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:

Is food that is cooked at the hands of a mushrik (hindu, buddhist) considered halal? A restaurant that purchases halal meat can hire a hindu cook. Being aware of that scenario, is a muslim allowed to eat at such a restaurant?

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Answer:

Can Hindu cook halaal meat?

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.

Q-1: Is food that is cooked at the hands of a mushrik (hindu, buddhist) considered halal?

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verse 3: Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat blood the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been invoked the name of other than Allah, that which hath been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by being gored to death; that which hath been (partly) eaten by a wild animal; unless ye are able to slaughter it (in due form); that which is sacrificed on stone (altars); (forbidden) also is the division (of meat) by raffling with arrows: that is impiety. This day have those who reject faith given up all hope of your religion: yet fear them not but fear Me. This day have I perfected your religion for you completed my favor upon you and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. But if any forced by hunger with no inclination to transgression Allah is indeed Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.

If the meat in its essence is halaal, it does not matter who cooks the food; the food will be deemed absolutely halaal for the believers.

Q-2: A restaurant that purchases halal meat can hire a hindu cook. Being aware of that scenario, is a muslim allowed to eat at such a restaurant?

If the meat is in its essence halaal, regardless of who cooks or serves the food; the food will be deemed absolutely halaal for the believers.

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