Food and Drink

Q: We have a few Hindus working in our office who often bring sweets, chocolates or biscuits from the supermarket and distribute them among the office colleagues. Sometimes, they say that they have a particular religious occasion, and it is due to this occasion that they distribute these sweets, chocolates, etc. to the office colleagues.

Is it permissible for a Muslim to eat from these sweets, chocolates, biscuits, etc.?

Q: I try to feed my family healthy with treats occasionally, but I have to force them to eat their veggies etc. My son sneaks to make savories or sweets/crisps or he will just not eat at all. He told me that I must remember sickness comes from ALLAH even if he eats these things.

Is this acceptable that I'm doing this or should I be more lax in this regard as long as they are eating halaal? He is 11 years old doing hifz.

Q: Can Muslims accept an invitation for a meal from a non-Muslim if it (the invitation) is held in a hall and the food is 100% halaal?

Q: Is it permissible to eat meat or chicken from a non-Muslim restaurant whose non-Muslim owner says that his meat is halaal? 

Q: Is cream of tartar or tartaric acid derived from wine sources halaal? Does a complete change of substance occur?

Q: What is the impact if we eat food from the middle of the plate?

Q: There are many different types of vinegar, example, red wine vinegar, spirit vinegar, etc. I don't know how they're made. Can we eat them?

Q: What is the Shariah ruling regarding gelatine? Most of the halaal certifying bodies here are of the opinion that gelatine derived from non-halaal sources is halaal. They aver that the gelatine derived from non-halaal sources undergoes a "metamorphisis" and therefore is halaal. But the matter is indestructible and surely their contentions cannot be correct? However, it eludes logical comprehension that apparently our Ulama has yet to challenge the halaal certifying bodies concerned in regard to the issue and the halaal certifying bodies remain unchallenged. But what is your take on the matter?

Q: We often host dawats/programs where people bring and share some food items. Is it permissible for people to take the leftover food home after the program without informing the host? They feel entitled to take the food since they brought a plate to share.

Q: If there is a Muslim student in a Christian country and there is no Muslim community, can he eat the chickens slaughtered by a Christian or not?