Fatwa ID: 05537
Answered by: Alimah Sofia Mirza
Question:
Is it permissible to grow square watermelon since Allah has made them round?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Square watermelons are placed in a box while it is still small so that they can grow taking the shape of the box, it is made for convenient storage purposes or for selling, it is not necessarily changing the original creation of Allah as nothing of the actual watermelon is being changed. If this process is done for ease of transportation and it is necessary to keep the business going it will be permissible[1], however as a means of caution it does not need to be done unnecessarily or with the intention of defying the original creation of Allah, it has been mentioned in the Hadith “Hasan bin ‘Ali (May Allah be pleased with them) said:
I remember (these words) from Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): “Give up what is doubtful to you for that which is not doubtful; for truth is peace of mind and falsehood is doubt”.[2]
In general, it will be permissible to do so but best to refrain from unnecessarily.
Only Allah knows best
Written by Alimah Sofia Mirza
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
[1] Al Qawaaid Al Fiqhiyyah, Darul Tirmizi, Pg.40
المشقة تجلب التيسير
[2] Riyaadus Saliheen, Darul Ishat Karachi, Hadith 55,
عن أبي محمد الحسن بن علي بن أبي طالب، رضي الله عنهما ، قال : حفظت من رسول الله، صلى الله عليه وسلم : “دع ما يريبك إلى ما لا يريبك؛ فإن الصدق طمأنينة، والكذب ريبةٌ” ((رواه الترمذي وقال حديث حسن صحيح)).
