Q 4: What is the ruling on accepting gifts from my father and my relatives who work in tobacco companies and banks; can I accept gifts from them and then return their value to them in another way to maintain the love and ties of kinship with them?Q 5: When I visit my relatives and they offer me food and drinks, can I take them, although I know they earn their living by working in banks and tobacco companies? (Part No. 22; Page No. 330

A: If you know that the gift or the food that is offered to you is in itself Haram (unlawful), you must not accept the gift or eat the food. The same ruling applies if all the earnings of a person are Haram. If the Halal (lawful) earnings of a person cannot be distinguished from their Haram earnings, scholars differ as to whether it is permissible to accept gifts or eat food served by them to a guest. Some scholars say that it is absolutely Haram. Other scholars say that if the Haram earnings are more than one-third of such a person’s property, it is Haram to eat food offered by them or accept gifts from them. Others say that if the Haram earnings are more than the Halal, it is Haram to eat the food they offer or accept their gifts. Others say that it is not Haram at all to eat their food and accept their gifts. This is the obvious ruling here, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) accepted a grilled sheep from a Jewish woman and ate it, and also according to the general meaning of what Allah (Exalted be He) says: The food (slaughtered cattle, eatable animals) of the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) is lawful to you It is known that the Jews and the Christians deal in Riba (usury) and do not seek Halal earnings; they earn both Halal and Haram money. However, Allah has made it Halal to eat from their food and the Prophet (peace be upon him) ate from their food. A group of scholars reported the Hadith narrated by Sufyan Al-Thawry on the authority of Salamah ibn Kuhayl, on the authority of Zir ibn ‘Abdullah, on the authority of Ibn Mas‘ud that a man asked him, “I have a neighbor who deals in Riba and he invites me to eat with him.” Ibn Mas‘ud said to the man, (Part No. 22; Page No. 331) “Enjoyment of food is for you and the sin (of dealing in Riba) lies on him.” However, it is better if Muslims refrain from mixing, and exchanging presents and visits too much with such relatives and they limit themselves to dealing with them when necessary.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.