Fatwa ID: 87754
Title: Working in food delivery (Uber Eats, DoorDash, etc.), delivering food which may contain pork, during COVID-19 crisis
Category: Financial Transactions
Scholar: AMJA Resident Fatwa Committee
Date: 04/19/2020

Question

During the COVID-19 crisis, people are not leaving their homes; so they have various food items delivered, some of which may contain impermissible (haram) products such as pork and pork byproducts. What is the ruling on working for these types of companies as a driver, delivering such items to people’s homes?


Answer

In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Grantor of Mercy

All praise belongs to Allah, and may prayers and peace be upon Allah’s final Messenger.

Basically, Muslims are to stay away from what Allah has prohibited and avoid buying it, selling it, consuming it, or assisting others in doing that. However, for those who live in a non-Islamic country in which pork products are abundant and widespread, they are to consider the percentage of haram products in the delivery orders, and if the proportion or percentage is relatively small, meaning it is not the majority of what is being delivered, then we do not deem this type of work to be impermissible. This is because the drivers’ support role is not direct, the majority of what is being delivered is halal, and the majority of the customers are non-Muslims—for whom the requirement of adherence to Islamic substantive law is a topic of debate.

Additionally, there is a need (for Muslims) to work and earn a wage during these difficult circumstances. So we advise the one who has posed this question to stay away from what is haram as much as possible, and to distribute whatever amounts of his wealth that will purify it, as was mentioned in the statement of the Prophet (peace be upon him) narrated by Qays ibn Abi Gharazah, “O merchants, selling involves (false) oaths and idle talk, so mix some charity with it” (Reported by Abu Dāwood, al-Tirmidhi, al-Nasā’i, and Ibn Mājah). Also, if possible, the questioner should find work which is purer and more pious in the future.

The answer above is based on the questioner’s confirmation that there are impermissible products included in the delivery orders. If it is not obvious that there are, there is no need to pose this question and there is no need to investigate the ingredients, so long as what is produced or delivered by the company are mostly, if not completely, permissible. On the contrary however, if most of the products are haram, it is not permissible to work there or to make deliveries for them unless there is a dire need to do so, which is currently hard to imagine.

We ask that Allah grant everyone relief and success.

And Allah knows best.