Fatwa: 738

Category: fatwas about fasting

The ruling concerning selling food in a country of disbelievers during the month of Ramadan

The question:

I work as a tradesman in a fast food restaurant in a country of disbelievers; so is it permissible for me to sell these foods during Ramadan after the prayer of Al-`Asr (afternoon prayer)? Knowing that, among the customers, there are disbelievers and there are Muslims, and may Allah reward you with good.

The answer:

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon whom Allah sent as a mercy to the Worlds, upon his Family, his Companions and his Brothers till the Day of Resurrection.

It is not permissible to help someone who must fast the month of Ramadan as a matter of principle, like the Muslims, or someone who must fast it after realizing the condition of Islam, like the disbelievers, in violating the month of Ramadan by eating, as it is a help in sin and transgression, in accordance with Allah’s تعالى saying:

﴿وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَى وَلاَ تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ﴾ [المائدة: 2].

The meaning of the verse:

﴾Help you one another in Al-­Birr and At-­Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression.﴿ [Al-Mâ'ida (The Table Spread with Food): 2].

Because disbelievers, according to the most correct opinion, are enjoined to abide by the branches of the Sharia, and that they incur punishment if they die as disbelievers because of abandoning performing the branches of the Sharia and among them fasting. As regards when they are disbelievers, they are enjoined to abide by the branches of the Sharia after the realization of the condition of Islam. Besides, you can see another fatwa in the same topic under the title: “Regarding giving food to a disbeliever in the day of Ramadan”⁽¹⁾.

The perfect knowledge belongs to Allah. Our last prayer is all praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon our Prophet صلَّى الله عليه وسلَّم, his Family, his Companions and Brothers till the Day of Resurrection.

Algiers, Ramadhân 13^th, 1428H.
Corresponding to: September 25^th, 2007.