Question:
As salaamu alaikum
Dear staff
Is one allowed to make investments in terms of stocks and shares in supermarkets? Bearing in mind, that some of the products they sell may contain pork or alcohol?
Wa salaam.
Answer:
`Alaykum assalam
This question was answered by a contemporary mufti, Dr. Yusuf Qaradawi, president of the European Fiqh Council, who said yes as long as most of the income from that business is halal, e.g. when pork and alcohol profits form, say, 2% of total gross, and as long as it is being sold to non-Muslims, at the same time recommending that the haram transactions be handled by Christian employees.
However, we say there is no question that it is preferable to avoid being 2% cursed! as the authentic hadith to that effect is explicit that “he who profits from its sale is cursed.” And whatever incurs Divine curse is an enormity and should not be approached at all.
Hajj Gibril Haddad