Fatwa ID: 08513

 

 

Answered by Maulana Muhammad Zubair Khan Alizai

 

Question:

 

Is it permissible to eat Galette des Rois (french cake)?

 

I would like to point out that this cake here in France is associated with Epiphany which is the visit of the three wise men to the baby Jesus according to their belief, this is why we call it the galette des rois. There may be a slight ambiguity as to whether this is prepared outside of any religious connotation, that is to say without the elements associated with the cult. For example: crown and bean. For clarification, if this is done with the associative elements such as the crown and the bean, the bean is put in the cake and the person who finds it is crowned with a paper crown.

 

This is the wikipedia definition:   https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_cake

 

A king cake, also known as a three kings cake or a baby cake, is a cake associated in many countries with Epiphany, the celebration of the Twelfth Night after Christmas.[1] Its form and ingredients are variable, but in most cases a fève (lit. ‘fava bean’) such as a figurine, often said to represent the Christ Child, is hidden inside.[2] After the cake is cut, whoever gets the bean wins a prize.[3][2] Modern beans can be made of other materials, and can represent various objects and people.[4]

 

The origin of the cake tradition was popularly believed to be related to the Roman Saturnalia.[5] These were festivals dedicated to the god Saturn so that the Roman people, in general could celebrate the longer days that began to come after the winter solstice.[6]

 

 

 

 

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

 

Answer:

 

Whoever emulates a people in their beliefs, customs and cultures will be counted as amongst them – the hadith is very clear on this subject. As muslims we have our own beliefs, customs and culture and we should remain firm on that.

 

Having said that, many customs and beliefs of our time christians do it without the knowledge of why they do it. If its such a tradition where there is a clear indication towards shirk and people act on it knowing where it stems from then as muslims it would be cautious to abstain from it.

 

I would also like to point that I consulted with a mufti from France who also explained that this today is done more from a culture point of view and not something based on religious practice.

 

If someone was to give respect to that day or any other days of the disbelievers like christmas or nayruuz as mentioned in the classical fiqh books, such that he shows respect and gives admiration to that day by doing xyz action which is specific to them then that would be kufr. I.e disbelief comes under the hadith من تشبه بقوم فهو منهم i.e whoever emulates a people will be from them. But if it’s not done with this respect and only to eat the cake then it would be permissible.

 

 

 

References:

 

البحر الرائق شرح كنز الدقائق ومنحة الخالق وتكملة الطوري المكتبة دار الكتاب الإسلامي

 

المجلد ٨ الصفحة ٥٥٥

[وَالْإِعْطَاءُ بِاسْمِ النَّيْرُوزِ وَالْمِهْرَجَانِ لَا يَجُوزُ]

قَالَ – رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ – (وَالْإِعْطَاءُ بِاسْمِ النَّيْرُوزِ وَالْمِهْرَجَانِ لَا يَجُوزُ) أَيْ الْهَدَايَا بِاسْمِ هَذَيْنِ الْيَوْمَيْنِ حَرَامٌ بَلْ كُفْرٌ وَقَالَ أَبُو حَفْصٍ الْكَبِيرُ – رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ – لَوْ أَنَّ رَجُلًا عَبَدَ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى خَمْسِينَ سَنَةً ثُمَّ جَاءَ يَوْمُ النَّيْرُوزِ وَأَهْدَى إلَى بَعْضِ الْمُشْرِكِينَ بَيْضَةً يُرِيدُ تَعْظِيمَ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ فَقَدْ كَفَرَ وَحَبَطَ عَمَلُهُ وَقَالَ صَاحِبُ الْجَامِعِ الْأَصْغَرِ إذَا أَهْدَى يَوْمَ النَّيْرُوزِ إلَى مُسْلِمٍ آخَرَ وَلَمْ يُرِدْ بِهِ تَعْظِيمَ الْيَوْمِ وَلَكِنْ عَلَى مَا اعْتَادَهُ بَعْضُ النَّاسِ لَا يَكْفُرُ وَلَكِنْ يَنْبَغِي لَهُ أَنْ لَا يَفْعَلَ ذَلِكَ فِي ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ خَاصَّةً وَيَفْعَلُهُ قَبْلَهُ أَوْ بَعْدَهُ لِكَيْ لَا يَكُونَ تَشْبِيهًا بِأُولَئِكَ الْقَوْمِ، وَقَدْ قَالَ – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ –  «مَنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِقَوْمٍ  فَهُوَ مِنْهُمْ» وَقَالَ فِي الْجَامِعِ الْأَصْغَرِ رَجُلٌ اشْتَرَى يَوْمَ النَّيْرُوزِ شَيْئًا يَشْتَرِيهِ الْكَفَرَةُ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ لَمْ يَكُنْ يَشْتَرِيهِ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ إنْ أَرَادَ بِهِ تَعْظِيمَ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ كَمَا تُعَظِّمُهُ الْمُشْرِكُونَ

كَفَرَ، وَإِنْ أَرَادَ الْأَكْلَ وَالشُّرْبَ وَالتَّنَعُّمَ لَا يَكْفُرُ.

 

 

 

 

Only Allah Taala knows best

Written by Maulana Muhammad Zubair Khan Alizai

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham