Should
He Sit With His Colleagues At Work When They Are Drinking
Alcohol?
Islamic Rulings -
Living Shariah Verdicts
Islamic Questions & Answers
I work for an american company. I am the only muslim.
I am forced to be on business trips or functions with
people from my work who sometimes drink alcohol. am I
doing sin by being with them when I am not drinking or
doing anything against my beleives.If I don't
participate in those functions, maybe I will
jeopardize my Job.
Praise be to Allaah.
Allaah has favoured this ummah over other nations in
many matters, chief among which is enjoining what is
good and forbidding what is evil. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):
“You (true believers in Islamic Monotheism, and real
followers of Prophet Muhammad and his Sunnah) are the
best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin
Al-Ma‘roof (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam
has ordained) and forbid Al-Munkar (polytheism,
disbelief and all that Islam has forbidden), and you
believe in Allaah”
[Aal ‘Imraan 3:110]
What you have to do – as you are the only Muslim in
your company, as you say – is to be proud of the
teachings [?] of your religion, and strive to apply
them, and not to do anything that you are forbidden to
do. This is something that will raise you in status
and increase your reward. Staying with them even
though you are not drinking alcohol yourself is still
a sin in itself, because Allaah has commanded us not
to sit in places where evil is committed, otherwise
what befalls those who are committing the evil action
will also befall us.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And it has already been revealed to you in the Book
(this Qur’aan) that when you hear the Verses of Allaah
being denied and mocked at, then sit not with them,
until they engage in a talk other than that; (but if
you stayed with them) certainly in that case you would
be like them”
[al-Nisa’ 4:140]
“And when you (Muhammad) see those who engage in a
false conversation about Our Verses (of the Qur’aan)
by mocking at them, stay away from them till they turn
to another topic. And if Shaytaan (Satan) causes you
to forget, then after the remembrance sit not you in
the company of those people who are the Zaalimoon
(polytheists and wrongdoers)”
[al-An’aam 6:68]
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) said: “Whoever among you sees an evil action, let
him change it with his hand (by taking action); if he
cannot, then with his tongue (by speaking out); if he
cannot, then with his heart (by hating it and feeling
that it is wrong), and that is the weakest of faith.”
Narrated by Muslim, 70.
This denunciation of the heart refers to the stress
and agitation that one feels in the presence of evil.
This is an individual obligation upon all people in
all situations, and they have no excuse for not doing
this, because no one has any power over the heart.
Staying in a place where evil is being committed goes
against this required denunciation.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on
him) said:
The believer has to fear Allaah with regard to His
slaves, but their guidance is not his responsibility.
This is what is meant by the verse in which Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning):
“O you who believe! Take care of your ownselves. If
you follow the (right) guidance [and enjoin what is
right (Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders
one to do) and forbid what is wrong (polytheism,
disbelief and all that Islam has forbidden)] no hurt
can come to you from those who are in error”
[al-Maa’idah 5:105]
Following right guidance means doing all the
obligatory duties. If a Muslim does his duty of
enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil, as
well as other duties, the misguidance of those who are
misguided will never harm him. This may be done
sometimes with the heart, sometimes with the tongue,
and sometimes with the hand. Denunciation with the
heart is obligatory in every situation, because no
harm can result from it, and whoever does not do that
is not a Muslim, as the Prophet (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) said: “And that is the weakest
of faith.”
Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 28/127
Moreover the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) forbade sitting at a table where wine is
being drunk.
It was narrated that ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allaah
be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever
believes in Allaah and the Last Day, let him not sit
at a table where wine is being drunk.”
Narrated by Ahmad, 126; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani
in Irwa’ al-Ghaleel, 7/6.
See also the answer to question no. 8957; 6992.
Finally we remind you of the words of Allaah
(interpretation of the meaning):
“And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him,
He will make a way for him to get out (from every
difficulty).
And He will provide him from (sources) he never could
imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allaah, then
He will suffice him. Verily, Allaah will accomplish
his purpose. Indeed Allaah has set a measure for all
things”
[al-Talaaq 65:2-3]
So give up these evil things, and those trips and
sitting with those people. Seek the reward for that
with your Lord. If this leads to your leaving your
job, then you will have a great reward with Allaah and
you will find goodness, a way out and provision by His
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