Haram and Halal money that is mixed

As Salaamu Alaikum. In regards to this question and response, will this also include occupation? Such as a place that has alcohol? Or Roulette/Play Whe machines? Being a revert, this was my first time Giving Zakaat, but because all the money I have earned at my job, there usually is alcohol or cigarettes, (neither or which I touch) I know technically my earnings are Haraam, So is it best just to not give any than to have it not be accepted?

Thank you for your time, any advice would be appreciated.

Wa Alaikum Assalaam,

الجواب و بالله التوفيق

If you work at a place where all the products and activities are haram, then the income obtained from that place will be entirely haram. However, if you work at a place where halal and haram products are being sold, then the entire wealth will not be haram. Only that amount will be haram which came from the source of haram products (although it is not permissible to work at such a place.)

For example, if you work at a supermarket, then the majority of products which are halal wll bring in halal income to the supermarket, and the products like alcohol, unlawful meats etc. will bring unlawful income. Therefore, seeing that the monies are mixed, it means that when you get your salary, the majority of it will be halal. So all your earning in this case, will not be haram. In a situation like this, the Scholars have stated that since one does know the exact amount of unlawful income in the salary, then one should estimate and give away that amount of money to the poor which one thinks that may be of the haram source. If one finds this difficult to ascertain then it may be easier to estimate as to what is the percentage of the haram products sold at the supermarket and what is the percentage of the halal products sold. It may be that from all the products that are sold, the products regarded as haram (in Islam) may constitute only 5%. In this case, one will take out 5% from one’s salary and give it to the poor and needy. The rest of the salary will be halal for the person to use, and from it one can give zakat and charity.

This explaination does not give ‘permission’ to a person to work in such places, but it tells one how to use the money which one has already earned while working at such places. As for working at these places, it is not permissible in Islam.

And Allah Knows Best.

Mufti Waseem Khan.

11/03/16.