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Q: Some say you believe that it is permissible for a child to eat
impure food. Are there among jurists who believe in this? What are the
legal pieces of evidence on which you have based your judgment?
A: First, I am not the only one to
make such a judgment, for great jurists like Sayyed Khouii and others
believe that a minor child can consume impure food that doesn’t harm
his health.
Second, forbidding the eating of
impure food is not always based on the possibility of its causing
bringing harm to man’s health. Maybe there are other different unknown
causes as when milk or food is contaminated by a baby’s hand. Another
example is the impurity of the meat that is taken from animals not
slaughtered in accordance with the legal procedure (Halal), or other
taboos which are not proved harmful to human body as when we slaughter
by cutting the four jugular veins without mentioning God’s name or
without turning the animal towards Qibla.
In this respect, in the absence of any
knowledge of the secrets behind forbiddance, and in the absence of any
harm, obeying God’s orders is the must fundamental commitment. And
since God has exempted the minor, a child is allowed to do what adults
are not allowed to do in this context. But some reservations should be
considered:
First, the impure food must not be
harmful to the child’s health, as identified by experts in the nature
of this food or drink.
Second: the Child must not be so
accustomed to this food lest that will make it hard for him to
dispense with it when he comes of age. Consequently, it is better that
he is not told that this food is impure so as not to get used to it,
making it hard to quit later on . Besides: it is not permissible to
offer impure water or food to adults. But, if you happen to see
someone consuming impure food due to ignorance; you don’t have to stop
him because he is excused.
Q: In case you know that a restaurant offers food that is not Halal,
either because of impurity or because the meat isn’t slaughtered in
accordance with Islamic law, do you have to inform others about it?
A: Two cases are to be discussed
regarding this issue:
The first case : If someone thinks
that the food he is getting is halal even though it is not, it is not
a duty to tell him otherwise.
The second case : people going
frequently to a restaurant whose owner claims to offer Halal food,
making use of their ignorance. In this case the people must be
informed to forbid the owner from evil, and to fight this restaurant
which cheats people by offering Haram as Halal, and impure as pure.
Warning people, in this case, is based on enjoining the good and
forbidding the evil on the part of the owner, not the people, because
they didn’t make any offence due to their ignorance. But, the need to
advice Muslims might compel one, as something recommended, to inform
them and warn those who are being cheated.
Q: What should a Muslim do, if he is offered by a restaurant or a
friend meat with no confirmed knowledge that it is Halal?
A: If the friend or the owner of the restaurant is a Muslim who is
not aware whether this meat is slaughtered by an unbeliever or not,
and whose knowledge doesn’t exceed the guest, then a Muslim is allowed
to eat the meat. But, if this meat was within the reach of an
unbeliever with no further information about its being Halal or not,
then it is not permissible for a Muslim to eat it.
Sewage Water:
Q: It’s known that the amount of impurities in sewage water from
houses, shops, and factories is little if compared with the total
amount. It’s also known that the change in color and taste is not due
to impurities but to mold and bacteria; also, the color obtained is
not the conventional color of impurity but another color, and the
mentioned water is too much and in a continual state of running, so
why is swage water considered impure?
A: An object is said to be impure when it meets a contaminant;
also, the water understudy wasn’t too much . First; it was little then
it joined little impure amount of water, and became a big amount. In
addition, even if the water is too much, it doesn’t make this water
far from impurity. The (Kur) water remains pure even if it meets
impurities if no change in color is observed. But, sewage water is
known to be impure either because it is little and contaminated or
because its color and taste have changed by contact with impurities.
Thus, sewage water is impure, but all contaminant elements included
can be removed so that water becomes clear, and then it can be
purified by joining pure water, whether running or(Kur).
Q: While cooking, when is dried grapes or raisin considered impure
or contaminant to other food?
A: I believe that grape juice is pure if it is boiled and two
thirds of its quantity is not depleted. Even though it is pure, it is
impermissible to consume it. As for raisin if it boils, I don’t forbid
it because forbiddance pertains to grape juice, and this condition is
not realized. On the other hand, if raisin is used with food while
cooking. Its liquid is consumed. Thus, it will no longer exist to be
forbidden.
Q: It’s widely known among people that olives, especially pickled
olives, can’t be purified. What is your judgment?
A: Whether pickled or not, black or green, olives can be purified.
Rejecting the possibly of purifying olives is based on people’s belief
that olives store up oil, and since oil is just like any other liquid
except water, it can’t be purified. But, I see that olive is not a
store for oil, but it is a piece of fat, which emits oil if squeezed
just like other objects that emit similar fats if squeezed. This,
olive is a fatty thing, and I believe that fat doesn’t prevent
purification.
What is the Islamic rule concerning eating the blood remaining in
the legally slaughtered livestock?
A: It is not permissible to eat it, but it is pure.
Q: If we happen to find blood in an egg after being fried with oil,
is it permissible to eat the egg after removing the blood?
A: If blood remains inside the membrane without contact with the
yolk, the albumen, or any other part, then it is permissible to eat
the egg, and it is pure.
Q: If we find an insect, which frequently exists in contaminated
areas-like cockroaches in water or oil, can we determine the impurity
of this water or oil?
A: It is considered pure regardless of any doubt of because an
animal’s body doesn’t impure by impurity, a contaminant, and it gets
pure as soon as impurities disappear. So if no clear impurity is seen
on the body of this insect, the medium it meets can’t be considered
impure.
Q: What is the judgment concerning working and eating in shops that
sell wine and forbidden food?
A: In principle, it is permissible to
eat and work in such shops, but if you refuse to work or eat
In such restaurants as a means to
forbid the evil, or if the believers working and eating there
encourage the owner to continue his sinful and haram practices , then
it will be impermissible on the basis of enjoining the good and
forbidding the evil.
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