Q 4: Is it permissible to eat with the utensils of non-Muslims in restaurants where pork and lard are served?

A: It is not permissible to eat using the utensils of non-Muslims or others in restaurants that serve pork, lard, and alcohol unless they are washed first. Pork and lard are impure foods and so is alcohol impure. The basic evidence for this ruling is: The Hadith of Abu Tha'laba al-Khushani who reported: I came to Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) and said: Allah's Messenger, we are in the land of the People of the Book, (so) we eat using their utensils, and (live) in a hunting region. I hunt with the help of my bow, and hunt with my trained dog, or with my dog which is not trained (so inform me what is lawful (Halal) for us). He (the Prophet (peace be upon him)) said: Regarding the fact you mentioned that you live in the land belonging to the People of the Book, don't eat from their utensils; but if you do not find any alternative, then wash them and eat from them. Regarding what you have mentioned about (your living) in a hunting region, what you hunt, (strike) with the help of your bow, recite the name of Allah (while shooting an arrow), then eat; and what you catch with the help of your trained dog, recite the name of Allah (while letting go the dog) and then eat it, and what you get with the help of your untrained dog, (if you find it alive) and slaughter it (according to the law of the Shari`ah), then eat it. Related by Al-Bukhari and others. This is the wording of Al-Bukhari. It is evident from this Hadith (Part No. 22; Page No. 454) that if a Muslim only finds the utensils of the people of the Scriptures, he may eat with them after washing them. However, if there are other utensils, or if the Muslim does not wash them, it is not permissible for him to eat from them.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.