Fatwa ID: 02416

Answered by: Molana Muhammad Adnan

Question:

At work, we buy a tuna, and cheese (suitable for venetian) panini. We learned today, that the staff members in the canteen use the SAME machine on all paninis, that also may include haram meat, and use the SAME knife to split it into two pieces.
Would this in effect render our panini haram?

Answer

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

There are 3 possible scenarios. If cross contamination between haram and halal definitely takes place, if it definitely doesn’t take place and if its doubtful.

If it definitely doesn’t take place, then the food is permitted to consume.

If it definitely does take place, then the food is unlawful.

If there is doubt about the cross contamination, then it is best to avoid and exercise caution as this is best for the preservation of ones everlasting hereafter.

On the authority Abi Ab’dillahi al-Nu’man ibn Basheer who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah say: “That which is lawful is clear and that which is unlawful is clear and between the two of them are doubtful [or ambiguous] matters about which not many people are knowledgeable. Thus, he who avoids these doubtful matters certainly clears himself in regard to his religion and his honor. But he who falls into the doubtful matters falls into that which is unlawful like the shepherd who pastures around a sanctuary, all but grazing therein. Verily every king has a sanctuary and Allah’s sanctuary is His prohibition. In the body there is a morsel of flesh which, if it be sound, all the body is sound and which, if it be diseased, all the body is diseased. This part of the body is the heart”.

[Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Written by Molana Muhammad Adnan

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham