Assalam alaikum wa rahmtullahi wa barakatuh,

Is it permissible to drive a taxi here in the West even though the taxi driver might have to transport people carrying alcohol or cases of alcohol with them in the vehicle? Also, it is not devoid of the temptation of underdressed girls? What is your advice, and is this job haram?

Barak Allahu feekum.

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful,

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessing be upon the Messenger of Allah, upon his household, his companions and those who have followed him. To proceed:

The AMJA conference held in Manama, Bahrain researched this issue among the studies it conducted on trades, jobs and professions beyond the lands of Islam, and they reached the following decision:

Decision #11: Working in the field of driving taxis or limousines when passengers are transporting prohibited items or carrying them on their person

·          It is not permissible for the driver to contractually agree to transport prohibited items such as alcohol, pork products and the like, due to the scriptural references to alcohol which curse anyone who carries it. This is also due to the fact that it is generally decided in Islamic law that, if Allah (Ta`ala) has prohibited something, He has prohibited direct or intentional assistance in circulating it.

·          If a contractual agreement has already been made to transport the passenger, anything prohibited that he is carrying in his arms or on his body will be pardoned because the contract does not refer to it in essence, but rather it refers to the transportation of the passenger which, in itself, is permissible work, as long as the passenger did not announce a prohibited intention.

·          It is disliked for the driver to go around to places in which immorality and licentious behavior are common. In fact, it is even more disliked during times people are more likely to frequent such places when he would be forced to deal with such people. There are plenty of opportunities for work besides this.

Based on this decision, there is no blame on you for anything prohibited the passenger may be carrying, as long as the contractual agreement was not essentially made for this purpose, but rather it was to transport the passenger himself, noting nevertheless that you must avoid helping him carry whatever prohibited goods he is transporting. He must be left to do that himself.

And Allah Almighty is the Most High, and He knows best.