QUESTION:
As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa-raḥmatu -llāhi wa-barakātuh,
A person tries to adhere to Sunnah to the best of his ability, he is cautious and careful when consuming food and yet inadvertently, by mistake and in error consumes a food item which has a Haram ingredient.This can happen because another Muslim told him that item was Halal or a mistake was made.
It is a genuine mistake, unintentional and despite best human efforts and endevaour.
Can you please tell me the evidence that their acts of worship or Duas will not be accepted when Allah Ta’ala is Merciful and as a special blessing for the Ummati of Rasul-ullah ﷺ their mistakes and unintentional errors are forgiven by Allah Ta’ala?
Is the following Hadeeth applicable to someone who due to a genuine mistake, unintentionally and despite best human efforts and endevaour consumed Haram:
Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “O you people! Indeed Allah is Tayyib (good) and he does not accept but what is good. And indeed Allah ordered the believers with what He ordered the Messengers. He (ﷺ) said: ‘O you Messengers! Eat of the good things and do righteous deeds. Verily I am well acquainted with what you do (23:51).’ And He said: ‘O you who believe! Eat from the good things We have provided you (2:172).’ He said: “And he mentioned a man: ‘Who is undertaking a long journey, whose hair is dishevelled and he is covered with dust. He raises his hands to the heavens and says: “O Lord! O Lord!” Yet his food is from the unlawful, his drink is from the unlawful, his clothing is from the unlawful, and he was nourished by the unlawful. So how can that be accepted?'” [Muslim]
Jazāk Allāhu Khayran
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ANSWER:
Wa Alaikum As Salaam,
The hadith which you have quoted establishes a very important teaching to all believers that they must ensure that everything they consume and use, must always be halal in itself and must come from a halal source. This is an order from Allah and is well established in Islam. All believers must strive for this.
However, at times, mistakes do happen, and despite trying to be extremely cautious, one may unintentionally consume something which is doubtful or unlawful.
In this case, once it was a genuine mistake and was not intentionally done or intended, Allah will forgive a person and overlook his mistake.
In this regard, Abu Dharr (R.A) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (S.A.S) said, ‘Verily Allah Has excused and pardoned my nation (Ummah) for their mistakes, their forgetfulness, and what they are coerced into doing (Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith No. 2043).
In another Hadith, Abdullah Bin Abbas (R.A) reported that the Prophet (S.A.S) said, ‘Verily, Allah Has overlooked for my nation their mistakes, forgetfulness, and what they are forced into doing’ (Sunnan Ibn Majah Hadith No. 2045).
This Hadith shows that when a person makes a genuine mistake and he had absolutely no intention or desire to do it, and is also remorseful for what has been done, then Allah will pardon him for it.
In the Holy Quran, Allah Has also mentioned about this and said, ‘And there is no sin on you concerning that which you made a mistake, except in regard to what your heart deliberately intend. And Allah is Ever off- Forgiving, Most Merciful’. (Surah Al Ahzab [33] Verse 5).
The above verse explains that there will be no sin upon a person when he falls into a mistake and did not intend it. Allah takes a person to account for that which he intentionally does.
Allah is always forgiving to those who fall into mistakes, and is Most Merciful to those who repent to Him from their Sins.
The above explanation shows that Allah will forgive the genuine mistakes made by the believers. However, with respect to the mistake which has occurred where you consumed a food item which had a Haram ingredient, you should repent to Allah and seek His forgiveness. Insha Allah, He will forgive you.
And Allah Knows best
Mufti Waseem Khan
5/10/2023