Fatwa #2431613 February 2013United States of America
What to do with Haraam food items?
Question
AsalaamuAlaikum,
If I buy any kind of food, and realize it is haraam right after I buy it, will it be better to throw away that food or give it to a nonmuslim friend/coworker. Will I get the sin if i give that haraam food to a nonmuslim and he eats it.
Jazakallah Khair
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
According to Shariah, it is not permissible to give any consumable items which contain Haraam (forbidden) elements to human beings, animals or any other creature.[1]Rather, one will have to dispose of consumable items which contain Haraam elements.[2]
It is therefore sinful for one to give Haraam food items to non-muslims. However, if Haraam food is left in a certain place and someone picks the food up, then one will not be responsible for giving Haraam food.[3]
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Ismail Desai,
Student Darul Iftaa
Durban, South Africa
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.