A man knows that his father's wealth is from haram; may he eat from it?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh. A man knows that the source of his father's wealth is haram. Is it permissible for him to eat from his father's food? And if he does not eat, would that be considered undutifulness to parents?
The Shaykh : Yes. If a man knows that his father's wealth is haram, and it is haram in a specific sense—meaning he knows that his father stole this money from a specific person—then it is not permissible for him to eat it. For example, if you know that your father stole this sheep and slaughtered it, do not eat it, and you are not obligated to invite him. However, if the haram is from his earnings—meaning, for example, that he engages in riba (usury or interest), or deals with deception, or the like—then eat, and the sin is upon him. The evidence for this is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ate from the wealth of the Jews, who were known for consuming riba (usury or interest) and illicit gains. A Jewish woman in Khaybar offered him a poisoned sheep to kill him, but Allah protected him from it until his appointed time. A Jew invited him to barley bread with a sauce of snails, and he accepted and ate. He bought food from a Jew for his family and ate it himself and with his family. So let him eat, and the sin is upon his father. Yes, from the abundance.
The Shaykh : Yes. If a man knows that his father's wealth is haram, and it is haram in a specific sense—meaning he knows that his father stole this money from a specific person—then it is not permissible for him to eat it. For example, if you know that your father stole this sheep and slaughtered it, do not eat it, and you are not obligated to invite him. However, if the haram is from his earnings—meaning, for example, that he engages in riba (usury or interest), or deals with deception, or the like—then eat, and the sin is upon him. The evidence for this is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ate from the wealth of the Jews, who were known for consuming riba (usury or interest) and illicit gains. A Jewish woman in Khaybar offered him a poisoned sheep to kill him, but Allah protected him from it until his appointed time. A Jew invited him to barley bread with a sauce of snails, and he accepted and ate. He bought food from a Jew for his family and ate it himself and with his family. So let him eat, and the sin is upon his father. Yes, from the abundance.