Foreign Sweets Sold in Mecca and Medina That Appear to Be Impermissible

Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Question: We see many sweets sold in shops in Mecca and Madina which are impermissible (haram) back home. These sweets are produced/packed abroad, and appear to have the same ingredients. Should these sweets be avoided? We also see many ‘locals’ buying these sweets, whereby I assume that they think they are permissible (halal). Can you please clarify this issue?

Answer: Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

I pray this finds you in the best of health and spirits.

If something is produced in a Muslim country, you can assume that it is halal. However, if there is reasonable doubt about it, then caution would be recommended. When there is strong doubt about it, then caution is necessary.

It is also necessary to avoid things imported to a Muslim country when you know that the same item, when sold in non-Muslim countries, has impermissible (haram) ingredients and you don’t have reason to believe that the local authorities are scrupulous about such matters.

And Allah alone gives success.

Faraz Rabbani