Sharʿi Ruling on Eating Food from Khatm and the Use of Charity by Family Members
Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil, ʿAqāʾid kā Bayān, Volume 1, Page 70
(1) Our family follows the Barelvi Ḥanafī school of thought. When they prepare rice in a large pot (deg), they take out some rice on a plate and have a certain mawlvī recite “Khatm” over it. If we object, they say:
“The Khatm was only on the rice in the plate; the rest of the rice in the deg is ordinary, so you can eat it. What is there in it that makes you refuse eating such rice, bread, or sweets?”
(2) If something is given “in the path of Allah,” can the household also eat from it? Some scholars say that such items are only for the poor, orphans, and the needy. However, some people perform Khatm “for the sake of Allah” and then themselves eat from it and also invite relatives. What is the Sharʿi solution to this whole matter?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā baʿd:
❀ It is better not to eat such rice or food because this is an innovation (bidʿah) in religion and amounts to cooperating in it.
❀ When one participates in a religious innovation, even indirectly, it contributes to its promotion.
❀ If you yourself eat that food, it will weaken your position when you try to discourage others from this un-Islamic practice — they will not take your objection seriously.
❀ If something is given as ṣadaqah (charity), it is the right only of the deserving (e.g., the poor, orphans, and the needy).
❀ The one who gives ṣadaqah cannot consume it himself.
❀ Similarly, if something is offered “for the sake of Allah” in the form of Khatm food, it should also not be eaten, as it has no basis in Sharīʿah.
❀ The first reason (cooperation in bidʿah) is in itself sufficient to necessitate avoiding such food.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil, ʿAqāʾid kā Bayān, Volume 1, Page 70
Question:
(1) Our family follows the Barelvi Ḥanafī school of thought. When they prepare rice in a large pot (deg), they take out some rice on a plate and have a certain mawlvī recite “Khatm” over it. If we object, they say:
“The Khatm was only on the rice in the plate; the rest of the rice in the deg is ordinary, so you can eat it. What is there in it that makes you refuse eating such rice, bread, or sweets?”
(2) If something is given “in the path of Allah,” can the household also eat from it? Some scholars say that such items are only for the poor, orphans, and the needy. However, some people perform Khatm “for the sake of Allah” and then themselves eat from it and also invite relatives. What is the Sharʿi solution to this whole matter?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā baʿd:
(1) Ruling on food over which Khatm is performed:
❀ It is better not to eat such rice or food because this is an innovation (bidʿah) in religion and amounts to cooperating in it.
❀ When one participates in a religious innovation, even indirectly, it contributes to its promotion.
❀ If you yourself eat that food, it will weaken your position when you try to discourage others from this un-Islamic practice — they will not take your objection seriously.
(2) Ruling on charity and items given “in the path of Allah”:
❀ If something is given as ṣadaqah (charity), it is the right only of the deserving (e.g., the poor, orphans, and the needy).
❀ The one who gives ṣadaqah cannot consume it himself.
❀ Similarly, if something is offered “for the sake of Allah” in the form of Khatm food, it should also not be eaten, as it has no basis in Sharīʿah.
❀ The first reason (cooperation in bidʿah) is in itself sufficient to necessitate avoiding such food.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
