Question:

I carve and engrave on glass, marble, and wood. Is it halaal for me to make gift items to be sold during Christmas, valentine's Day, birthday, New Year, and any other occasions that Kaafirs celebrate? I do not draw humans, birds, or animals because I know it is Haraam for us to draw living creatures' pictures. I only draw roses, plants, and write words and architectural borders. Also, is it Halaal for me to make signs for any shop? I do not ask the customer if they sell Halaal or Haraam stuff, because I don't think it's my business. Some restaurant owners want me to make them signs. These restaurants may or may not serve alcohol, I do not ask, and I am not sure if they sell alcoholic beverages. What is the ruling in this situation? Do I make the signs if the owner doesn't specify to me to write that he serves alcohol?

Fatwa:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

You have been doing a good job by restricting yourself to drawing flowers, trees and the like and by making borders avoiding drawing the pictures of animate beings. We ask Allah to provide you with the Halaal means of livelihood.

A Muslim is not permitted to take part in any forbidden or innovated acts whether his participation is by his physical presence, by drawing signs, making signboards, writing phrases of congratulation or invitation to such celebrations; the rule is the same. All this is forbidden.

Those gifts, which are sold throughout the year and not restricted to the mentioned occasions, are permissible. One may make them and sell them even though some people may use them in forbidden occasions.

As for making signs of shops or advertising them, this depends on the nature of the shop:

A. If the commercial sectors are known for their forbidden activities such as dance halls, cinema houses, casinos, night clubs, usury taking banks etc., then making any kind of advertisement for such sector is forbidden whether it is a signboard, a slogan, or the like.

B. If a restaurant is known for serving pork only or alcohol only then providing any service for such restaurant is forbidden.

C. If a restaurant serves Halaal and Haraam, both kinds of foods, drinks, etc., this is a doubtful matter but it is safer for one to avoid dealing with it.

D. If a shop or a restaurant is known not to provide Haraam things or its state is not known then making signs for it or advertising it is permissible.

Allah Knows best.

Fatwa answered by: The Fatwa Center at Islamweb