Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalaam Alaikum !

further to the question on consumption of alchohol I have 2 queries :

1. Is it a sin to be sitting with a group of people who are consuming alcohol at a party . generally at work when there is a party most of the people are drinking so would like to know if that is wrong too as it becomes unavoidable to attend a party where alcohol is being consumed.

2. If you are entertaining some guests in a restaurant and they order alcohol is it wrong if you pay for the alcohol too as they are your guests and you are unable to ask them to pay as part of hospitality.

Allah Hafiz & salaam alaikum !

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Answer:

Sit with alcohol table party

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: Is it a sin to be sitting with a group of people who are consuming alcohol at a party. generally at work when there is a party most of the people are drinking so would like to know if that is wrong too as it becomes unavoidable to attend a party where alcohol is being consumed.
Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verses 90-91:

O you who have believed! ‘Khamr’ (all types of intoxicants), games of chance, idols, and divining arrows are all abominable works of the Shaytaan; therefore, stay (far) away from these so that you may attain success. Indeed, the Shaytaan seeks to sow enmity and hatred among you by means of ‘khamr’ (intoxicants) and gambling, and to prevent you from the Remembrance of Allah and from Salaah. Will you not, then, abstain from these things?

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 2776 Narrated by Anas ibn Malik

Allah's Messenger (saws) invoked the curse of Allah on ten people in connection with wine: the wine-presser, the one who has it pressed, the one who drinks it, the one who conveys it, the one to whom it is conveyed, the one who serves it, the one who sells it, the one who benefits from the price paid for it, the one who buys it, and the one for whom it is bought.

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 4477 Narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah

The Prophet (saws) said, "He who believes in Allah and the Last Day must not sit at a cloth (table or gathering) where wine is being circulated."

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 3765 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar

The Messenger of Allah (saws) forbade the sitting at a cloth (table or gathering) on which wine is drunk.

Allah Subhanah has commanded the believers to stay far far away from any and all types of intoxicants, and the Messenger of Allah (saws) explicitly forbade the believers to sit or join in a gathering where alcohol is being served.

Thus, if one has prior knowledge that alcohol will be served at a gathering or party, it would be purer and better for them to fear Allah and abstain from attending such gatherings, for Allah indeed has the biggest right that He be obeyed.

But if one attends a gathering or party, knowing that alcohol will be served there, even if they do not consume alcohol themselves, they will indeed share a burden of the sin.

Your Question: If you are entertaining some guests in a restaurant and they order alcohol is it wrong if you pay for the alcohol too as they are your guests and you are unable to ask them to pay as part of hospitality.

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 2776 Narrated by Anas ibn Malik

Allah's Messenger (saws) invoked the curse of Allah on ten people in connection with wine: the wine-presser, the one who has it pressed, the one who drinks it, the one who conveys it, the one to whom it is conveyed, the one who serves it, the one who sells it, the one who benefits from the price paid for it, the one who buys it, and the one for whom it is bought.

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 4477 Narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah

The Prophet (saws) said, "He who believes in Allah and the Last Day must not sit at a cloth (table or gathering) where wine is being circulated."

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 3765 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar

The Messenger of Allah (saws) forbade the sitting at a cloth (table or gathering) on which wine is drunk.

Dear and beloved Sister, leave alone paying for the alcohol being consumed by the guest whom you have chosen to invite, Islam does not even allow the believers, who sincerely fear Allah and the Last Day, to sit at the same table where alcohol or intoxicants are being consumed in manifest defiance of the Laws and Boundaries of Allah Subhanah!

If a believer is the host, he/she should make it absolutely clear to all those who are invited that no alcohol will be served or consumed at his/her gathering; and if the believer is invited to a party whereby he/she has prior knowledge that alcohol will be served or consumed, it would be best, and akin to piety and righteousness in the Sight of Allah that the believer refuse to attend such gatherings where the Laws and Boundaries of Allah Subhanah are openly transgressed.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan