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:

Assalam-aialikum to you all. First of all I would like to thank you and the people who helped to set up a website for all the Muslim brothers and sisters who will gain alot of knowledge through this.

I would like to know that I am staying with a friend who is a non Muslim. We both share a flat. I do my own cooking and she does her own. At times she cooks pork in the same house and cleans her own things as she knows I am not allowed to consume or touch it. Sometimes, she leaves the meat covered in the freez where I put my halal meat. Even though she cleans the area but I clean throughly again. I appreciate that she has given me a shelter in her house but I understand my religion and its values too. She does not use my cooking utensils as I have told her not to use it for haram meat.

I would really appreciate if you could please let me know is it a sin for me to stay with her after knowing all the things and can I pray in my own room.

Please advise.

Wasalam,

(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:

Utensils swine 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.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 60 Surah Mumtahina verse 8: Allah forbids you not with regard to those who fight you not for (your) Faith nor drive you out of your homes from dealing kindly and justly with them: for Allah loveth those who are just.

There is absolutely no restriction and no sin in Islam in living with a person who does not believe, and the praying of a believer in a non-muslim’s house is absolutely valid and acceptable to Allah Subhanah.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.585 Narrated by Abu Dhar

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: "Wherever (you may be, and) the prayer time becomes due, perform the prayer there, for the best thing is to do so (i.e. to offer the prayers in time)."

Also there is absolutely no harm if one cooks in the same kitchen used by the non-believers to cook their (haraam) food, provided that the utensils are separate or adequately cleaned.

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