Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

As-Salamualikum Sir , I have gone through your forum some things are acceptable and i would go in debate with you by sending some things , but now i want to ask you questions and my question may hurt some one feeling but basically i am not against any body. Question 1 ) See i work in an organization where some of my co-workers are non belivers , is it allowed to share spoon , same plate , or even same bottle of water to share with them ?, some time we ate with the same spoon , or from the same box or even share other articles of eating too.Is there any restriction in the sharing with a non belivers ?. Question 2) Is any type of insurance is allowed in ISLAM ? if yes then any references of HOLY QURAN / HADITH. If no , i would like to ask you one question of it, it may be wrong , if so may "ALLAH" forgive me, i have heard that "Once some SAHABHI was very much hurry in offering Namaz and when Prophet (SAW) asked him about the reason He told that his house is unlocked and since it was prayer time He came and left it on ALLAH, at that time Prophet (SAW) told First take care of your belongings to yourself and then leave it to ALLAH", Secondly i we know that "DEATH and LIFE is in hand on ALLAH" so we have no rightsto insure ourself , but some imams / maulvis (Non Bohra says since this place is not safe we can insure , i would like to know on it with References )(as normally provided by U) 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Eating with non-mislims

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your question: See i work in an organization where some of my co-workers are non belivers , is it allowed to share spoon , same plate , or even same bottle of water to share with them ?, some time we ate with the same spoon , or from the same box or even share other articles of eating too.Is there any restriction in the sharing with a non belivers ?

It all depends on what is the food that you eat with them, and exactly what are the beliefs of these non-believers. If the food that is served is halaal in principle, like fruits, vegetables, water, non-alcoholic drinks, etc.; there is absolutely no harm in sharing this food with them, or even using the same spoon, plate, glass, bottle, same tiffin-box, etc.

But if the food that is served is meat which has not been slaughtered according to Shariah, then it is not permissible to eat this food. But if the meat itself is slaughtered according to Islamic principles, it does not matter if a non-believer cooks or serves it, it is permissible to eat this food.

There is absolutely no restrictions in sharing or eating with the non believers, as long as the food in principle is halaal itself.

Your question: Is any type of insurance is allowed in ISLAM ? if yes then any references of HOLY QURAN / HADITH.

The term ‘insurance’ as we understand and is implemented in this day and age, was developed long after the death of the Messenger of Allah (saws); and thus there are no direct references from the Glorious Quran and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws).

The principle of ‘insurance’ today is basically interest-based, and that is one of the main reasons it is declared haraam or prohibited unanimously by consensus of all the scholars and schools of thought in Islam! It is not that the principle of insurance itself is haraam; what is haraam is the base of insurance in this day and age, which is primararily based on interest or riba!

But Alhamodolillah, today there are many companies that provide Insurance based on the principles of Shariah… and it is permitted to seek insurance from these Islamic Insurance Companies.

Your Question: i would like to ask you one question of it, it may be wrong , if so may "ALLAH" forgive me, i have heard that "Once some SAHABHI was very much hurry in offering Namaz and when Prophet (SAW) asked him about the reason He told that his house is unlocked and since it was prayer time He came and left it on ALLAH, at that time Prophet (SAW) told First take care of your belongings to yourself and then leave it to ALLAH",

I have not come across the narration which you have quoted above, in any of the accepted authentic books of ahaadiths. But there is an authentic narration whereby a man came and asked the Prophet (saws) whether when he travels in the desert and halts for rest, should he keep his camel loose and trust in Allah, or should he tie his camel. The Messenger of Allah (saws) told him to first tie his camel securely, and then put his trust in Allah Subhanah.

The basic lesson to be learnt from the above narration is that Islam teaches the believers that one should secure his property, his house, his belongings to the best of the his ability; and then put his trust in Allah Subhanah. What is disliked is that after doing everything one does to protect his property and belongings, he constantly worries about some calamity befalling his property! Once he has done the best he can to protect his property, then he should put his full trust in Allah Subhanah; and be firm in his belief that no harm can come to it, without the Will and Permission of Allah Subhanah.

Your Question: Secondly i we know that "DEATH and LIFE is in hand on ALLAH" so we have no rightsto insure ourself , but some imams/maulvis (Non Bohra says since this place is not safe we can insure , i would like to know on it with References )(as normally provided by U) 

Life and Death indeed are in the Sole Power and Domain of our All Mighty Lord Alone! In my humble knowledge, I know of no imam, moulvi, or scholar, who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day, who might have permitted the concept of life-insurance from a conventional Insurance Company. All the scholars of all the schools of thought in Islam are unanimous in their opinion that the concept of life-insurance is not permitted in Islam.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan