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:

Assalamo alaikum

could u pls. answers as per sunnah

we were at 5 star hotel to dine with friends, my friend told me almost in all  the 5 star restaurants while cooking they add wine, rum etc .(it burns out while cooking ) they add in cakes, japanese  /  italian cuisines. when we asked the waitress, she goes i dont know  ........     i dont think so they add ........  we are in a muslim country how can they do that.  there were many muslims there having the dinner.  what should we do?  we are not sure

jazakallah

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Answer:

Alcohol in food

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 none 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 5 Surah Maidah verses 90-91:

O you who have believed! ‘Khamr’ (all types of intoxicants), games of chance, idols, and divining arrows are all abominable works of Shaitaan; therefore, stay (far) away from these so that you may attain success. Indeed, Shaitaan seeks to sow enmity and hatred among you by means of ‘khamr’ (intoxicants) and gambling, and to prevent you from the Remembrance of Allah and from Salaah. Will you not, then, abstain from these things?

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 3679 Narrated by Aisha

I heard the Messenger of Allah (saws) say: “Every intoxicant is haraam; if a quantity of anything causes intoxication, a handful of it is (also) haraam.”

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 2776 Narrated by Anas ibn Malik

Allah's Messenger (saws) invoked the curse of Allah on ten people in connection with wine: the wine-presser, the one who has it pressed, the one who drinks it, the one who conveys it, the one to whom it is conveyed, the one who serves it, the one who sells it, the one who benefits from the price paid for it, the one who buys it, and the one for whom it is bought.

Allah and His Messenger (saws) have declared the consumption of any type of intoxicants as absolutely and categorically unlawful for the believers.

Your Statement: ….we were at 5 star hotel to dine with friends, my friend told me almost in all  the 5 star restaurants while cooking they add wine, rum etc .(it burns out while cooking ) they add in cakes, japanese  /  italian cuisines

The statement of your friend that almost ‘all’ five-star restaurants add alcohol while cooking is obviously untrue and inaccurate, but there is a possibility that some types of food in such restaurants sometimes do indeed include alcohol amongst their ingredients. If one is at such a restaurant where one fears that even an iota of alcohol has been added to their food, they should confirm with the chef or the restaurant manager before they consume the food, if indeed they fear Allah and the Last Day.

Absolutely regardless of whether the alcohol is burnt off or not while making the food, if even an iota or a drop of alcohol has been added to the food….that food would be unlawful for the believers to consume.

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 3679 Narrated by Aisha

I heard the Messenger of Allah (saws) say: “Every intoxicant is haraam; if a quantity of anything causes intoxication, a handful of it is (also) haraam.”

Your Question:........  we are in a muslim country how can they do that.  there were many muslims there having the dinner.  what should we do?  we are not sure

Respected sister in Islam, it is indeed unfortunate that in the times we live in, the majority of ‘muslim’ nations allow the sale and consumption of alcohol in their jurisdiction….and that is something the rulers or lawmakers of these land will have to account for in the Presence of their Lord Most High on that Inevitable and Tumultuous Day of Judgment!

Your Question: what should we do? 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 64 Surah Tagabhun verse 16:

16 So fear Allah as much as ye can; listen and obey.

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 5083 Narrated by Abu Dharr

Allah's Messenger (saws) said to him, "Fear Allah wherever you are.”

Respected sister, if you have reason to believe that a particular restaurant serves alcohol in their premises or uses alcohol as an ingredient in the preparation of their food….you obviously have the option to take your custom elsewhere where lawful food is served.

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan