Eating From Homes Of Bank Employees

Q1) Why is it not permissible to eat at homes where the breadwinner works at the bank? 

A1) It is a known fact that majority of the bank’s income is from interest. Hence, if it is known with certainty that majority of their income is from a Haraam source (i.e. from the salaries earned from working in the bank), then it will not be permissible to eat at their homes. However, if it is known that the salaries earned from working in the insurance companies do not form part of the majority of their income (i.e. 51% or more), then it will permissible to eat at their homes.

Q2) How do we go about explaining that due to the earnings being from interest, it is impermissible for us to eat from them?

A2) You may respectfully explain to them that the income of the one who works in a bank is Haraam. Therefore, you do not want to jeopardise your Ibaadah and Dua by allowing something to enter your stomach which is Haraam. The Quraan Sharif states:

يَا أَيُّهَا الرُّسُلُ كُلُوا مِنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَاعْمَلُوا صَالِحًا ۖ إِنِّي بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ عَلِيمٌ (المؤمنون آ:51)

“O Messengers! Eat of the pure things and carry out righteous actions. Indeed, I am aware of what you do.”

Mufti Shafi Saheb Rahimahullah mentions under the Tafseer of this verse that, if one eats Halaal, he will be given the ability to do good deeds, and if he consumes Haraam or doubtful food, then the Haraam or doubtful food will lead him towards sin. The Duas of such a person is rejected. This clearly indicates towards the importance of consuming Halaal.

Consider the following Hadith in which Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam expounded on the harms of consuming Haraam:

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه و سلم “إنَّ اللَّهَ طَيِّبٌ لَا يَقْبَلُ إلَّا طَيِّبًا، وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ أَمَرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ بِمَا أَمَرَ بِهِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ فَقَالَ تَعَالَى: “يَا أَيُّهَا الرُّسُلُ كُلُوا مِنْ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَاعْمَلُوا صَالِحًا”، وَقَالَ تَعَالَى: “يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُلُوا مِنْ طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ” ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ الرَّجُلَ يُطِيلُ السَّفَرَ أَشْعَثَ أَغْبَرَ يَمُدُّ يَدَيْهِ إلَى السَّمَاءِ: يَا رَبِّ! يَا رَبِّ! وَمَطْعَمُهُ حَرَامٌ، وَمَشْرَبُهُ حَرَامٌ، وَمَلْبَسُهُ حَرَامٌ، وَغُذِّيَ بِالْحَرَامِ، فَأَنَّى يُسْتَجَابُ لَهُ؟)صحيح مسلم #1015)

It is narrated from Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu that Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam is reported to have said, “Almighty Allah is Pure and only accepts that which is pure. And verily Allah Ta’ala has commanded the believers that which He has commanded the Messengers. Allah Ta’ala states, ‘O Messengers! Eat of the Tayyibaat (pure and wholesome) and perform righteous deeds.’ Allah Ta’ala states, ‘O you who believe! Eat of the pure (lawful things) that We have provided you.’ Then Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam mentioned a person who undertakes a lengthy journey due to which he is disheveled and dusty. He spreads out his hands towards the sky saying, ‘O Rabb! O Rabb!’, whereas his food is Haraam, his drink is Haraam, his clothing is Haraam, and he has been nourished with Haraam; so how will his Dua be answered?”

(الْبَابُ الثَّانِي عَشَرَ فِي الْهَدَايَا وَالضِّيَافَاتِ) أَهْدَى إلَى رَجُلٍ شَيْئًا أَوْ أَضَافَهُ إنْ كَانَ غَالِبُ مَالِهِ مِنْ الْحَلَالِ فَلَا بَأْسَ إلَّا أَنْ يَعْلَمَ بِأَنَّهُ حَرَامٌ، فَإِنْ كَانَ الْغَالِبُ هُوَ الْحَرَامَ يَنْبَغِي أَنْ لَا يَقْبَلَ الْهَدِيَّةَ، وَلَا يَأْكُلَ الطَّعَامَ إلَّا أَنْ يُخْبِرَهُ بِأَنَّهُ حَلَالٌ وَرِثْتُهُ أَوْ اسْتَقْرَضْتُهُ مِنْ رَجُلٍ، كَذَا فِي الْيَنَابِيعِ.

وَلَا يَجُوزُ قَبُولُ هَدِيَّةِ أُمَرَاءِ الْجَوْرِ؛ لِأَنَّ الْغَالِبَ فِي مَالِهِمْ الْحُرْمَةُ إلَّا إذَا عَلِمَ أَنَّ أَكْثَرَ مَالِهِ حَلَالٌ بِأَنْ كَانَ صَاحِبَ تِجَارَةٍ أَوْ زَرْعٍ فَلَا بَأْسَ بِهِ؛ لِأَنَّ أَمْوَالَ النَّاسِ لَا تَخْلُو عَنْ قَلِيلٍ حَرَامٍ فَالْمُعْتَبَرُ الْغَالِبُ، وَكَذَا أَكْلُ طَعَامِهِمْ، كَذَا فِي الِاخْتِيَارِ شَرْحِ الْمُخْتَارِ. (الفتاوى الهندية 5/420)

ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Abdul Kader Fazlani

Date: 24 Shawwaal 1447 /13 April 2026

CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:

Mufti Yacoob Vally Saheb