He asks: What is the opinion of the religion regarding entering a bar, meaning a restaurant and drinking establishment, where the bar contains food and alcoholic beverages, and the goal is to eat?
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The questioner : He asks: What is the opinion of the religion regarding entering a bar, meaning a restaurant and drinking establishment, where the bar contains food and alcoholic beverages, and the goal is to eat only?
The Shaykh : This question contains two aspects. The first aspect: This false naming of the vile drink, which is khamr (intoxicants). Naming it "spiritual drink" is a false name. What is it for the spirit? Rather, it is the vile drink that corrupts the intellect, the religion, and the soul. It is not befitting that such a thing be described with this attractive description that gives it the cloak of permissibility, or rather the cloak of encouragement and invitation to it. Therefore, it should be called the vile drink. In fact, it is the mother of all vices and the key to all evil.
The second aspect: Entering this restaurant where cups of khamr (intoxicants) are served. This is not permissible; rather, it is forbidden (haram). Because the person who comes to a place where Allah the Mighty and Majestic is disobeyed, he is recorded with the like of the sin of the doer. Allah the Exalted said:[An-Nisa 4:140] But if you are in dire necessity, and I do not think you are in dire necessity to eat your food from this place that contains vices, but if you are in dire necessity, then buy food and stay away from this place and eat it. And if you find food from another place that does not contain this vice, then that is what is obligatory for you.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This question contains two aspects. The first aspect: This false naming of the vile drink, which is khamr (intoxicants). Naming it "spiritual drink" is a false name. What is it for the spirit? Rather, it is the vile drink that corrupts the intellect, the religion, and the soul. It is not befitting that such a thing be described with this attractive description that gives it the cloak of permissibility, or rather the cloak of encouragement and invitation to it. Therefore, it should be called the vile drink. In fact, it is the mother of all vices and the key to all evil.
The second aspect: Entering this restaurant where cups of khamr (intoxicants) are served. This is not permissible; rather, it is forbidden (haram). Because the person who comes to a place where Allah the Mighty and Majestic is disobeyed, he is recorded with the like of the sin of the doer. Allah the Exalted said:
And it has already come down to you in the Book that when you hear the verses of Allah [recited], they are denied [by them] and ridiculed; so do not sit with them until they enter into another conversation. Indeed, you would then be like them
وَقَدْ نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الْكِتَابِ أَنْ إِذَا سَمِعْتُمْ ءايَاتِ اللَّهِ يُكْفَرُ بِهَا وَيُسْتَهْزَأُ بِهَا فَلا تَقْعُدُوا مَعَهُمْ حَتَّى يَخُوضُوا فِي حَدِيثٍ غَيْرِهِ إِنَّكُمْ إِذًا مِثْلُهُمْThe questioner : Yes.