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:

Asalam-o-ALaikulm

My family own 2 Subway franchise retaurants in the UK and we would like to know if it is harm to sell meat products such as pork, ham, turket etc. We also have a copnvenience store but do not sell alcohol as it is clearly forbidden in Islam.

I would also like to know if it is permissible to eat or drink from the house of Hindus. I akm saying this because we have a Hindu neighbour and she likes to make us feel hospitable by offering us drinks but we do not drink from her.

W/Salam

(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:

Eat with hindus non muslims

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.

Your Question: My family own 2 Subway franchise retaurants in the UK and we would like to know if it is harm to sell meat products such as pork, ham, turket etc.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 6 Surah Anaam verse 145:

145 Say: "I find not in the Message received by me by inspiration any (meat) forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it unless it be dead meat, or blood poured forth, or the flesh of swine for it is ‘najis’ (an abomination or what is absolutely impure); or what is impious (food) on which a name has been invoked other than Allah's."

The absolute majority of the scholars in Islam are of the opinion that it would be absolutely unlawful for a believer who sincerely fears Allah and the Last Day to derive any benefit, or trade in a commodity which is declared as ‘haraam’ and an absolute ‘najis’ (filth, impure, abomination) by Allah Subhanah. Thus to sell the flesh of swine, or pork, or ham, or bacon, or any derivative of the flesh of swine would be absolutely unlawful for the believers who sincerely fear Allah and the Last Day.

As regards to the flesh of other ‘halaal’ and pure animals, like turkey, chicken, cattle, etc.; there is absolutely no harm in trading or conducting business in them or serving them in your restaurant; the earnings from such sales would be lawful unto the believers.

Your Question: We also have a copnvenience store but do not sell alcohol as it is clearly forbidden in Islam.

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.

Your Question: I would also like to know if it is permissible to eat or drink from the house of Hindus. I akm saying this because we have a Hindu neighbour and she likes to make us feel hospitable by offering us drinks but we do not drink from her.

Provided that the food and drink being served by your Hindu neighbor is amongst the ‘halaal’ foods in Shariah, there is absolutely no harm in a believer consuming the food and drink served by the disbeliever. There is absolutely no harm in accepting the invitation of non-muslims and eating and drinking of the halaal foods they may provide.

Thus if one were to eat food of any kind of the vegetarian kingdom, or meat of the ‘halaal’ animals which are duely slaughtered according to Shariah, or drink of any of the non-alcoholic drinks, etc……regardless of whether they are consumed in a believers house or a disbelievers, regardless of whether they are served by a believer or a disbeliever….all such food and drink which is considered ‘halaal’ in Shariah would be absolutely lawful for the believers to consume, regardless of who serves that food.

But if the food and drink being provided or served by disbelievers (or even believers for that matter!) is ‘haraam’ or unlawful in its essence in Shariah, like the flesh of swine, or alcohol, or meat of animals which are not duely slaughtered, or the ‘prasad’ or offerings which are placed at the alters of their gods, etc……then all such food would be absolutely forbidden for the believers to consume, regardless of whether it is served by a believer or a disbeliever.

Thus beloved sister, it is not who prepares or serves the food and drink which would determine its permissibility or impermissibility in Islam; but rather the type of food itself which would determine whether it is lawful or unlawful for the believers to consume.

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