Ruling on eating meat cooked by a non-Muslim chef
Ruling on eating meat cooked by a non-Muslim chef
Question: I live in a boarding house where the cooks are all Hindus. They cook two types of meat: halal and jhatka (a type of meat considered haram by some Muslims). Most people eat jhatka meat. In this situation, can Muslim students eat meat cooked by Hindus, or should they stick to vegetables and lentils like some Hindu students do? Or should they eat the meat, considering the Hindus might say it's halal? However, there's a possibility that the cooks might mix the meat or use the same utensils.
Answer: Since the cook is the same person, a non-Muslim, and cooks both halal and haram meat, it's difficult to be cautious. It's possible that the cooks might mix the meat or use the same utensils. Therefore, Muslim students should not eat meat cooked by the Hindus, even if the cook claims to cook separate meat for Muslims. This claim is not acceptable according to Shariah.
Instead, they should stick to vegetables and other food items that are unlikely to be contaminated. Alternatively, they can make other arrangements.
Those who intentionally ate the cooked meat, trusting the cook's word, made a mistake. They should be cautious in the future, seek forgiveness for their mistake, and make amends.
(Jami'-ul-Fatawa, Volume: 3, Page: 172).