Fatwa ID: 05908
Answered by: Maulana Syed Johir Miah
Question:
Are we allowed to give food that we cannot eat i.e. haram food to non-Muslims or charity for e.g. food banks, the homeless etc?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
It is the duty of a Muslim to ensure that he consumes halal, drinks halal and also earns from halal. However, if a person errs in doing that due to carelessness and consequently purchased haram food accidentally, then he should try to return the item to the store he purchased it from, as it is impermissible to sell it or even give it to non-Muslims. What is haram to take, is haram to give. 1
In the aforementioned case, it is not permissible to give food that we cannot eat or the haram food to non-Muslims or charities such as food banks, the homeless etc. Rather, it should be dispensed of in a proper manner.
Only Allah knows best.
Written by Maulana Syed Johir Miah
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
1 ما حرم أخذه حرم إعطاوْه
Al-Qawaidul Fiqhiyyah, Page 74.
