What is the ruling on working in a factory that manufactures glass containers, some of which are used for bottling wine, according to the Hanafī school of thought, by analogy with selling wood from which musical instruments are made?
The Hanafis have opined that it is permissible to manufacture or sell containers to those who use them for drinking wine, because the sin is committed by the action of the buyer, not by the object itself. They also permit selling juice to someone who will turn it into wine, and carrying wine for a dhimmi (non-Muslim under Muslim rule). The majority of scholars, however, hold the view that, as a principle, if it is known that the buyer will use an item for something forbidden, then it is not permissible to manufacture or sell it. It is important to note that a factory which produces containers suitable for bottling wine and other liquids, and sells them to various entities, most of whom use them for permissible purposes, is not forbidden to operate in areas not connected to selling those containers to wineries, due to the absence of direct and intentional assistance in what is forbidden.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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