Q. Our non-Muslim friends invite us to meals during their festivals, returning our invitations at the time of Eid. It is normal for them as the food is served to begin by mentioning the names of their gods. Does this make the food unlawful for Muslims to eat? If so, is there some method to negate what is said so that we could respond to their invitation without offending them?
F.S. Ahmad
A. The Qur’anic verses that speak about mentioning God’s name on food and prohibit what is offered under the name of anyone else actually speak of animal slaughter. When a sheep or a cow is slaughtered, God’s name must be mentioned as a gesture confirming that the killing of the animal is permissible by God’s grace, so that it provides food for human beings. Therefore, if one expects to be invited by non-Muslim friends and is unsure of what they do or say at the time of slaughter, one may suggest to his hosts that vegetarian food is preferable. This applies in particular to people of non-divine religions, such as Hindus and Buddhists. As for Christians and Jews, we are permitted to eat of the meat of their slaughtered animals. We only need to start by mentioning God’s name.
The prayer the reader mentions is said just before starting the meal, i.e. when the food is served. When they start their prayer, you may say a little prayer praising God and thanking Him for His grace. Thus, your prayer is the one that counts as far as you are concerned, and your hosts have their own prayer. You may share their food, provided that it is made of what is permissible in Islam.
Joining a Congregation for a Different Prayer
Q. If a traveling person goes to the mosque to offer Maghrib and Isha prayers, and finds the congregation about to start their Isha prayer, what should he do?
M.G. Yusuf • Riyadh
A. There is no harm in joining a congregation offering a different prayer to the one you want to offer. What is important is to make sure that one can start with the imam and finish with him. With regard to Zuhr, Asr and Isha, there is no problem, because when the traveler joins a local congregation, he prays as they do, i.e. four rak’ahs. The problem is when you want to start your Maghrib prayer with a congregation offering Isha. If you begin with the imam, you would have finished your Maghrib when the congregation has one more rak’ah to go. Therefore, the best thing is to wait until the congregation finish their first rak’ah and start when they begin their second. Thus, you finish with the imam. Of course this means that you sit for tashahhud after offering one rak’ah, but this is immaterial, because you must follow the Imam.
Arab News Islam 4 July 2003
