Question:

Asslamualaikum Ustaz, Recently, my employer informed us that he will treat all his staff for lunch. I’m unsure of the source of the money will be because my employer gambles. What is the ruling for this?

Answer:

If you know for certain that it is money, for example, from the winnings of a gamble, it is haram (prohibited) for you to eat it. Allah SWT has commanded us to only eat and drink from what is permissible. Allah SWT states:

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُلُواْ مِن طَيِّبَٰتِ مَا رَزَقۡنَٰكُمۡ وَٱشۡكُرُواْ لِلَّهِ إِن كُنتُمۡ إِيَّاهُ تَعۡبُدُونَ ١٧٢ 

“O you who have believed, eat from the good things which We have provided for you and be grateful to Allah if it is [indeed] Him that you worship.” [1]

From Abu Hurairah RA, he said, Rasullullah PBUH said:

أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، ‌إِنَّ ‌اللهَ ‌طَيِّبٌ ‌لَا ‌يَقْبَلُ ‌إِلَّا ‌طَيِّبًا، وَإِنَّ اللهَ أَمَرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ بِمَا أَمَرَ بِهِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ، فَقَالَ: {يَا أَيُّهَا الرُّسُلُ كُلُوا مِنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَاعْمَلُوا صَالِحًا، إِنِّي بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ عَلِيمٌ} [المؤمنون: 51] وَقَالَ: {يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُلُوا مِنْ طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ} [البقرة: 172] ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ الرَّجُلَ يُطِيلُ السَّفَرَ أَشْعَثَ أَغْبَرَ، يَمُدُّ يَدَيْهِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ، يَا رَبِّ، يَا رَبِّ، وَمَطْعَمُهُ حَرَامٌ، وَمَشْرَبُهُ حَرَامٌ، وَمَلْبَسُهُ حَرَامٌ، وَغُذِيَ بِالْحَرَامِ، فَأَنَّى يُسْتَجَابُ لِذَلِكَ؟ 

“Allah the Almighty is Good and accepts only that which is good. And verily Allah has commanded the believers to do that which He has commanded the Messengers. So the Almighty has said: “O (you) Messengers! Eat of the tayyibat [all kinds of halal (legal) foods], and perform righteous deeds.” [23:51] and the Almighty has said: “O you who believe! Eat of the lawful things that We have provided you.” [2:172]” Then he (ﷺ) mentioned [the case] of a man who, having journeyed far, is dishevelled and dusty, and who spreads out his hands to the sky saying “O Lord! O Lord!” while his food is haram (unlawful), his drink is haram, his clothing is haram, and he has been nourished with haram, so how can [his supplication] be answered?” [2]

If the source is unclear and the permissible and prohibited is mixed, it is not prohibited for you to eat it, but it is makruh. These are the opinions of the Syafi’iyyah scholars such as Imam al-Nawawi. He states:

مَنْ ‌أَكْثَرُ ‌مَالِهِ ‌حَرَامٌ، كُرِهَتْ إِجَابَتُهُ كَمَا تُكْرَهُ مُعَامَلَتُهُ.

“Whoever of whom the majority of his property are from haram sources, then it is makruh for you to receive anything from him, the same as it is makruh for you to have any transactions with him.” [3]

The best course of action is for you to avoid eating it considering the factor of wara’ [avoiding syubhah (doubtful matters)]. You should try your best to avoid it, however, if it is unavoidable, it is not considered a sin. Repent to Allah and donate some of your income to His religion, for instance, charity works or you can donate it to mosques or surau. Wallahua’lam. Allah SWT states:

‌اتَّقِ ‌اللَّهِ ‌حَيْثُمَا ‌كُنْتَ، وَأَتْبِعِ السَّيِّئَةَ الحَسَنَةَ تَمْحُهَا، وَخَالِقِ النَّاسَ بِخُلُقٍ حَسَنٍ

Fear Allah wherever you are, do good deeds after doing bad ones, the former will wipe out the latter, and behave decently towards people.” [4]

[1] Surah al-Baqarah: 172

[2] Sahih Muslim, no. 1015

[3] Raudhat al-Talibin wa ‘Umdat al-Muftin, 337/7

[4] Sunan al-Tirmizi, no. 1987