Selling Haraam things.

[alf2]

For those of you who ARE in the US, you will understand what I'm about to discuss.

I have Muslim friends from Pakistan who plan to visit America...eventually, haha. I feel they will be so repulsed at some of the things other Muslims do here. For example, gas/petrol station owners. They sell alcohol, lottery, pork, and even sometimes magazines or movies with nudity and sexual content.

Yet, when you walk in, they will greet you with "Assalamu alaykum wa ramatullah" This honestly, makes my stomach turn. These people are often IMMIGRANTS, from Pakistan, India, Iran....

Their defense: Americans indulge in this, if we did not sell it, we would not make money.

In my view: All money gained from those sales, is tainted. I'm happy to know you'll sell your soul for $100 worth of profits from these haraam things

It reminds me of a man selling women for sex, but since HE isnt indulging, it's okay :/

How do you feel seeing this sort of thing?
Do you say something? Or keep your thoughts to yourself?
For Muslims NOT in the west, does this surprise you? ​

 

[arzafar]

1) angry, disappointed. i hate it when people try to rationalize such things when clearly they are wrong.
2) well ive got in trouble for opening my mouth but im rarely afraid to speak the truth. some people say that saying the truth has it's time and place but so far im learning that art.
3) Not really. there are many sick people in Pakistan too. you probably wont find people selling women for sex but poverty can make you do extra ordinary things. oh and everything from nightclubs, drinking and homosexuality is practiced here too but in secrecy. i think that's the case in pretty much all of the muslim world.

to get an idea search the national geographic show "Don't Tell My Mother I'm In Pakistan"

 

[Aapa]

Assalaam walaikum,

It is hard to digest. But in gas stations the things that sell the most are beer, cigarettes and smoking papers.

Many of the immigrants can not find work anywhere else. Most of these immigrants are not educated. They barely speak English. In some instances they work without documentation. Some sleep in the workplace. Many work over 60 hours a week. I knew one man who did not have a day off for six months. They send money home. Their families rely on the money. They take turns attending jumma. One man will watch the store while the others will go to jumma and the next week they switch.

They are robbed often. Even in my remote area a brother was murdered in the middle of the night..the murderers were never caught. They were teenagers.

This is a double edged sword. If I smile at them or say Salaam they are deeply grateful.

This is not always the land of milk and honey and the streets are not paved with gold.

I am just presenting the ugly reality of many of brothers caught in this frenzy.

 

[alf2]

1) angry, disappointed. i hate it when people try to rationalize such things when clearly they are wrong.
2) well ive got in trouble for opening my mouth but im rarely afraid to speak the truth. some people say that saying the truth has it's time and place but so far im learning that art.
3) Not really. there are many sick people in Pakistan too. you probably wont find people selling women for sex but poverty can make you do extra ordinary things. oh and everything from nightclubs, drinking and homosexuality is practiced here too but in secrecy. i think that's the case in pretty much all of the muslim world.

to get an idea search the national geographic show "Don't Tell My Mother I'm In Pakistan"

!!!
I have seen that Documentary. It really was so surprising...Like a transvestite with a television show...wow.

Assalaam walaikum,

It is hard to digest. But in gas stations the things that sell the most are beer, cigarettes and smoking papers.

Many of the immigrants can not find work anywhere else. Most of these immigrants are not educated. They barely speak English. In some instances they work without documentation. Some sleep in the workplace. Many work over 60 hours a week. I knew one man who did not have a day off for six months. They send money home. Their families rely on the money. They take turns attending jumma. One man will watch the store while the others will go to jumma and the next week they switch.

They are robbed often. Even in my remote area a brother was murdered in the middle of the night..the murderers were never caught. They were teenagers.

This is a double edged sword. If I smile at them or say Salaam they are deeply grateful.

This is not always the land of milk and honey and the streets are not paved with gold.

I am just presenting the ugly reality of many of brothers caught in this frenzy.

Actually, some of my experiences are on the contrary. One of the people i speak of owns a station right next to me, OWNS - It is his. Some others work there, but its family owned. Middle Easterners & Asians from the Subcontient love to come here and open up gas stations, one of the primary reasons is the HUGE tax cut they get for 10 years.

When the 10 years is up, they merely sell the place to a family member waiting to immigrate here to take the cut. We were told this by a good family friend who is Indian, he himself did this.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

But I do understand what you mean in some cases, I've met Muslims in grocery stores that are forced to sell these things as well and are probably over worked, considering theyre there ALL the time.

 

[BrotherInIslam7]

:salam2:

So what really differentiates us from the non-believers when we are selling haraam things, for the accumulation of wealth ?

There wouldn't be any barakah(blessing) in earning money from unlawful. In addition, a person's supplication wouldn't be accepted if his money isn't earned from halaal. It is better to be happy with lesser provisions and have Allah's blessing.

There are many stories of muslim businessmen in US, who gave up selling haram items in their restaurants,stores etc. They struggled for a while and supplicated a lot, placing their trust in Allah subhaanaho waa taala. After a few years, they noticed that Allah subhaanaho waa taala in His infinite mercy had increased their provisions multiple times.

We should advise such people if it is possible for us. Else we should atleast supplicate for them that Allah subhaanaho waa taala guides them and eases their situation so that they can quit selling what is haram.

Wasalaamalaykum waa rahmatullahi

 

[Seeking Allah's Mercy]

For those of you who ARE in the US, you will understand what I'm about to discuss.

I have Muslim friends from Pakistan who plan to visit America...eventually, haha. I feel they will be so repulsed at some of the things other Muslims do here. For example, gas/petrol station owners. They sell alcohol, lottery, pork, and even sometimes magazines or movies with nudity and sexual content.

Yet, when you walk in, they will greet you with "Assalamu alaykum wa ramatullah" This honestly, makes my stomach turn. These people are often IMMIGRANTS, from Pakistan, India, Iran....

Their defense: Americans indulge in this, if we did not sell it, we would not make money.

In my view: All money gained from those sales, is tainted. I'm happy to know you'll sell your soul for $100 worth of profits from these haraam things

It reminds me of a man selling women for sex, but since HE isnt indulging, it's okay :/

How do you feel seeing this sort of thing?
Do you say something? Or keep your thoughts to yourself?
For Muslims NOT in the west, does this surprise you? ​

:salam2:wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu.

sister this is really ridiculous and i see what you mean.What comes from haraam is clearly haraam.

the reason is simple these ppl don't have much understanding of their religion.these are the ones that are referred to as "muslims by name".they say salam coz they grew up hearing this sentence.most have no sense of what exactly is the salam for......
sadly they only care for money so they find excuses for it if someone points them out.they don't care if they represent the ummah or are being a bad example,these are of secondary importance.there is a need to correct our ummah and correct ourselves.this world and it's possesion are of value but the first and forermost is akhira for which understanding of islam is required,then it will satisfy our duniya and akhira equally well

pverty can be a reason but i know those who are well off....

may ALLAH give us all hidaya and true understanding of our religion.ameen