Answered by Shaykh Hamza Karamali, SunniPath Academy Teacher
The Saudi dates I normally buy often have worms in them. Do I have to open up the date every time to check if it’s infested before taking a bite into it?
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate
Imam Nawawi (Allah have mercy on him) said in his Minhaj al-Talibin (with notes from the Tuhfa of Ibn Hajar (Allah have mercy on him)):
“ a worm that grows out of food, such as vinegar and fruit (HJ: also dates and grains (habb)) is likewise (HJ: permissible) if it (h: i.e., the worm) is eaten with it (h: i.e., the food it grew out of).” (Tuhfat al-Muhtaj, 9.317)
Ibn Hajar further noted in the Tuhfa that it makes no difference whether the worm is dead or alive. Imam Ramli (Allah have mercy on him) said in his commentary on the Minhaj that eating the worm in this case is only permissible if the food hasn’t changed (i.e., spoiled), although Ibn Hajar disagreed with him on this point. (Tuhfa + Hashiya, 9.317) Both positions are valid to follow.
And Allah knows best.
Hamza.