Taking food provided by the hotel out of the dining area

QUESTION:

Whilst gone for Haj or Umrah, we noticed that a lot of people book bed and breakfast packages. Is it permissible that, after one has eaten his/her breakfast, extra food is taken from the breakfast dining hall to one’s room to eat later?
If a person has a half-eaten a food item, are they allowed to take that in view of the fact that it will probably be thrown away in the dustbin?
Is permission needed to take away any item from the breakfast area?

ANSWER:

The common understanding in buffet meals is that one may eat as much as he likes in the dining area but not permitted to take any food out. Hence, one is not permitted to take any food out of the dining area, irrespective of whether it is untouched or partly eaten. Yes, if there is fear that the partly eaten food will be thrown away, then consent should be acquired to take it to the room.

(الْمَادَّةُ 36) : الْعَادَةُ مُحَكَّمَةٌ – يَعْنِي أَنَّ الْعَادَةَ عَامَّةً كَانَتْ أَوْ خَاصَّةً تُجْعَلُ حَكَمًا لِإِثْبَاتِ حُكْمٍ شَرْعِيٍّ (مجلة الاحكام ص20 ج1)

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

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Mohammed Desai

Date: 13 Rajab 1445 / 25 January 2024