Source: Aḥkām wa Masā’il: Kitāb o Sunnat kī Roshni Main
What is the Sharʿī ruling regarding using the utensils of the Ahl al-Kitāb (People of the Book) and the polytheists?
Regarding consumption, the meat of the Ahl al-Kitāb (Jews and Christians) is permissible, while the meat of other disbelievers, such as:
…is not permissible.
Even food products derived from their slaughtered animals are also not allowed.
﴿ الْيَوْمَ أُحِلَّ لَكُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتُ وَطَعَامُ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ حِلٌّ لَكُمْ وَطَعَامُكُمْ حِلٌّ لَهُمْ ﴾
"This day [all] good foods have been made lawful for you. And the food of those who were given the Scripture (Ahl al-Kitāb) is lawful for you, and your food is lawful for them."
[Sūrat al-Mā'idah: 5]
According to Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما and other mufassirīn, the word "ṭaʿām" (food) in this verse specifically refers to their slaughtered meat.
Fruits, vegetables, and other non-meat items are not included in this restriction and are permissible to eat regardless of the source.
Muslims should, as a principle of purity and distinction, avoid using the utensils of disbelievers, especially those used for:
If avoiding their utensils becomes difficult or impractical, then:
✔ They must be thoroughly washed before Muslims use them.
Sayyidunā Abū Thaʿlabah al-Khushani رضي الله عنه narrated:
قُلتُ: يا رسولَ اللهِ، إنَّا بأرضِ أهلِ كتابٍ، أفنأكلُ في آنِيتِهم؟ قال: لا تأكُلوا فيها، إلَّا أن لا تجِدوا غيرَها، فاغسِلوها وكُلوا فيها.
“I said: O Messenger of Allah, we live in the land of the People of the Book. May we use their utensils?
He ﷺ said: Do not eat in them unless you do not find other than them. In that case, wash them and then eat from them.”
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Dhabā’iḥ wa al-Ṣayd: 5488, 5478
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Ṣayd wa al-Dhabā’iḥ: 1930
✔ The meat of Ahl al-Kitāb is permissible, but meat from all other disbelievers is not allowed.
✔ Using their utensils is discouraged, especially when used for ḥarām items like alcohol or non-ḥalāl meat.
✔ In cases of necessity, their utensils may be used after thorough washing, as per the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
❖ Question:
What is the Sharʿī ruling regarding using the utensils of the Ahl al-Kitāb (People of the Book) and the polytheists?
❖ Answer:
Regarding consumption, the meat of the Ahl al-Kitāb (Jews and Christians) is permissible, while the meat of other disbelievers, such as:
- Majoos (Zoroastrians)
- Idol worshippers
- Communists
- And all other forms of non-Ahl al-Kitāb disbelievers
…is not permissible.
Even food products derived from their slaughtered animals are also not allowed.
❖ Quranic Evidence:
﴿ الْيَوْمَ أُحِلَّ لَكُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتُ وَطَعَامُ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ حِلٌّ لَكُمْ وَطَعَامُكُمْ حِلٌّ لَهُمْ ﴾
"This day [all] good foods have been made lawful for you. And the food of those who were given the Scripture (Ahl al-Kitāb) is lawful for you, and your food is lawful for them."
[Sūrat al-Mā'idah: 5]According to Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما and other mufassirīn, the word "ṭaʿām" (food) in this verse specifically refers to their slaughtered meat.
Fruits, vegetables, and other non-meat items are not included in this restriction and are permissible to eat regardless of the source.❖ Ruling on Utensils of Disbelievers:
Muslims should, as a principle of purity and distinction, avoid using the utensils of disbelievers, especially those used for:
- Cooking or storing their food
- Drinking alcohol or other impure substances
If avoiding their utensils becomes difficult or impractical, then:
✔ They must be thoroughly washed before Muslims use them.
❖ Prophetic Guidance:
Sayyidunā Abū Thaʿlabah al-Khushani رضي الله عنه narrated:
قُلتُ: يا رسولَ اللهِ، إنَّا بأرضِ أهلِ كتابٍ، أفنأكلُ في آنِيتِهم؟ قال: لا تأكُلوا فيها، إلَّا أن لا تجِدوا غيرَها، فاغسِلوها وكُلوا فيها.
“I said: O Messenger of Allah, we live in the land of the People of the Book. May we use their utensils?
He ﷺ said: Do not eat in them unless you do not find other than them. In that case, wash them and then eat from them.”
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Dhabā’iḥ wa al-Ṣayd: 5488, 5478 Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Ṣayd wa al-Dhabā’iḥ: 1930❖ Conclusion:
✔ The meat of Ahl al-Kitāb is permissible, but meat from all other disbelievers is not allowed.
✔ Using their utensils is discouraged, especially when used for ḥarām items like alcohol or non-ḥalāl meat.
✔ In cases of necessity, their utensils may be used after thorough washing, as per the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
