Back to search

What is the ruling on working in a restaurant that sells halal food in non-Muslim countries, if part of it sells alcohol and shisha, and the worker's role is limited to washing dishes and cleaning the kitchen only?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

It is permissible to work in restaurants that primarily sell permissible items, even if they contain some impermissible ones, provided that the worker does not directly engage in or directly assist with the impermissible. For instance, the work of a dish washer or kitchen cleaner is permissible as long as he does not sell impermissible items himself and his work does not directly aid in such sales. However, it should be noted that some scholars have considered washing the utensils and equipment used for impermissible items to be a form of prohibited assistance. The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta has issued fatwas prohibiting working in establishments that sell alcohol or restaurants that serve pork, whether the work involves selling, serving, or washing their utensils, due to it constituting cooperation in sin and transgression.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

Read the full answer on Ftawy