Q 1: I live in a tribe in Morocco. Most of the inhabitants of this tribe work in France and most of them own grocery stores where wine and pork are sold. They say that if they abstain from selling wine and pork, no one will buy from them because they do business with the French. Is it permissible to accept their gifts, and eat or drink with them? Is it permissible to marry their daughters even if they are relatives? We would like to know your view on this as we are confused. May Allah reward you with the best.

A: It is not permissible for a Muslim to sell wine, pork or to take their prices. Allah (Exalted be He) makes them unlawful and when He makes something unlawful, He makes its price unlawful as mentioned in an authentic Hadith. If all the money of the people mentioned is unlawful, then it is not permissible to accept their gifts or eat from their food. If their money is a mixture of lawful and unlawful earnings, there is no harm in eating their food, and accepting their gifts. Allah (Glorified be He) makes it permissible to eat from the food of the People of the Book even though it is a mixture of lawful and unlawful. Also, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) ate some of their food. However, you should advise them and warn them against selling wine and pork acting upon the Saying of Allah (Glorified be He): The believers, men and women, are Auliyâ’ (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another; they enjoin (on the people) Al-Ma‘rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm orders one to do), and forbid (people) from Al-Munkar (i.e. polytheism and disbelief of all kinds, and all that Islâm has forbidden) (Part No. 13; Page No. 52) Moreover, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Whoever, among you, sees something abominable should rectify it with his hand; and if he has not strength enough to do it, then he should do it with his tongue; and if he has not strength enough to do it, (even) then he should (abhor it) from his heart, and that is the least of Faith. (Narrated by Muslim in his Sahih (authentic) Book of Hadith). There is no wrong in marrying their daughters, especially if their daughters are chaste Muslims. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.