Nonmuslim praying over food.
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Category: Religion - Islam
Forum Name: General Islamic Matter
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Topic: Nonmuslim praying over food.
Posted By: lady
Subject: Nonmuslim praying over food.
Date Posted: 28 May 2011 at 5:41pm
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Assalaamoalaikum. If I am at a seminar or at a friend's house, and someone prays for a polythesist god to bless the food, and at the same time I quietly ask Allah (SWT) to bless the food and say to HIM that I do not associate partners with HIM, does that mean that I can still eat the food? Can you give me more examples if this is correct? If this is correct then would I have to do this as well to people who say they are five percenter muslims or people who belong to the Nation of Islam even though they will use they use the word Allah (SWT) for God?
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Replies:
Posted By: islamispeace
Date Posted: 29 May 2011 at 10:54am
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Walaikum as-salaam. If the person openly utters the name of another deity, then it is not permissible to eat that food since the Quran states that any food over which the name of another deity other than Allah (swt) is mentioned is haraam. According to IslamQA, if there is no obvious evidence that the food is haraam, then you can eat it. But, if there is evidence, then it is haraam. In this case, if someone openly prays to a polytheistic god, then you cannot eat that food. See the following for more: http://islamqa.com/en/ref/128632 - http://islamqa.com/en/ref/128632 ------------- Say: "Truly, my prayer and my service of sacrifice, my life and my death, are (all) for Allah, the Cherisher of the Worlds. (Surat al-Anaam: 162) |
Posted By: lady
Date Posted: 29 May 2011 at 3:29pm
| I called my Imam yesterday and asked him this question. And he said that it was permissible to eat the food. Thank you for your reply. |
Posted By: honeto
Date Posted: 15 June 2011 at 4:32pm
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Salam,
I agree with Islamispeace, Quran is very clear on this issue and there is no need to look any further. There are things Allah have made clear for us and with the following verse from the Quran it is obvious and clear.
Remember, the Quran also tell us to not to go over and over something that is made clear once.
Here is the Quran on this issue:
5:3 (Y. Ali) Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been invoked the name of other than Allah. that which hath been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by being gored to death; that which hath been (partly) eaten by a wild animal; unless ye are able to slaughter it (in due form); that which is sacrificed on stone (altars); (forbidden) also is the division (of meat) by raffling with arrows: that is impiety. This day have those who reject faith given up all hope of your religion: yet fear them not but fear Me. This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. But if any is forced by hunger, with no inclination to transgression, Allah is indeed oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
Hasan
------------- The friends of God will certainly have nothing to fear, nor will they be grieved. Al Quran 10:62 |
Posted By: lady
Date Posted: 15 June 2011 at 6:51pm
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Salaams. I will ask my Imam why did he say that it was permissible. I somehow forget to ask him that part. I even gave him this same scenario, and he said that it was permissible. |
Posted By: lady
Date Posted: 16 June 2011 at 4:27am
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Is permissible because you are praying over YOUR own food, and if someone prays outloud over the food then they are praying over their food. If I say in my heart as this person is praying, that "Allah I associate no partners with YOU, and I am aware that YOU are the ONE GOD. Then It is permissible to eat because Your food has nothing to do with that person's food. And also you have declared to Allah (SWT) that you do not agree with the prayer. For example, it is the same as if someone prays outloud, "Oh Lord, we know that you sent us down Jesus, (AS) to worhip him, and to believe that he is god." This prayer if said outloud does not affect what you believe in your heart. So does that mean that when the person says WE that you will be held accountable for her statement, and that you following what she said because she made the prayer out loud? NO, so the food will be permissible. |
Posted By: semar
Date Posted: 16 June 2011 at 5:01pm
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Salam,
In humble my opinion we need to refer to this hadith:
As Abu Huraira related: The Prophet said, "Religion is very easy and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists, but try to be near to perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded." (Bukhari book 2 #38)
The only haram food is: blood, swine, carrion, alcohol and meat of animal that slaughter for other than Allah. So you can pray for your own food. Per the hadith don't make it complicated.
Becasue sometime wae are too bussy to think about small and in grey area we miss the big and very clear thing such as corruption, abuse, working hard, honesty, etc. Perhaps this that make we muslim behind.
------------- Salam/Peace, Semar "We are people who do not eat until we are hungry and do not eat to our fill." (Prophet Muhammad PBUH) "1/3 of your stomach for food, 1/3 for water, 1/3 for air" |
Posted By: Hayfa
Date Posted: 16 June 2011 at 9:49pm
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Jazakallah Lady...
------------- When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy. Rumi |
Posted By: Sign*Reader
Date Posted: 17 June 2011 at 12:31am
W'a'salaam The hypothetical will get you on some slippery slope if you keep running to an Imam  At seminar there can always be some hors d' oeuvres, some non meat preparations to get by... And your friends should know who you are and what your beliefs happen to be...I think if a somebody else does that out of blue then that is poor manners and they need be subtly lectured! The food of the polytheists like Hindus is not approved for consumption; just that of the people of books who these days are just the Orthodox Jews that follow the dietary laws... Christians don't have any! And if they offer you food in an Islamic environment chances are partaking it once is not a big deal but while abroad you have already limited your options if you want to stay within the limits... Islam is religion of limits not justifications! There is a better way to handle this jovially by saying now I would like to give thanks to the lady of the house XYZ before I enjoy the food and Almighty for letting me do it. You can be vocal to express your prayer which will serve a notice against a repeat of such an incident and a dawah! Kill two birds with one stone wrapped in silk! And last item the NOI is non Muslims. period... ------------- Kismet Domino: Faith/Courage/Liberty/Abundance/Selfishness/Immorality/Apathy/Bondage or extinction. |
lady wrote:Posted By: lady
Date Posted: 17 June 2011 at 1:49pm
| Well, I do not mind going to the imam asking him hypothetical genuine questions. Well, here where I live if I go to a seminar then sometimes someone will take the initiative pray over the food using the microphone. |
Posted By: Sign*Reader
Date Posted: 18 June 2011 at 9:06pm
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What kind of seminars are we talking about? I see Br. Hasan has made bold the Quranic prohibition in his post an Imam can't just nullify! That will raise some questions about the class of the imam! You don't need imam for such things you should know what is in Quran and in what is your soul that will direct to right decision in most cases! If something is not mentioned in Quran then you may consult with qualified imam! Islam is not an clergy oriented faith...There are imams and then there are imams! All I know is the Muslims became Muzlums (in bondage) cuz they kept going for the taweels just like the Bani Israel; and rest is history! ------------- Kismet Domino: Faith/Courage/Liberty/Abundance/Selfishness/Immorality/Apathy/Bondage or extinction. |
Posted By: lady
Date Posted: 18 June 2011 at 9:58pm
Assalaamoalaikum. The seminars that I attend sometimes are work related. I don't usually ask hypothetical questions. The questions that I do have are based on my personal situations. Our imam is respected much from state to state. He is very practical and knowlegeable about Islam. Again thanks to all for taking out the time to answer my question. I have already received the answer to my question. 
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Posted By: islamispeace
Date Posted: 19 June 2011 at 11:22am
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As-salaam alaikum. I think the best thing to do is to be on the safe side and try to avoid the food. I feel that the Quran is clear on the matter, as brother Hasan showed. Therefore, that food should be avoided. If you can, perhaps you can bring your own food. ------------- Say: "Truly, my prayer and my service of sacrifice, my life and my death, are (all) for Allah, the Cherisher of the Worlds. (Surat al-Anaam: 162) |
Posted By: lady
Date Posted: 19 June 2011 at 4:48pm
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Assalaamoalikum.
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Posted By: Matt Browne
Date Posted: 25 June 2011 at 4:57am
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I'm confused, Lady. Polythesist god? Which religion are you talking about? ------------- A religion that's intolerant of other religions can't be the world's best religion --Abdel Samad Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people--Eleanor Roosevelt |
Posted By: Chrysalis
Date Posted: 20 July 2011 at 6:17am
Makes sense to me. JazakAllah for sharing Lady. It is sometimes better to approach a scholar or imam if you have access to one. Although, one question... was the food Vegetarian or Meat? Because if the meat was not halal, then even if u pray Allah's name over it... it stays non-halal. But if the food was permissible like vegetarian or halal meat, then the Imam's statement would make sense. If the food has non-halal meat, then I would follow Signreader's advise and stick to the 'safe foods' such as vegetarian or seafood dishes. Whenever in doubt, opt for Seafood, Vegetarian or Kosher. ------------- "O Lord, forgive me, my parents and Muslims in the Hereafter. O Lord, show mercy on them as they showed mercy to me when I was young." |
Posted By: Chrysalis
Date Posted: 20 July 2011 at 6:35am
 I totally agree with what Semar said. [as a general rule] ------------- "O Lord, forgive me, my parents and Muslims in the Hereafter. O Lord, show mercy on them as they showed mercy to me when I was young." |
Posted By: lady
Date Posted: 20 July 2011 at 8:10am
| Salaams sister. I have never tasted haraam meat. So i am sure that the food was vegetarian. Yes i definately do not see a problem with consulting with an imam, even though we will be held accountable for the choices we make for ourselves. |