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:

Dear Brother Burhan,

Assalamalaikum

I have heard that in an Islamic country if haraam food is available and a person eats it unknowingly, The King/ ruler will be held responsible for the same in court of Allah.

What happens or rather what a person should do when he is in a non-Islamic country and not sure about the food he is served ???

Thanks and May ALLAH bless you,

Khuda Hafiz

(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:

Haraam food responsibility

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 3.592 Narrated by Abdullah bin Umar

I heard Allah's Messenger (saws) saying, "Everyone of you is a guardian, and responsible for what is in his custody. The ruler is a guardian of his subjects and responsible for them; a husband is a guardian of his family and is responsible for it; a lady is a guardian of her husband's house and is responsible for it, and a servant is a guardian of his master's property and is responsible for it. A man is a guardian of his father's property and is responsible for it, so all of you are guardians and responsible for your wards and things under your care."

Your Statement: I have heard that in an Islamic country if haraam food is available and a person eats it unknowingly, The King/ ruler will be held responsible for the same in court of Allah.

If one is in an Islamic country, or visits a muslim household, etc. it would be safe to assume that the food being presented therein is halaal. Indeed, if anything which is declared haraam or forbidden by Allah and His Messenger (saws) is prevalent in an Islamic country by law, there is absolutely no doubt that the King or Ruler or the Legislators of the Islamic country will be held responsible in the Just and Supreme Court of Allah Subhanah on the Day of Judgment.

Having said that, it does not mean in any way that if a ruler or king of a ‘supposed’ muslim country permits the sale of alcohol or intoxicants, etc. under his rule, it would become halaal or permissible for the believers! If one knows or fears that the haraam is permitted in an Muslim nation or presented in a muslim household, one should practice caution and save himself from indulging in the haraam.

Your Question: What happens or rather what a person should do when he is in a non-Islamic country and not sure about the food he is served ???

If one is in a non-Islamic nation, then it is the responsibility of the individual to confirm before consuming whether the food being served or presented is slaughtered according to Shariah or not.

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