”

(Part 6, Surah al-Maidah, verse 2)

And for Bakr’s to use the shop scenario as his reasoning is incorrect because in the process of renting out a shop the action of handling, selling haram items such as alcohol is done by the shop keeper, by his own will, there is no action of the owner in this, even to the extent that if the shop keeper wants to sell other things the owner has no issue with this. He only asks for the rent to use his shop. Whereas the delivery driver delivers the haram items which the owner has handled and sold, hence this is “helping one another in sin” which is impermissible and a sin.

Answered by: Mufti Sajid Attari

Translated by: Aqib Attari