Day Questions

I have read in the Holy Quran that the food of the People of the Book is Halal. I am living in a place where the majority of people (about 70 %) are Christians. Is the meat in their shops Halal? Also, sometimes it is difficult and expensive for us to buy meat from Muslim butchers. It becomes very awkward and unsocial if cannot eat our Christian acquaintances’ food with them.

The Imams of the Ahlulbait (peace be upon them) have interpreted the food that is mentioned in the verse: “The food of those who have received the Scripture is lawful for you” to be grains and such food which do not have the requirement of religious slaughtering. Meat is not included in this verse, as it is unlawful to consume it unless some special conditions are met, and there is no doubt that those conditions are not met in the meat in western countries. The embarrassment or awkwardness that this law causes when dealing with non-Muslims is not a justified excuse to consume prohibited food, and it can be avoided by explaining the reason in a nice and a calm way.

Can I follow a prayer imam if I do not know whether he is Adil?

The prayer behind a person whose Adalah is not established is void.

I have heard that it is prohibited to cut ties with one's relatives. Is that true? Does this also include relatives who have left Islam, or mock it and its followers?

It is permissible to communicate with such people because there is a possibility that they might come back to the right path as a result of such ties. However, in some cases such communication encourages them to do wrong. Then, it becomes prohibited.

A woman undertook the operation of hysterectomy - the removal of the womb. Afer that, she started to have some vaginal bleeding because of the wounds inside. Is it permissible for her to fast?

Yes, she is permitted to fast. The release of such a blood from the womb is recognized as Istihadha. It is of three types as mentioned in the treaties of the practical religious laws.

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