Q: Is it permissible to eat in a restaurant where alcohol is served or allowed? Will the same rule apply to a supermarket or aeroplane that sells alcohol?
A: It is not permissible for a believer to eat in a restaurant wherein alcohol is served. A believer should exercise maximum precaution in this regard and not purchase from such restaurants. It is highly possible that alcohol could be added in the food or the traces of alcohol could be found on the utensils used to serve the food. Since this is not the case with regard to supermarkets where alcohol is sold, it is permissible for one to purchase from such supermarkets.
As far as the aeroplane is concerned, since this is something unavoidable, it is regarded as an exception to the rule (i.e. travelling in an aeroplane where alcohol is served or being seated in an aeroplane next to someone who is drinking alcohol). However, the general rule of Shari’ah is that one should not associate with kuffaar unnecessarily and one should not go to places where alcohol is consumed or served.
And Allah Ta'ala knows best.
عن جابر رضي الله عنه أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال من كان يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر فلا يدخل الحمام بغير إزار ومن كان يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر فلا يدخل حليلته الحمام ومن كان يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر فلا يجلس على مائدة يدار عليها بالخمر هذا حديث حسن غريب لا نعرفه من حديث طاووس عن جابر إلا من هذا الوجه (سنن الترمذي، الرقم: 2801)
عن سالم عن أبيه قال نهى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عن مطعمين عن الجلوس على مائدة يشرب عليها الخمر وأن يأكل الرجل وهو منبطح على بطنه (سنن أبي داود، الرقم: 3776)
ويكره للرجل أن يأكل على مائدة يشرب عليها الخمر هكذا نقل عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه نهى أن يأكل المسلم على مائدة يشرب عليها الخمر ولأن في ذلك تكثير جمع الفسقة وإظهار الرضا بصنيعهم وذلك لا يحل للمسلم (المبسوط للسرخسي 24/34)
الضرورات تبيح المحظورات (شرح القواعد الفقهية صـ 185)
Answered by:
Checked & Approved:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)
Q: Would it be permissible for me to eat in a restaurant in this particular situation: few Muslim friends are sitting on a table in a Muslim
owned restaurant and in another corner of the restaurant is a man drinking alcohol that he brought himself. In our country contamination of any kind is strictly controlled and prohibited.
A: They are severe warning recorded in the Ahaadith regrading alcohol and those promoting it and condoning it.
رقم 1295 - عن أنس بن مالك قال : لعن رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم في الخمر عشرة عاصرها ومتعصرها وشاربها وحاملها والمحمولة إليه وساقيها وبائعها وآكل ثمنها والمشتري لها والمشتراة له (جامع الترمذي 1/242)
Hadhrat Anas Radiallahu Anhu reports that Rasulullah sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam cursed ten people who have some involvement with khamr (wine), the one who squeezes it, the one who for whom it is squeezed, the one who drinks it, the one who carries or transports it, the one who it is delivered to, the one who pours it, the one who sells it, the one who uses the income from selling it, the one who purchases it and the one for whom it is purchased.
In the light of this Hadith, we understand that It is best and most safe that one refrains from such places where alcohol is being drunk.
And Allah Ta'ala knows best.
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