Is it permissible for me to work in transporting cigarettes and delivering them to stores that sell them to meet my financial needs as an expatriate student? Am I committing a sin by doing so, or is this work considered unlawful (haram)? And would I be excused if there is no other work available?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
The impermissibility of smoking is agreed upon, and any assistance in it is forbidden, due to the Almighty's saying: "And do not cooperate in sin and aggression." Therefore, it is not permissible to work in distributing tobacco unless there is an extreme necessity, where a person cannot find their basic expenses. Completing one's studies is not considered among these necessities. Furthermore, the intention to allocate money earned from distribution to pay taxes does not permit the work unless failure to pay leads to imprisonment or something difficult to bear.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/170890
Where this answer came from
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 170890
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy