What is the ruling on money acquired from selling alcohol, and how is it to be disposed of?
Allah Almighty has forbidden the drinking of intoxicants, and the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, cursed everyone who assisted in drinking it. It is forbidden by explicit texts from the Qur'an and Sunnah, as in His Almighty's saying: "Satan only wants to cause animosity and hatred between you through intoxicants and gambling and to avert you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. So will you desist?" and the saying of the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him: "The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, cursed ten concerning intoxicants: the one who presses it, the one for whom it is pressed, the one who drinks it, the one who carries it, the one to whom it is carried, the one who pours it, the one who sells it, the one who consumes its price, the one who buys it, and the one for whom it is bought." And if Allah forbids something, He forbids its price. He has forbidden the sale of intoxicants, carrion, swine, and idols. Therefore, trade in intoxicants and intoxicating substances is forbidden.
Whoever has done this must repent, which involves four things: abandoning the vile act, regretting what has passed, resolving not to return to it, and disposing of the ill-gotten gains by giving them in charity or spending them on the general welfare of Muslims. As for what was spent in the past, there is nothing on him regarding it except repentance.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/46269