Fatwa ID: 08753

 

 

Written by Alimah Aisha Qureshi

 

Question:

 

Today me and 6 other friends went to a restaurant to eat food, while we were eating my friend revealed that he has been earning from interest through CRYPTO or stocks something of that sort like “future trading’. We all paid our share of the bill, but the thing is the bill was around 18-20k PKR and the 6 of us paid half of it and the interest earning guy paid the other half but I’m not sure about the exact ratio, it could be that we paid more than half or that he paid more than half.

 

This friend of mine has a halal job too but also earns a lot from interest and he didn’t tell us that this money that he spent was from interest or not, I want to know whether that food was halal for me to eat or not and can I ever go eat food with my friends again if this guy is there? This group is full of my childhood friends and I’m worried that I won’t be able to spend time with them anymore because of this problem.

 

 

 

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

 

 

Answer:

 

If a person contributes money that may have been earned through haram means, and this money is mixed with halal earnings or there is uncertainty about the source, the sin is on the person who earned/spent it, not on the one who unknowingly consumes something bought with it.

 

 

If you did not know for certain that your friend used haram money (e.g., riba or impermissible earnings from futures trading), and you did not intend to benefit from haram wealth, you are not sinful. You can continue eating with your friends, even if this person is present, as long as you are not certain that you are eating from haram wealth.

 

 

Sitting with someone who may have haram earnings does not make your own actions sinful, unless you know for sure that the food you are consuming is paid for by haram means. Or you are intentionally benefiting from haram wealth.

 

 

In group settings, especially when you are paying your own share, the concern is even less relevant. If someone else contributes more out of generosity and you don’t know the exact source, the responsibility lies solely on them. You are not required to cut off your childhood friends, but it’s good to stay cautious. If you become aware that something is purchased with haram money, you should avoid consuming it.

 

 

 

References:

 

اليقين لا يزول بالشك

Qawaid al Fiqhiya

 

 

 

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Alimah Aisha Qureshi

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham