Fatwa ID: 06801
Answered by: Maulana Mohammed Zakariya
Question:
A person tries to adhere to Sunnah to the best of his ability, he is cautious and careful when consuming food and yet inadvertently, by mistake and in error consumes a food item which has a Haram ingredient. This can happen because another Muslim told him that the item was Halal or a mistake was made.
It is a genuine mistake, unintentional and despite the best human efforts and endeavours.
Can you please tell me the evidence that their acts of worship or Duas will not be accepted when Allah Ta’ala is Merciful and as a special blessing for the Ummati of Rasulullah ﷺ their mistakes and unintentional errors are forgiven by Allah Ta’ala?
Is the following Hadeeth applicable to someone who due to a genuine mistake, unintentionally and despite best human efforts and endeavours consumed Haram:
Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “O you people! Indeed Allah is Tayyib (good) and he does not accept but what is good. And indeed Allah ordered the believers with what He ordered the Messengers. He (ﷺ) said: ‘O you Messengers! Eat the good things and do righteous deeds. Verily I am well acquainted with what you do (23:51).’ And He said: ‘O you who believe! Eat from the good things We have provided you (2:172).’ He said: “And he mentioned a man: ‘Who is undertaking a long journey, whose hair is dishevelled and he is covered with dust. He raises his hands to the heavens and says: “O Lord! O Lord!” Yet his food is from the unlawful, his drink is from the unlawful, his clothing is from the unlawful, and he was nourished by the unlawful. So how can that be accepted?'” [Muslim]
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
The scenario you’ve described, where a person unintentionally consumes Haram due to a genuine mistake, is indeed taken into consideration within Islam. Allah is indeed Merciful, and He forgives unintentional errors and mistakes, especially when one has exerted their best human effort to follow the Sunnah.
The hadith you’ve cited is applicable to this situation. The hadith emphasizes the importance of consuming what is good and lawful, and it warns against consuming what is unlawful. However, the key point here is that the individual in the hadith knowingly and persistently consumes Haram, not out of genuine mistake or misunderstanding, but as a deliberate choice.
In the case you’ve presented, where someone has made a sincere effort to adhere to the Sunnah and accidentally consumes Haram due to misinformation or an honest mistake, Allah’s Mercy is expected to be extended. The Shariah takes into account the intention and effort of an individual. Allah is indeed the Most Merciful, and as a special blessing for the Ummah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), He forgives unintentional errors and mistakes when one strives to do what is right.
So, in this context, the hadith serves as a reminder of the importance of consuming Halal (lawful) and doing righteous deeds, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that one’s acts of worship or Duas will not be accepted when an inadvertent mistake has occurred despite sincere efforts to adhere to the Sunnah. Allah’s Mercy is vast and encompasses such situations.
However, it’s advisable to seek repentance from Allah. In the future, be cautious to avoid such situations.
Whether you knowingly or unknowingly ate something haram, your worship is still accepted. Imam Mulla Ali Qari clarifies that these teachings are meant to discourage certain actions rather than exempt individuals from their religious obligations. It’s crucial to understand that the prayer of a pious person holds more virtue than that of a disobedient one, as disobedience diminishes the full impact of prayer.
Only Allāh knows best
Written by Maulana Mohammed Zakariya
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
Reference:
Mulla Ali Qari, Mirqat al-Mafatih
