Fatwa #229631 November 2012United Kingdom
Can we audit the books of a predominantly wine business?
Question
(1) Asalamualikum Mufti sahab we are an accountancy firm based in Uk. We do bookkeeping and accounting for business ess.My question is in islam is it allowed to prepare accounts and vat returns of business whose main operation is selling wines? (2) some business like grocery shops although selling wine is not their main operation but they do sell wines . Can we prepare accounts for them? Jazakallah waiting for your reply
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
The work profile of your accounting firm is merely that of “transactional documentation” which is unrelated to the direct and implicit sale of wines or any impermissible item, therefore the work profile of your company in dealing with such clients is Shariah Compliant. (Contemporary Fatawaa, Pg.155 – 164, Idara, Pakistan)
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Ismail Desai,
Student Darul Iftaa
Durban, South Africa
Checked and Concurred by,
Moulana Abdul Azeem Bin Abdul Rahmaan
Student Darul Iftaa