Is It Halal to Work in a Bakery That Sells Alcohol or Pork Products?

28 September, 2025
Q Is it permissible in Islam to work in a bakery where some products, such as cakes with alcohol or burgers with bacon, are sold, even if most of the items are halal and the employee only serves them without preparing them?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. 

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.


In this fatwa:

In Islam, working in a bakery that sells alcohol or pork is discouraged, but if you are not directly handling haram items and no alternative work is available, it may be allowed under necessity. Muslims are encouraged to seek halal income whenever possible.


Responding to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:

If you find another job free of such doubtful cases, you should go for it.

However, if you find yourself in a situation where you cannot see anything, then you may continue the job if you are not directly involved in handling the haram products.

According to the rules of jurisprudence, hardship eases the difficulty, or, stated differently, exigencies may render what is otherwise impermissible as permissible.

I urge you to continue praying to Allah to bless you in your search for a lawful means of livelihood that is wholly pure and lawful. Here is a Du’a I would recommend to you:

Allaahumma ighnini bihalalika an haramika wabi ta`atikha an ma`siyathika wabi fadlika amman siwaka

(O Allah, make me sufficient with the halal so that I am not forced to resort to the haram; and cause me to be content with Your obedience so that I do disobey You, and make me satisfied with Your favor so that I don’t need to seek favor the mortals).

👉 Read more about Islamic rulings on earning halal income and avoiding doubtful jobs: 

Almighty Allah knows best.

About Sheikh Ahmad Kutty
Sheikh Ahmad Kutty is a Senior Lecturer and an Islamic Scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada