My nieces work as checkout girls in a super store called Sainsbury. This super store sells everything including wine. Are they allowed to work there? Can my sons accept gifts from my nieces' earned money?

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.

It is well-known that wine and pork are forbidden.

Allah Says (what means):

• {Satan only wants to cause between you animosity and hatred through intoxicants and gambling and to avert you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. So will you not desist?} [Quran 5: 91]

• {Say, “I do not find within that which was revealed to me [anything] forbidden to one who would eat it unless it be a dead animal or blood spilled out or the flesh of swine - for indeed, it is impure.”} [Quran 6: 145]

Just as a Muslim has to avoid the above-mentioned forbidden matters and their likes, he has to avoid working in places as restaurants, shops and so on if they trade or deal in these prohibitions.

Allah Says (what means): {And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty.} [Quran 5: 2]

A Muslim has to know that if he gives up something for the sake of Allah, He will make it easy for him to have the best sustenance.

Allah Says (what means): {…And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine.} [Quran 65:2-3]

As for accepting gifts, we state that if your niece has forbidden earnings; i.e., other than that which she receives from her present work at “Sainsbury stores”, then it is lawful for your son to receive her gifts; otherwise, it is forbidden. However, it is better and safer to avoid acceptance of these gifts, since there is some suspicion in her wealth.

Allah knows best.