Runyam... --
Gulf Saudi Sheikh Bans Eating Food from Non-Muslims 20/01/2013 02:39 Islamic ruling could hurt domestic workersThe Quran states, "He has forbidden you only that which dies of itself, and blood and the flesh of swine, and that over which any other name than that of Allah has been invoked. (2:172,173)" However, a prominent member of Saudi Arabia's Council of the Grand Ulema, or religious scholars, has proclaimed that it is forbidden even to eat foods cooked by non-Muslims. The announcement has come as a shock for the millions of non-Muslim foreigners working as maids and servants in Saudi billionaires' households. Sheikh Abdullah Al-Maney, one of the highest-ranking Islamic authorities in Saudi Arabia, has ruled that, "eating food prepared by non-Muslim servants, or at least or non-monotheistic faiths, is haram, that is, forbidden in Islam." According to Al-Maney, women should personally take care to prepare meals, and the family should eat only what they have prepared. He stated that domestic workers from a non-monotheistic faith are not like Muslims, and that they worship idols. "Do your own cooking and eat whatever you like. Have nothing to do with non-Muslim maids and those are of non-monotheistic religions because they are pagans." However, if the domestic worker should become "a good Muslim," then eating what they cook is permitted. Al-Maney extended this ban to restaurants, saying the Muslim cannot be served dishes prepared by chefs whose religious affiliation is not sanctioned by Islam. The Sheikh said, "Do not ask or be suspicious about it except if you were told that the workers in the restaurant were Buddhist; only then, it will be a sin if you buy food from there." The scholar appealed to Saudi institutions to limit the right of entry into the Kingdom for domestic workers to only those who profess the Islamic faith or one of the monotheistic religions. "It is better for families," he explained. However, not all scholars agree with him. Sheikh Mohammed Al-Jazlani stated to Al-Arabiya in an interview that, "Muslims are allowed to eat food prepared or cooked without prayersÂ…and this is agreed on by Muslim scholars." Thus, it is halal (permissible) for Muslims to eat food cooked or prepared by non-Muslims. Author: Cherif Jendoubi ------------------------------------ Post message: [email protected] Subscribe : [email protected] Unsubscribe : [email protected] List owner : [email protected] Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
