Having meals with non-Muslims

30-12-2003 | IslamWeb

Question:

Can we eat at the home of non-Muslim vegetarians? Can we invite non-Muslims to our home to eat?

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Answer:

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions. Eating from the food of non-Muslims or inviting them for food is permissible provided the following conditions are met: First, the food should be Halal. Second, no Haram food or drink should be served on the dining table. Third, the place should be free from any prohibition like music, mixture between alien males and females etc. which a Muslim cannot change. Fourth, these actions should not incite feelings of love and affection to non-Muslims, which is forbidden, and every matter that leads to a forbidden act is in itself forbidden. Therefore, eating or meeting with non Muslims should be restricted only to the limits of necessity. For example, when eating with them or inviting them would lead to calling them to Islam or to explaining to them the truth. Allah knows best.