445. Is Running A Pastry Shop Permissible

 By Asma Bint Shameem

Running a pastry shop or bakery in and of itself is permissible. 

However to sell a cake that you know for sure is for an occasion that’s against the teachings of Islaam, or for any religious festival of the non Muslims, would not be allowed. 

Allaah says to cooperate in goodness and not in sin 

وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَىٰ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ

“Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression. 

And fear Allaah. Verily, Allaah is Severe in punishment.”

 (Surah al-Ma’edah:2)

And Allaah says:

مَّن يَشْفَعْ شَفَاعَةً حَسَنَةً يَكُن لَّهُ نَصِيبٌ مِّنْهَا وَمَن يَشْفَعْ شَفَاعَةً سَيِّئَةً يَكُن لَّهُ كِفْلٌ مِّنْهَا وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مُّقِيتًا

“Whosoever intercedes for a good cause will have the reward thereof, and whosoever intercedes for an evil cause will have a share in its burden. And Allah is Ever All-Able to do (and also an All-Witness to) everything.“

(Surah an-Nisaa:85)

Ibn Taymiyyah said,

“It is unlawful for Muslims to imitate (non-Muslims) in anything which is peculiar to their holidays, be it food, clothing, or bathing … (and it is also prohibited) to sell them anything which is used to assist them in that for that reason.” [Al-Fataawa Al-Kubra]

And Allaah knows best