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 Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

If you think something is halaal, but are not sure, is it okay to say Shahada, and blow on it and then eat it, or should you just avoid eating it all together, even if you are hungry, and have nothng else to eat?

Help me with this. Jazaak Allah Kheir.

(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:

Doubt if something is haraam or halaal

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.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 1.49 Narrated by An Numan bin Bashir

I heard Allah's Messenger (saws) saying, “Both, ‘halaal’ and ‘haraam’ things are evident, but in between them there are doubtful (suspicious) things, and most of the people have no knowledge about them. So whoever saves himself from these suspicious things, saves his religion and his honor. And whoever indulges in these suspicious things is like a shepherd who grazes (his animals) near the Hima (private pasture) of someone else and at any moment he is liable to get in it. (O people!) Beware! Every king has a Hima, and the Hima of Allah on the earth is His illegal (haraam) things. Beware! There is a piece of flesh in the body if it becomes good (reformed), the whole body becomes good; but if it gets spoilt the whole body gets spoilt; and that is: the heart.”

If one is not sure whether the food presented to him is of ‘halaal’ or ‘haraam’ origin, it would be best for him to fear Allah Subhanah, and leave that food alone. Simply saying ‘shahaadah’ over the food for anything which is impermissible does not make it permissible in Islam! The declaration of ‘shahaadah’ is a testification of faith in Allah Subhanah and His Messenger (saws); and one should pronounce ‘Bismillah’ when one intends to eat of the halaal food.

Your Question: even if you are hungry, and have nothng else to eat?

If one is hungry and the only food presented to him is of suspicion or of the haraam, and one has access to eat of the confirmed halaal foods; he should fear Allah and consume only the halaal food.

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 (eats of the haraam), Allah is indeed Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

But if one is absolutely hungry to the point that he fears that he might die of hunger, and the only food that is presented to him is of the ‘haraam’, and he has absolutely no access to any halaal foods; then, it is obligatory upon him to eat of the haraam food and save his life, without any inclination to transgress the Laws of Allah Subhanah! That is an exception in the law The Merciful Lord has allowed from His Infinite Mercy upon the believers.

Whatever the believer does, he must at all times fear the displeasure and Wrath of Allah Subhanah, and know for sure that The All Knowing is well aware of the condition of each of His slaves, and is well acquainted with even the deepest secrets of our hearts.

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