Fatwa ID: 06900
Answered by: Alimah Jannatun Nessa
Question:
What does a Muslim need to do if someone is eating haraam food in his presence (e.g. a non-Muslim workmate eating a bacon sandwich in a work vehicle) and he becomes aware of the taste of it in his mouth? Is the ruling the same if the pork product is a sweet that is known to contain pork gelatine?
Please note: I mean where the pork product is known, not merely suspected.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
The Prophet SAW said, “Whoever sees a wrong action, he should stop him with his hand, and if he cannot, then he should advise him verbally, if he cannot, then he should at least dislike it in his heart.”
Generally speaking, Muslims must actively address and discourage an action or behaviour that goes against moral or ethical standards. If a person cannot do so physically, they should speak out against them verbally. If even that cannot be done, then one should dislike the act in their heart. However, it is important to approach each situation with wisdom and tact, taking into consideration the individual’s receptiveness to the advice and the potential consequences of intervening.
When the matter concerns a fellow Muslim who is engaged in haram, then one should make every effort to stop the Muslim from continuing the haram act, whether that be physically (if possible) or verbally, or, at the very least, by showing them that he does not support their actions. But as non-Muslims are not obligated to follow Muslim laws and eat halal food, the appropriate course of action in this situation is to disapprove of it in your heart and leave the area.
Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.
Written by Alimah Jannatun Nessa
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
[Sunan Ibn Majah 1275]
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ رَجَاءٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ، وَعَنْ قَيْسِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ، عَنْ طَارِقِ بْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ أَخْرَجَ مَرْوَانُ الْمِنْبَرَ يَوْمَ الْعِيدِ فَبَدَأَ بِالْخُطْبَةِ قَبْلَ الصَّلاَةِ فَقَامَ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ يَا مَرْوَانُ خَالَفْتَ السُّنَّةَ أَخْرَجْتَ الْمِنْبَرَ يَوْمَ عِيدٍ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ يُخْرَجُ بِهِ وَبَدَأْتَ بِالْخُطْبَةِ قَبْلَ الصَّلاَةِ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ يُبْدَأُ بِهَا . فَقَالَ أَبُو سَعِيدٍ أَمَّا هَذَا فَقَدْ قَضَى مَا عَلَيْهِ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يَقُولُ “ مَنْ رَأَى مُنْكَرًا فَاسْتَطَاعَ أَنْ يُغَيِّرَهُ بِيَدِهِ فَلْيُغَيِّرْهُ بِيَدِهِ. فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِلِسَانِهِ. فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ بِلِسَانِهِ، فَبِقَلْبِهِ. وَذَلِكَ أَضْعَفُ الإِيمَانِ ” .
It was narrated that Abu Sa’eed said: “Marwan brought the pulpit out one ‘Eid day and started to deliver the sermon before the prayer. A man stood up and said: ‘O Commander of the Believers, you have gone against the Sunnah. You have brought the pulpit out on the day of ‘Eid and it was not brought out before, and you started with the sermon before the prayer, when this was not done before.’ Abu Sa’eed said: ‘As for this man, he has done his duty. I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: “Whoever among you sees an evil action, and he can change it with his hand, then change it with his hand (by taking action); if he cannot, (do so) with his tongue then with his tongue (by speaking out); and if he cannot then with his heart (by hating it and feeling that it is wrong), and that is the weakest of faith.”
