The Effect of Eating Food Whose Lawfulness Is Doubtful on the Acceptance of Supplication
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner:
She says: I ate food, and I am in doubt about its source: is it lawful or forbidden? I know that the person who bought this food is known for sometimes earning through unlawful means. So I began to think about the food I ate, which I was very hungry for. Will my supplication be rejected for forty days, or is there nothing on me? May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh:
There is no doubt that eating what is forbidden is a grave matter and that it prevents the acceptance of supplication. This is not limited to forty days, because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not specify a time limit; rather, he said regarding the one who?
This is a denial of the acceptance of his supplication, and it was not specified as forty days or less or more; rather, for any period during which he eats what is forbidden, his supplication is not answered. This is explicit regarding what is forbidden. As for the doubtful matter, where it is not known whether it is from what is lawful or what is forbidden, the default is that it is lawful. Nothing is forbidden except by evidence. However, if he leaves it off out of caution and scrupulousness, there is nothing wrong with that, based on the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan Abi Dawud 3329Sahih (Al-Albani) Many people do not know them. So whoever avoids doubtful matters has protected his religion and his honor. Therefore, leaving off the doubtful matter out of scrupulousness and caution is permissible; indeed, it is a required and encouraged matter, but it is not from the category of obligation.
The questioner:
May Allah reward you with good. Regarding her specific situation, dear to the Shaykh.
The Shaykh:
Yes, her situation, as we mentioned, as long as she has not been certain that it is forbidden, it is not forbidden for her to eat it. And if she leaves it off out of scrupulousness and caution, there is nothing wrong with that.
She says: I ate food, and I am in doubt about its source: is it lawful or forbidden? I know that the person who bought this food is known for sometimes earning through unlawful means. So I began to think about the food I ate, which I was very hungry for. Will my supplication be rejected for forty days, or is there nothing on me? May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh:
There is no doubt that eating what is forbidden is a grave matter and that it prevents the acceptance of supplication. This is not limited to forty days, because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not specify a time limit; rather, he said regarding the one who
He lengthens his journey, disheveled and covered in dust, stretching his hands to the sky, "O Lord, O Lord," while his food is forbidden, his drink is forbidden, his clothing is forbidden, and his sustenance is in what is forbidden, so his supplication is not answered.
يطيل السفر أشعث أغبر، ومد يديه إلى السماء يا رب يا رب، ومطعمه حرام، ومشربه حرام، وملبسه حرام، وغده في الحرام، فأنه يستجاب لذلكThis is a denial of the acceptance of his supplication, and it was not specified as forty days or less or more; rather, for any period during which he eats what is forbidden, his supplication is not answered. This is explicit regarding what is forbidden. As for the doubtful matter, where it is not known whether it is from what is lawful or what is forbidden, the default is that it is lawful. Nothing is forbidden except by evidence. However, if he leaves it off out of caution and scrupulousness, there is nothing wrong with that, based on the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him):
What is lawful is clear and what is unlawful is clear, but between them are certain doubtful things
إن الحلال بين وإن الحرام بين، وبينهما أمور مشتبهاتThe questioner:
May Allah reward you with good. Regarding her specific situation, dear to the Shaykh.
The Shaykh:
Yes, her situation, as we mentioned, as long as she has not been certain that it is forbidden, it is not forbidden for her to eat it. And if she leaves it off out of scrupulousness and caution, there is nothing wrong with that.
Source
نور على الدرب - الفوزان - 01/098 — archive.org (10:30)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.