Q: I would like to request a ruling according to the Hanafi madhhab regarding a student job at an ALDI supermarket distribution warehouse in Germany.
My main assignment involves picking fruit, bread, flowers and other ordinary goods. However, employees may occasionally be reassigned to a chilled warehouse area containing chicken and pork products, for example when colleagues are absent or another department needs assistance. My employer has explained that they cannot guarantee that I will never be assigned to this area, although most of my work is expected to involve ordinary goods.
The work is performed using a voice-picking system. I receive instructions to pick specific products and quantities, place them on a pallet, attach a label and move the completed pallet to a designated dispatch area. I do not sell the goods, interact with customers, receive deliveries or load the trucks myself.
According to the Hanafi madhhab, is it permissible for me to accept and continue this employment, and is my salary halal if I occasionally have to pick and palletise pork products as part of an otherwise predominantly permissible job?
A: It is permissible for you to pack halaal items. As far as haraam items are concerned (e.g. pork or haraam meat), then it is not permissible for you to pick them up, pack them or have any involvement with them.
If you pack haraam items, you will be sinful and your earnings, in proportion to the haraam work you did, will be haraam. Hence, you should excuse yourself from having any involvement with haraam items.
If you are forced by your employers to pack haraam items, then you should look for a halaal job. Until you do not find a halaal job, you should continue to make istighfaar and beg Allah Ta'ala to forgive you.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
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