Fatwa No : 85476
Doing business in plastic bags used for packing hashish

Doing business in plastic bags used for packing hashish

Respected Mufti Sahib, Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh! After the prescribed Islamic greeting, I would like to ask regarding the following issue that I am a shopkeeper, and in my shop, I sell plastic bags of various kinds. Almost every type of plastic bag is available in my shop. These bags are purchased by people from different walks of life. For example, a certain red plastic bag is purchased from me by onion sellers, bakery owners, and many others. However, this same bag is also used by those who sell hashish (cannabis) for packing it, and they too buy it from me. Nowadays, the majority of buyers for this red plastic bag are hashish sellers, who use it primarily for drug packaging. I wish to know: what is the ruling on this business for me? Is it permissible (halal) or impermissible (haram)? The second issue is that I also sell another item in my shop, known as “juice pack.” I am sending a sample to your respected service. Its original purpose is for packaging juice, but people also use it as table sheets, for making temporary latrines, and for various other purposes. However, many people who purchase it from me end up using this “juice pack” for packing hashish as well. Is selling this “juice pack” permissible for me, or is it unlawful? Kindly explain the above-mentioned issue in detail. I will be grateful and indebted. May Allah, the Exalted, grant you the best of rewards.

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

The buying and selling of the “juice packs” and plastic bags mentioned in the question is, according to Shariah, permissible and valid for the questioner, and the profit earned from it may also be lawfully used. However, if it is known with certainty that a particular person will use these bags specifically for packing hashish, then it is better to avoid selling to such a person.

مأخَذُ الفَتوی

کما فی الھدایة: قال: "ومن كسر لمسلم بربطا أو طبلا أو مزمارا أو دفا أو أراق له سكرا أو منصفا فهو ضامن، وبيع هذه الأشياء جائز" (الی قولہ) ولأبي حنيفة أنها أموال لصلاحيتها لما يحل من وجوه الانتفاع وإن صلحت لما لا يحل فصار كالأمة المغنية. وهذا؛ لأن الفساد بفعل فاعل مختار فلا يوجب سقوط التقوم، وجواز البيع والتضمين مرتبان على المالية والتقوم الخ (4/307)۔
و فی ردالمحتار: تحت (قوله: لأنه إعانة على المعصية) ؛ لأنه يقاتل بعينه،(الی قولہ) وعلى هذا بيع الخمر لا يصح ويصح بيع العنب. الخ (4/268)۔
و فی الدرالمختار: (و) جاز (بيع عصير) عنب (ممن) يعلم أنه (يتخذه خمرا) لأن المعصية لا تقوم بعينه بل بعد تغيره الخ (6/391)۔