Having Food at your Non-Muslim Relatives' who take Riba
Question
Title: Having Food at your Non-Muslim Relatives' who take Riba Question: My fiancé is a non-Muslim, her dad is into business but what he does is that he puts the money in the bank also. He takes the interest. He also gives large amounts for charity. So can we have food or anything from my in laws?? At least can my fiancé have anything from her parents after getting converted to Islam? Aakib India Answer: For the first part of your question, I do not consider your eating from your in law's house to be against the provisions of Islam, provided you abide by the Islamic directives relating to edibles [1] . Taking interest is indeed a sin for a Muslim, yet it does not render that person disqualified for social and cultural interaction and relations. Islam prohibits a Muslim from taking interest, but it does not prohibit other Muslims from socially interacting with or eating at the house of a sinning Muslim. As for the second part of your question, we must keep in mind that a person's conversion to Islam does not imply that the person has severed all his/her past relationships. Your fiancé's parents will continue to be her parents - and your parents in law - even after her conversion to Islam. After her conversion to Islam, it would become a religious obligation for your fiancé to have a most profound, respectful and loving relationship with her parents. She should not only continue eating from her parents' house, within the allowable provisions of the Shari`ah , but should also give them the love and respect that they deserve, merely for being her parents. The Qur'an has directed Muslims to be kind, respectful and loving towards their parents irrespective of their religious affiliations. The Qur'an says: We have directed man to deal with his parents in the best of manners. Yet if they force you to ascribe partners to Me, for which you have no basis, then do not obey them. ( Al-`Ankaboot 29: 8) I hope this helps. Regards, Moiz Amjad October 13, 2002 [1] For details, please refer to one of my earlier articles on the topic titled " Directives of the Shari`ah regarding Edibles ". This article is also available in printed form. For details, click here .
Answer
Title: Having Food at your Non-Muslim Relatives' who take Riba Question: My fiancé is a non-Muslim, her dad is into business but what he does is that he puts the money in the bank also. He takes the interest. He also gives large amounts for charity. So can we have food or anything from my in laws?? At least can my fiancé have anything from her parents after getting converted to Islam? Aakib India Answer: For the first part of your question, I do not consider your eating from your in law's house to be against the provisions of Islam, provided you abide by the Islamic directives relating to edibles [1] . Taking interest is indeed a sin for a Muslim, yet it does not render that person disqualified for social and cultural interaction and relations. Islam prohibits a Muslim from taking interest, but it does not prohibit other Muslims from socially interacting with or eating at the house of a sinning Muslim. As for the second part of your question, we must keep in mind that a person's conversion to Islam does not imply that the person has severed all his/her past relationships. Your fiancé's parents will continue to be her parents - and your parents in law - even after her conversion to Islam. After her conversion to Islam, it would become a religious obligation for your fiancé to have a most profound, respectful and loving relationship with her parents. She should not only continue eating from her parents' house, within the allowable provisions of the Shari`ah , but should also give them the love and respect that they deserve, merely for being her parents. The Qur'an has directed Muslims to be kind, respectful and loving towards their parents irrespective of their religious affiliations. The Qur'an says: We have directed man to deal with his parents in the best of manners. Yet if they force you to ascribe partners to Me, for which you have no basis, then do not obey them. ( Al-`Ankaboot 29: 8) I hope this helps. Regards, Moiz Amjad October 13, 2002 [1] For details, please refer to one of my earlier articles on the topic titled " Directives of the Shari`ah regarding Edibles ". This article is also available in printed form. For details, click here .
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