Hotel Business; An Islamic Perspective
March 20, 2013Question: Is the running of guesthouse, rest-house or hotel business haraam? Or is it haraam when people pay for short time affections or when people come with other lovers who aren't their spouses or when unmarried couples pay for a room?
Answer:
There are few things or products for which Islam has absolutely ‘zero-tolerance’…..for example, intoxicants, gambling, ‘riba’ (interest), ‘fahisha’ (indecent or shameful acts – such as ‘The short times as in the question which I suppose is referring to unlawful sexual intercourse’), etc. Allah says: “O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah ], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful” (Qur’an 5:90). In another vesrse, Allah says: “And come not near to the unlawful sexual intercourse. Verily, it is a Fahishah [i.e. anything that transgresses its limits (a great sin)], and an evil way (that leads one to Hell unless Allah forgives him)” (Qur’an 17:32).
It would, therefore, be considered absolutely inappropriate for a believer who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day to work in any industry that facilitates anything or act which has clearly been declared as ‘haraam’ or unlawful by Allah and His Messenger (SAW).
Thus if one works for or is employed by a business which deals solely in ‘haraam’ products or services, or whose primary business is from unlawful products….for example bars serving alcohol, or gambling casinos, or prostitution dens, or interest-based commercial banks, etc…..without an iota of a doubt, one would share an appropriate burden of the sin for dealing in and facilitating products and services which have been clearly declared as ‘haraam’ by Allah and His Messenger (SAW).
Because the basic essence and the business of the hotel industry (rest house and lodge inclusive) is to provide accommodation for its guests….and just because the hotel happens to have a bar which serves alcohol…does not render the whole hotel industry or business haraam. If one perchance is employed in the hotel industry, but has absolutely nothing to do with the buying, selling, serving, or recording of haraam products….it would be safe to assume that the wages earned for their service would be from the halaal sources of earnings of the hotel.
In fact, there are some hotels, even here in Malawi (only two: Malawi Sun Hotel and Victoria Hotel in Blantyre), which do not have bars in them, all the foods they provide are all halaal and they have a mosque within the hotel premises (for Muslim guests to fulfill five daily prayers). As for unlawful sexual intercourse, it is just very difficult for one to determine whether the couples entering the hotel are legally married or not; hence this is a challenge to hotel owners. However, it should be known that Allah rewards good or bad act based on the intention (in this case, the intended goals and objectives of the hotel): is it to help people who are in dire need of accommodation such as travelers, or to promote haraam acts? Allah knows best …
Answer:
There are few things or products for which Islam has absolutely ‘zero-tolerance’…..for example, intoxicants, gambling, ‘riba’ (interest), ‘fahisha’ (indecent or shameful acts – such as ‘The short times as in the question which I suppose is referring to unlawful sexual intercourse’), etc. Allah says: “O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah ], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful” (Qur’an 5:90). In another vesrse, Allah says: “And come not near to the unlawful sexual intercourse. Verily, it is a Fahishah [i.e. anything that transgresses its limits (a great sin)], and an evil way (that leads one to Hell unless Allah forgives him)” (Qur’an 17:32).
It would, therefore, be considered absolutely inappropriate for a believer who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day to work in any industry that facilitates anything or act which has clearly been declared as ‘haraam’ or unlawful by Allah and His Messenger (SAW).
Thus if one works for or is employed by a business which deals solely in ‘haraam’ products or services, or whose primary business is from unlawful products….for example bars serving alcohol, or gambling casinos, or prostitution dens, or interest-based commercial banks, etc…..without an iota of a doubt, one would share an appropriate burden of the sin for dealing in and facilitating products and services which have been clearly declared as ‘haraam’ by Allah and His Messenger (SAW).
Because the basic essence and the business of the hotel industry (rest house and lodge inclusive) is to provide accommodation for its guests….and just because the hotel happens to have a bar which serves alcohol…does not render the whole hotel industry or business haraam. If one perchance is employed in the hotel industry, but has absolutely nothing to do with the buying, selling, serving, or recording of haraam products….it would be safe to assume that the wages earned for their service would be from the halaal sources of earnings of the hotel.
In fact, there are some hotels, even here in Malawi (only two: Malawi Sun Hotel and Victoria Hotel in Blantyre), which do not have bars in them, all the foods they provide are all halaal and they have a mosque within the hotel premises (for Muslim guests to fulfill five daily prayers). As for unlawful sexual intercourse, it is just very difficult for one to determine whether the couples entering the hotel are legally married or not; hence this is a challenge to hotel owners. However, it should be known that Allah rewards good or bad act based on the intention (in this case, the intended goals and objectives of the hotel): is it to help people who are in dire need of accommodation such as travelers, or to promote haraam acts? Allah knows best …
Posted by ABM Productions. Posted In : Islam
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