________________________________________________________________________ | w w w |\ | || || | || |\ | o_,_7 _|| . _o_7 _|| 4_|_|| o_w_, |\ | ( : / (_) / ( . |\ | |\ | || || | || |T | | || | |\ | . _, _8 |_D_|| . _,_,_,_D_|| 4_|| q ]_o_7_o _|_c 4_|_|| _|,_p q |\ | (_): / (_): . : / (_S (_S / |\ | |\ | In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the All-Merciful |\ | Greeting of Allah be upon Muhammad and the pure members of his House |\ |_______________________________________________________________________|\ Salaamun 'Alaykum The following question was kindly answered by Dr. Takim Fee Amaanillah, Akil Karim Moderator - 'Aalim Network ---------- Forwarded Message ---------- QUESTION: I come from India, since my school days in India to the present date I have a very very good Hindu friend and colleague. In school and college we lived together in hostel accomodation. Both of us have now come to UK in pursuit of knowledge and money. I have been eating food cooked at his house with him ever since school days as not doing so would have created alot of animosity, hatred, anger towards me and islam in general. This is considering the fact that I was one of very few muslim students among hundreds of hindus. I am regularly invited by my Hindu friend now in UK to have dinner at his house. Considering my past sensitive situation and the closeness of my friendship I find it impossible to come up with a religious based reason to refuse to eat at his house. Am I doing wrong or does the religion of Islam show any flexibility in such situations? ANSWER: The ruling by the 'ulama is that kuffar are najis. Hence, unless one is in a life threatening situation, one cannot consume their food. Although it may not be easy to do so, you can excuse yourself or explain to them that there are certain religious restrictions which prevent you from consuming their food. Liyakatali Takim