Assalam o Alaikum brother, my question is that as Muslims are we allowed to eat food which is halal but purchased by a non-Muslim? For example if I go to a non-Muslim’s house not to celebrate a religious function but just to have dinner, if the food is halal but it is paid by my non-Muslim. Am I allowed to eat that food? Would your answer be different if the non-Muslim was employed in a bank or unearned money from an unislamic source of income. Second question, is smoking cigarette Haram or Makru in the light of Quran and Sunnah? Please state Fatwa and is there any consensus between Muftis with regard to this matter? If it is Haram then why is it available so widely in the Muslim world while other Haram things such as sale of Alcohol to Muslims is illegal. Are addictions such as drinking coffee, tea and eating pan(without tobacco) permissible?
Last question, is photography permissible in Islam? Please quote relevant Hadiths and Quranic Verses with English translation. Is watching religious programs on television allowed? If not then please state the reason.
Looking for a positive and a meaningful reply from your end. May Allah have his mercy on all Muslims Ameen.
الجواب حامدا و مصلیا
1.Just because of purchasing of edible things by a Kafir or a Mushrik, those thing do not become Haram or impure unless they were already Haram or Impure, or some Haram or impure substance is mixed to it after being purchased. In the like, in a dire necessity and under compulsion there is allowance to sit together and consume meals too with such a person, but, it is not correct however, to make it a habit or to visit their homes etc. on invitation to take part in their meals, nor is it permissible to build up friendly connections as such. Therefore it is necessary for the questioner to refrain from the impermissible practice mentioned above.
2.It is Mubah, if it is made out of pure tobacco and no intoxicating substance whatsoever is mixed in it. But it is necessary to avoid from it since, notwithstanding the fact that, it creates bad odour in mouth, it is also the manner of behavior of immoral people and evil-doers. And same is the ruling with regard to betel-chewing. As far as Coffee and Tea is concerned, these are just some kind of drinks and there is nothing wrong in it, from practical and religious point of view since these are normally not mixed with any intoxicating substances.
3.Let it be known that the ruling of photo, whether taken from a camera or drawn by hand is the same and there is no difference between them. However there are different opinions among the religious scholars as to the photos taken through a camera or mobile phone is included in the “prohibited photos” or not, in a situation where the print out is not taken but kept within the camera or mobile so as to be viewed on screen when necessity arises. Based on this it seems to be allowed only when the print out is not taken, or else, this too will fall within the fold of “prohibited photos”.
4.Television in itself is an instrument and a source of providing information of far distant places and which could be used, both in permissible and impermissible manners as the likes of Radio, Tape Recorder and Computer or Internet etc.. Therefore as an instrument, it could not be called impermissible as per Shari’a, rather permissible usage of which, will be permissible and impermissible usage will be impermissible. However it is a reality that, predominant usage of it nowadays is on unacceptable objectives although there are a few permissible and beneficial uses where it is not used for evil and negative consequences. Yet, since the common usage of TV at present is largely on immoral, indecent and sinful things and also the transmissions and telecasts include innumerable Haram, impermissible and evil programs with ethically and socially negative impacts it is not permissible to keep TV at home or to see it in the current status.