paying someone for halal goods which were previously purchased with haram money

25 Jan 2023 Ref-No#: 4582

Asalamualaikum. I am a young man who lives with my parents. I have researched into many books of deen and something that I keep coming across is the devastating consequences of subsisting from money that was not acquired in a halal manner. As a result, I have stopped wearing clothing, and consuming food and drink which my family buys because their source of income is doubtful (it involves delivering haram foods by nature to others), and instead I buy my own food and drink with my job that I am more confident is halal in its nature. Due to convenience, I was curious if I could avoid the negative consequences of eating halal food acquired with haram money if I pay the value of the food to my parents which they already bought with their money. For example, they bought a box of halal chicken with their haram money, so if I paid them the price of the box, could I eat from that, or will it still carry the effects of haram food? JazakAllah for your answer.

Answer

Wa’alaykum as Salām wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuhu,

We are unaware of which sources your parents earn their income from and what percentage of their earnings are from impermissible avenues. You mention that ‘the source of their income is doubtful’ and that ‘it involves delivering haram foods by nature to others’. This leads us to understand that they do earn a major portion that is Ḥalāl. Thus, we will mention the different scenarios hereunder:

If most of their earnings are Ḥalāl and just a small portion is from incorrect means, you may accept whatever they give to you.

If a major portion of their earnings are from means that are prohibited in Sharī‘ah, then you should clarify from them from which wealth did they purchase the item. If they claim that they used Ḥalāl funds, you may accept what they give to you.

You do not have to pay them.

  • Hidden
  • Hidden
  • Hidden