format_quote Originally Posted by
tryinghard
I understand what you were saying about staying away from people who drink, but I work somewhere where sometimes during breaks and meetings, people will bring out beers and other alcoholic beverages. Although I am not forced to drink, I know my boss and coworkers would be offended if I continuously refused to sit with them when they drank. Is it permissible to sit with them sometimes, of course never drinking, to avoid alienating them?
Question:
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.
Answer:
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.
Question:
I was told that there was once a brother (I dont know if he was one of the companions or at which point in history he lived in) who used to sit with people who drank alcohol solely for the purpose of making sure that on their way home they did not injure themselves. Have you heard of such a thing?
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
What you have mentioned is a strange story, which we have never heard of.
But what we know and are certain of is that sitting with people who are drinking alcohol is haraam, because Allaah has forbidden the Muslims to sit in gatherings where evil things are happening. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“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]
“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. Surely, Allaah will collect the hypocrites and disbelievers all together in Hell.” [al-Nisaa’ 4:140]
Some people who had been drinking wine were brought to ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Azeez (may Allaah have mercy on him) and he commanded that they should be flogged. One of them offered the excuse that he had not actually been drinking, but ‘Umar commanded that he should be flogged along with the others, and he recited this aayah to him. And Allaah knows best.