Food and Drink

Q: I bought your book Sunnats where in chapter sunnat of eating it is written it is not makhruh in eating without a cap. I doubt whether it is a printing mistake.

Q: To clarify if a product has vanilla extract/flavouring is it necessary to find out (before eating) if the vanilla extract is from dates or grapes? (GMWA have yet to come across flavourings sourced from dates and grapes in the UK market.)

Q: When eating the sunnat is '3 fingers'. Which fingers does this refer to, is the thumb counted as a finger or is it 4 fingers including the thumb.

Q: How should one treat ones guest? Does the guest have any rights? Does the Ahadiths mention any thing regarding ones guest also if one shows disrespect to his / hers guest is it a sin? Is it correct to ask if you'll will have anything? If mufti saheb could narrate any incedient in the live of nabi [Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam], the sahabaa [Radiyallahu Anhum] and in the lives of great uleama of deoband on how they took care of their respected guess?

Q: What are the Sunnah postures for eating?

Q: "Most food products nowadays contain some type of flavouring - natural, artificial, or a combination of both. Many of these flavourings contain alcohol, which is used as a carrier or solvent for the flavouring." (foodguide.org.uk) 

Any product which contains the ingredient "Flavouring" has a chance of alcohol being used in the making process. (The flavouring can be a vanilla flavouring.) This includes chocolates, crisps, biscuits, cakes and fizzy drinks. 

I am aware that if alcoholic flavourings which are from dates or grapes are not permissible. 

The GMWA foodguide (http://www.foodguide.org.uk/?page=viewquestion&id=200) have written:

" Flavourings from dates and grapes?

Alhumdulillah, to date from over 15 years of experience in the field, we have yet to come across flavourings sourced from dates and grapes in the UK market.

We don't issues fatwas at the drop of the hat, but pertinent information is necessary for a decision. Furthermore, we do not charge the companies or consumers for this service, it is totally a Lillah service.

To summarise:

Alcoholic Flavourings: They are permissible due to necessity and public predicament as they are so widely used in the food industry. Alcohol Extracts e.g. (vanilla, yeast and others): They are permissible due to necessity and public predicament as they are so widely used in the food industry."

My questions is:

Is it necessary to do tahqeeq (research) about every food product which contains the ingredient "Flavouring" or contains a alcoholic flavouring before eating it?

Q: Does the clot found in an egg have to be removed before consuming it?

Q: I live in jeddah and most of the food are imported like chicken beef etc. but on the label its written halaal. Most say it is haraam from brazil. So what is your opinion? Should I eat these frozen chicken like Mc Donlads, KFC, Pizza hut? 

Q: I wanted to ask some chocolates contain vanilla extract and vanilla extract has to be preserved with alcohol so if a chocolate bar has vanilla extract is it halaal?

Q: I read in Sunnats by Mufti Saheb

"8.19. It is reported that Nabi used to say “YA WA SI ‘UL MUGFIRAH” after eating the first morsel - Which means, “O! The one whose forgiveness is all encompassing.” (Muslim - S.K. - Vol. 1 : Pg. 227)"

Is this with a zabar on the ayn or a pesh?

If you write the arabic with it it will be better Insha Allah.