Food and Drink

Q:

1. Is smoking a cigarette haram and is consuming paan haram? As we know that smoking is the #1 preventable cause of death. I have been confused about smoking cigarettes. I have heard that its haram because it damages your health, it's a waste of money, and Allah says وَلاَ تُلْقُواْ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ and smoking is literally destroying yourself. I have also heard its makrooh, so which one is it? Also about paan, it damages your health as my uncle has lost his teeth due to it.

2. How do you reply to someone who says that my death has already been written by Allah. A cigarette can't kill me faster or change my death date. What do you say to them?

Q: What is the ruling for the following:

1. If someone cooked veges without washing them (veges might have some dirt like on it) and eatimg them, would this be halal?

2. If someone does not wash the cooking utensils and cooks in this way, would consuming the food prepared in those unwashed utensils be halal?

3. If roti is prepared on a 'tawa' which releases some of its black particles, when roti is heated over it, the black particles stick on the roti, will consuming the roti with those tawa black particles halal?

Q: I want to ask regarding prasad which Hindus etc. offer such as sweets, fruits etc. In the Quran I didn't know of any verse regarding prohibiting this. What I found is prohibition of eating their meat which is not halal. Can u tell me any evidence from Quran and Sunnah regarding prohibition of vegetarian products like sweets etc except meat or complete prohibition on all types?

Q: We bought martigues glasses but did not know at that time that they are used for beer. We used it for water/juice before we knew. Now they are just stored and we do not use them. Should we dispose them or can we use them?

Q:

1. Is it an authentic statement in Islam that, if we eat with more than 2 items of food, we have to feed a guest or guests?

2. If anybody cooks and eats with more than 5 or 6 items almost every day, will Allah Ta'ala will like it?

3. And if anybody wastes foods mostly due to cooking too much, that person will be sinful?

4. If a wife's husband always wants to eat more than 5 or more items, but she is busy with her kids and other household works, and her personal prayers, will she be sinful?

Q: Is mint alcohol halaal?

Q: Is there any sunnah or recommended way to stir food, tea or coffee? Should it be stirred in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction?

Q: Is it commendable for a Muslim to buy edible items in bags having "pictures and names" of idols of other religions. Can someone compare it with drinking of Pepsi?

Q: I buy cooked food like pizza from a shop but they sell haraam foods there too, like pork. I only buy vegetarian cooked food, is that ok? 

Q: In McDonalds, the mocha ice frappe I used to buy was said by McDonalds to be suitable for vegetarians. However, apparently the whip used on top has less than 0.05% alcohol in it. I read this statement by McDonalds: “The level of alcohol is very low and evaporates during the process. The alcohol level in the final Caramel Iced Frappe, Chocolate Chip Iced Frappe and whipped cream is less that 0.05%.“ Does this mean I can purchase the drink based on this knowledge?