Working as a storekeeper in a hotel where there is alcohol

Alcohol is
the mother of all evils, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) told us. Narrated by al-Tabaraani in al-Awsat; classed
as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’. 

It is not
permissible to drink it, carry it, sell it, buy it or help with it in any
way whatsoever, such as recording in books or on the computer,  and so on,
because of the warnings and curses that have been narrated concerning that,
Abu Dawood (3674) and Ibn Maajah (3380) narrated that Ibn ‘Umar said: The
Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“May Allaah curse wine, the one who drinks it, the one who pours it, the one
who sells it, the one who buys it, the one who squeezes (the grapes etc),
the one for whom it is squeezed, the one who carries it and the one to whom
it is carried.” Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood. 

Al-Tirmidhi
(1295) narrated that Anas ibn Maalik said: The Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) cursed ten with regard to wine:
the one who squeezes (the grapes etc), the one who asks for it to be
squeezed, the one who drinks it, the one who carries it, the one to whom it
is carried, the one who pours it, the one who sells it and consumes its
price, the one who buys it and the one for whom it is bought. 

Undoubtedly
your working in these stores in which there is alcohol, involves guarding
it, recording it, as well as keeping silent about the evil of moving it and
transporting it from time to time. 

Based on
that, it is not permissible for you to carry on working in this job, because
it involves cooperating in sin and transgression, and not denouncing evil. 

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); and if he cannot, then
with his heart (by hating it and feeling it is wrong), and that is the
weakest of faith.” Narrated by Muslim (49).  

It is well
known that denouncing evil in one’s heart must also be accompanied by
leaving the place of evil, as is indicated by the words of Allaah, may He be
exalted (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. Surely, Allaah will
collect the hypocrites and disbelievers all together in Hell”

[al-Nisa’
4:140]

al-Qurtubi
(may Allaah have mercy on him) said: The words of Allaah, may He be exalted,
“then sit not with them, until they engage in a talk other than that”
mean, words other than kufr; “certainly in that case you would be like
them”. This indicates that it is obligatory to avoid the people of sin
when you see them commit evil, because the one who does not avoid them is
approving of their deeds, and approval of kufr is itself kufr. Allaah, may
He be glorified and exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): “certainly
in that case you would be like them”. So everyone who sits in a sinful
gathering and does not denounce them shares an equal burden of sin with
them. 

He should
denounce them if they speak of sin and do it. If he is not able to denounce
them then he should get up and leave, so that he will not be one of those
mentioned in this verse. 

It was
narrated that ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Azeez (may Allaah be pleased with him)
caught some people drinking alcohol, and it was said to him that one of the
people present was fasting. He disciplined him as well and recited this
verse, “certainly in that case you would be like them” i.e., approval
of sin is also sin. Hence the one who did it and the one who approved of it
are both to be punished. End quote. 

So you have
to look for another, permissible job, and be certain that provision comes
from Allaah, and Allaah will not forsake His believing slave. Beware of
letting hardship and difficult circumstances push you into seeking provision
by disobeying Allaah, may He be exalted. 

Ibn Maajah
narrated in his Sunan (2144) that Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah said: The
Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“O people, fear Allaah and be moderate in seeking a living, for no soul will
die until it has received all its provision, even if it is slow in coming.
So fear Allaah and be moderate in seeking provision; take that which is
permissible and leave that which is forbidden.” Classed as saheeh by
al-Albaani in Saheeh Ibn Maajah. 

You should
also remember that whoever gives up something for the sake of Allaah, Allaah
will compensate him with something better than it, as Imam Ahmad (22565)
narrated from Abu Qataadah and Abu’l-Dahma’ who said: We came to a man from
among the people of the desert and said: Did you hear anything from the
Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)? 

He said:
Yes, I heard him say: “You will never give up anything for the sake of
Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted, but Allaah will give you something
better than it in its stead.” Al-Arna’oot said: Its isnaad is saheeh. It was
also classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Da’eefah,
hadeeth no. 5. 

No matter
what hardship you may face in life, it is still easier to bear than seeing
this great evil and working in places upon which the curse may fall, and
earning haraam money in which there is nothing good for you or your family.
So hasten to get out of this bad situation. 

We ask
Allaah to make things easier for you and to provide for you out of His
bounty. 

And Allaah
knows best.