How should a person who travels in the lands of the disbelievers and is unable to avoid restaurants where intoxicants are served conduct himself?

The questioner : Some people consume certain types of intoxicants. So, one should also try to stay away from places where intoxicants are drunk, especially when traveling to countries like Christian ones, such as Britain or France. One finds oneself, I mean, actually in a situation where one is unable to... A guest puts you in the cafeteria with him... and one is unable to invite him to a restaurant; because the restaurant is where he orders all his food in the room; so I do not know what your opinion is on the matter?

The Shaykh : My brother, Islamic rulings are always observed to be established for natural circumstances. I mean, when the Messenger (peace be upon him) said: , meaning: do not sit by your own choice. But you hate this situation where you have gathered around the table with the utmost hatred. So, no matter how compelled you are, you will not sit with them to share in their company. You withdraw to a place, but the coffee or the restaurant or whatever it is, the whole smell is the smell of intoxicants.

Another questioner: Peace be upon you.

The Shaykh : And upon you be peace and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. So, this matter, you see, many, or rather most, matters fall under the generality of His saying (Glorified and Exalted is He): . So, I believe that every Muslim, even in the lands of disbelief, is able to not sit at a table where intoxicants are served. But he may not be able to not enter a restaurant or coffee shop that has intoxicants; he may not be able to not enter, I mean. So in that case, it is narrated: . The thing that the Muslim should always and forever observe is that his conscience should be awake, that this is an evil and a detestable thing, and he hates it with the utmost hatred. This is from the heart aspect first. Then, from the practical aspect, he tries to distinguish himself, even if it is by the last possible thing, that he withdraws to a place in the coffee shop or the food area such that he does not sit directly with those drinking intoxicants. But even so, I imagine that there is room for the Muslim, even in the lands of disbelief, to mitigate the matter.

Another questioner: Peace be upon you.

The Shaykh : And upon you be peace and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. I mean, by searching for a restaurant, for example, a restaurant that is spacious; such that if he withdraws there to a corner, he is as far as possible from sharing in their table and their intoxicants. Whereas if the restaurant or the café is narrow and crowded; then it does not appear that you are distinguishing yourself from them in what they are doing of the forbidden. And this is among the meanings of . I think the matter is clear?

The questioner: Of course.

The Shaykh : Also, for example, we sometimes hear that in some companies—airline companies—that they do not serve intoxicants to the passengers.

The questioner : ... .

The Shaykh : Yes?

The questioner : ... .

The Shaykh : Yes, in some companies it is like that. So, the one who is compelled to fly should distinguish this company that does not serve intoxicants from this one that does; so he does not ride in this one. This is among the things that he can do.

The questioner : As much as possible; because sometimes there are planes and routes that do not go to certain countries among these countries.

The Shaykh : In any case, fear Allah as much as you are able. The principle is like this, and as he (peace be upon him) said: .