Is it a taboo for muslim to eat in non muslim house?

@zandi458 (28102)
Malaysia
January 24, 2012 11:07am CST
I met a little girl today at my sister's party and asked her to help herself with the foods. She is staying across the road. I was pleasantly surprised when she answered me 'I am a muslim.' She was not with her parents at that time but the parents came later. I looked at her and told her that 'muslim also eat.' And she kept quiet. I know pork is a forbidden food in Islam but any other foods should not posed as a religious taboo. I wonder what happen during famine when foods are scarce and the stomach is hungry, is it still considered a taboo for a muslim to eat in a non muslim house?
5 people like this
15 responses
@May2k8 (17978)
• Indonesia
24 Jan 12
Muslims have been taught not to eat foods that are forbidden, if we do not have halal food there is two condition we can eat pork (if there is no other food) or let the other to eat it. As muslim I also cannot be force to eat pork.
2 people like this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
26 Jan 12
If certain foods are forbidden in a religion then nobody should forcefully serve them those foods.
@adhyz82 (36249)
• Indonesia
24 Jan 12
hello May, we meet again...thats good explanation.. btw, i want to hear your respond about the news in indonesia interest..surprising, i never see your comment again in my discussion
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
15 Nov 15
I think she meant that the kitchen is not used for cooking muslim food, and there is a risk of contamination. Some of my Muslim colleagues do not even use the sponge to wash their cups. They literally have to wash with hands.
1 person likes this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
15 Nov 15
Too fanatic. I am thinking what happened if there is famine, will they not eat whatever foods served or they rather die of hunger clinging on to their beliefs.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
15 Nov 15
@scheng1 Oh...really? But they will not be happy to see others well fed.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
15 Nov 15
@zandi458 they are good at fasting. No need to worry about them. They will survive and flourish.
• Indonesia
25 Jan 12
No, we are allowed to eat in a non Muslim's house. That's just her choice, and it has nothing to do with the religion at all. As long as you don't eat forbidden food, you're fine, but then again, it's her choice. I used to live with a non Muslim family back in the days when I was in college. I ate with them, and we understand each other. They didn't serve me pork.
@adhyz82 (36249)
• Indonesia
25 Jan 12
so citra,we must clarify about it i think too many misunderstanding about islam where many people only believe moslem is like what they had seen in television but they never see too that many non moslem can kill anybody.. give example?? in Israel...in North Irlandia, and in Basque, Spain.. so??
@adhyz82 (36249)
• Indonesia
25 Jan 12
i see citra.. maybe iam too emotional ..i see another respond is easily connecting with the terror or bomb.. how come, the main discussion is only want to answer the curiosity of zandy, but several or first respond shock me.. and thats why i follow that respond..
• Indonesia
25 Jan 12
I think it would be out of topic, it's pretty obvious that zandi asked whether it's a taboo for Muslims to eat in a non Muslims house. Killings is just another issue, which is not appropriate to discus here in this topic.
@momof3kids (1894)
• Singapore
24 Jan 12
The little girl's parents are probably guilty of what I am also guilty of, taking the easy way out. I am a muslim and when my firstborn is invited to a party held by his non muslim friend, my husband and I did exactly that, told him not to eat anything. Now that he is older its easier to explain to him what is allowed and what is not allowed in our religion. In times of famine, in order to survive, a muslim is allowed to eat what is forbidden when there isnt a famine. Islam seems complicated that way but it does provide the littlest guide according to the circumstances. adhyz82 is right to say that Muslims have to be careful. I have come across in my country many non muslims who do not respect our restrictions. It is unfair to assume that in all non muslims but as the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. With that said it is a matter of what is being served, not where. It is okay to eat a non forbidden food (for a muslim) in a non muslim's house. That is why the parents came by.
1 person likes this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
26 Jan 12
It is good to be flexible provided one does not go beyond their religious boundaries. I have muslim friends and relatives too and we usually have set special halal foods for them when we invite them for big parties like wedding. But certain fanatic muslims don't even want to drink beverages we served from our cups. We always have packet or can drinks in stock in case muslim relatives or friends visit the house.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
26 Jan 12
Well, I would not say that they are being troublesome but I feel dishonored when they refused to drink when served. Serving refreshments to guests is a habit to welcome any guest that come to my house.
• Singapore
26 Jan 12
I cant really call them fanatic because it is not for me to judge. A muslims way of life is often considered inflexible, conservative and not liberal but this is how non muslim view in comparison with their own. A muslim lives the way he/she thinks is the best in the eyes of Allah and to be constantly labeled negatively is only unfair. What a muslim does in his/her life is eventually justified by the Almighty. If a guest of mine has come to my event, that meant he/she has sacrificed her time, even if he/she does it out of courtesy. Islam has taught me to be most hospital to my guests, who may also be vegetarians or vegans. It doesnt matter if he/she chooses not to eat, I will be honored that he/she has sacrificed his/her precious time. In the case of your muslim friends and relatives, I do think they are being troublesome. If I have to be fussy, I'd bring my own packet drinks.
1 person likes this
@ShyBear88 (59261)
• Sterling, Virginia
24 Jan 12
She probably said that because she doesn't know you and a lot of people don't like musliums and will do a lot of hurtful thugs to them. Also it could be that she is only a child and shy and didn't know if it was okay to go over at that time to eat till her parents went Orr with her. Another thing might have been she wasn't hungry.
1 person likes this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
26 Jan 12
You're right, she might have been told by her parents not to consume any food until they come. Children are obedient lot and behave well in the absence of their parents.
@ShyBear88 (59261)
• Sterling, Virginia
26 Jan 12
Children are good about that listening to there parents. I know I would have told that my daughter incase she is allergic to something.
@arjunm (439)
• India
25 Jan 12
The most sensitive thing of any religious belief is it's taboo.Eating pork is the Haraam which is such prohibition that results sin in Muslim community. Besides Muslims, many other communities prohibit eating, consumption even toughing pork due to religious culture and hygienic reasons. Some particular things which is not good for human beings, religious communities, societies they become taboo or sin to the eyes of believers. A religious community creates a taboo to keep it's followers cline and pious and a strong religious believers always try to give highest priority to maintain it by any costs. So they always avoid all type of attachment regarding anti religious activity. These are all the way of beliefs. We shouldn't criticized much someone's own belief.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
26 Jan 12
"We shouldn't criticized much someone's own belief." Just asking whether it is forbidden for muslims to eat in non muslims house. Judging from the responses here, it is alright to eat as long as they refrain from taking foods that are forbidden in their religion. Why would we want to criticized other's beliefs?
@youless (112091)
• Guangzhou, China
25 Jan 12
Muslim has so many forbidden food in my opinion. And we all know that they can't eat any food relates to pig. Whereas pig products are quite common in Asia. Sometimes even if you don't order pork, but you will not know whether they use the oil from pig. And they also think that the plates which serve with pork are not good for them, too. So I can understand why they need to eat in a Muslim restaurant so that they will not break the rules of Islam. I love China
@rahul2u (200)
• India
25 Jan 12
yes.you are right.but i won't think this is the only reason for not eating any food in non muslim houses.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
26 Jan 12
Even butter are laced with pork oil as published in our papers recently. So the muslims are no longer butter for their butter cakes instead use margerine. So the butter cake doesn't taste good now without that buttery taste and smell.
@lampar (7584)
• United States
1 Mar 12
In time of hunger, the one that is out of food will have to eat anything to sustain his/her life, with the exception that one who doesn't want to survive. But all these halal or haram is only applicable for a fundamentalist or an extremist. So next time, be careful who you are invited into your house and who you help in your daily life, you can be accused by those zeolots as someone who is trying to destroy their religion, or disrespecting their divine. next time, Just keep your food for yourself and invite reasonable people to eat in your house only, you will not have to feel offended again.
@shibham (16977)
• India
26 Jan 12
Hi zandi.. I dont know is it taboo or not but i have a muslim friend with whom i exchange dinner or launch. I am quiet secular and he too.... although i dont eat beef but he eats pork. so, it sounds orthodoxy to me, dont know deeply just feel. No offense to mean. Have a nice time.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
26 Jan 12
As long as you didn't shove pork meat in his mouth, he is the one who is answerable for his own doing.
@adhyz82 (36249)
• Indonesia
24 Jan 12
zandi, maybe she is only careful.. she never mean she want to hurt you, but she do like that because she only don`t want anything that was forbidden in our religion mind come to her mouth.. only like that.. she respect you, but please respect too her faith
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
26 Jan 12
Coming from a country where Islam is the official religion I do understand their culture well. But I am sad that inviting muslims to any social gatherings in our house pose a barrier because they fear that our foods are not HALAL.
@adhyz82 (36249)
• Indonesia
26 Jan 12
i really understand your sadness. maybe they must convince them that they did not mean like that i just believe they only do what our religion said..no offense like your meaning
1 person likes this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
26 Jan 12
No offense at all but need to be more careful when serving muslims.
24 Jan 12
It is more a problem of halal, and this can come down to the the cooking utensils, work surfaces, pots used in the preparation on foods. If you had cut your daughters ham sandwich with a particular knife, it may not be cleaned and used for the muslim child. This level of understanding would be difficult for a child to grasp, never mind explaining , so a blanket ban may be better. Nowadays I would always ask a parent before inviting a child, so many food, and safety issues out there sadly
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
26 Jan 12
I think you're right. Since we are pork eaters, most of our utensil are no longer fit to use for cooking foods to be served to our muslim friends. When we want our muslim friends to attend to any of our functions, it is only fair that we cater our foods from muslim caterers.
• Singapore
25 Jan 12
Halal is never a problem with a muslim. In my country when muslims are good friends with non muslims, the non muslims will do whatever so that they can have the company of the muslims. My non muslim friend will say,'Its okay that we dont have non halal food today, we can have it any other day. Today you must come.' In terms of cooking utensils, work surfaces, pots used in the preparation on foods, if the muslim knows that this will pose a problem to the non muslim, he should do the responsible thing which is to turn down the invitation.
• Jordan
24 Jan 12
The fact that it's not forbidden in any way to eat at a non-muslim house in any way or form is not know by many muslims. I have looked into the issue and, according to my research, it's completely fine for a muslim to eat at a non-muslim house, given that the muslim doesn't eat any foods that are forbidden in islam, like pork.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
26 Jan 12
We should respect other religion and refrain from serving foods that are against their religions. But some fanatic muslims would not even touch the foods or drinks that non muslims served and they come out of courtesy.
@sjvg1976 (41134)
• Delhi, India
25 Jan 12
Hello Zandi, I don't know about Muslims but being a Hindu we are allowed to eat anywhere but its matter of our choice what we want to eat and what not. Yes in Islam Muslims are not allowed to eat Pig so are we.We are also not allowed to eat Non veg but we do as its our choice to eat it or not. May be that girl was small and her parents has told her not to eat in Hindu's house nothing else.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
26 Jan 12
Hi sjvg, I think it depends on individual choices. One who eat foods forbidden by their religion should bear all the consequences and who are we to judge. I came across an open-minded muslim guy who have lived for many years in Australia eating pork chop in a chinese restaurant. I happen to know him and know well that he has lived overseas for many years and probably has become more liberal minded.
@zaahro (748)
• Indonesia
26 Jan 12
Hello zandi458 :) It is not like that. I am a muslim girl. Let me try to explain it. It is that we just be careful of food. If in a house cook pork, the utensils will be contamined by the pork. Though the utensils have washed, it is still forbiden for muslim to eat any food that cooked through those utensils. We have some ways to clean it so the utensils that have contamined can be used again. It is not like usual washing. Why we don't eat chicken in non muslim house ? It is because we only eat chicken meat that are slaughtered by islamic way so that the chicken meat will be halal for us. :) It is that we keep ourselves, we don't mean to refuse. I hope this can make it clear :) Happy mylotting.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
26 Jan 12
You answered my doubts.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
26 Jan 12
You have given an informative views.
@zaahro (748)
• Indonesia
26 Jan 12
That's good :) I am glad it helps.
1 person likes this
29 Feb 12
No, it is not a taboo.. I eat a lot in my friends house in a child time. I think she is worried about the food (halal), you might not serve her pork, but there are some specific requirements if the food comes from animal, ie the animal must be sacrificed with the name of God at the time, not come from suffered animal, she might not want to hurt your feeling to come to your house and not eat anything. In some culture, serving food to the guest is a symbol of friendship, not eating the food served by the host, is like humiliating the host itself. I suggest that you invite her once again with her parents, with fish as the main menu ^^. Because fish are all allowed for muslim.