May I Purchase a Drink-Mixing Set?
Answered by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick
Question
I’ve been considering buying a drink mixing set to make mocktails for myself and some friends. However, I have some doubts about mocktails and buying the set. Would it be an imitation of disbelievers? Even if my intention is not that I replace alcohol, it is so I can enjoy a good-tasting lawful drink.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate. May Allah alleviate our difficulties and guide us to what pleases Him. Amin.
May Allah reward you for seeking guidance on matters that concern your faith and actions. Purchasing and using a utensil usually associated with unlawful drinks does not make the utensil or purchasing it unlawful unless there are extraneous unlawful factors (such as intent on unlawful usage or the exclusive use of the item for unlawful actions), and Allah knows best.
Intention
Your intention in preparing mocktails should be commendable and clear. Suppose you intend to enjoy a good-tasting drink and to provide a pleasant social experience for yourself and your friends without any intention to imitate or replace prohibited actions. In that case, your intention aligns with the permissible.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Actions are according to intentions, and everyone will get what was intended. Whoever migrates with an intention for Allah and His Messenger, his migration will be for the sake of Allah and His Messenger. And whoever migrates for worldly gain or to marry a woman, then his migration will be for the sake of whatever he migrated for.” [Agreed Upon]
Avoiding Imitation
Imitating prohibited actions or beliefs of non-believers, also known as “tashabbuh,” is generally problematic in Islam, but only concerning actions uniquely associated with a specific group of disbelievers.
However, regarding non-alcoholic beverages like mocktails, the primary criterion is the intention behind the action. Suppose you intend to enjoy a permissible drink and engage in a lawful social activity and not imitate the practices of those who consume alcoholic drinks. There is no inherent prohibition in that case, and Allah knows best.
Use of Utensils
Using a drink mixing set to prepare mocktails is a matter of convenience and aesthetics. The permissibility of using such utensils depends on the items and their intended use. Islam encourages cleanliness, beauty, and moderation in all aspects of life. Therefore, using utensils designed for non-alcoholic beverages is not inherently problematic. The key is to ensure that your actions do not lead you to imitate or promote prohibited practices.
Cultural Context
It’s essential to consider your society’s cultural context and norms. If preparing mocktails using specific utensils is associated with imitating or glorifying harmful practices, it might be best to avoid such associations. Islam teaches us to be mindful of our actions’ broader impact on ourselves and others.
I pray this is of benefit and that Allah guides us all.
[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar Shaykh Taha Karaan.
Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Mawlana Yusuf Karaan, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.
He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has served as the Director of the Discover Islam Centre and Al Jeem Foundation. For the last five years till present, he has served as the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town.
Shaykh Irshaad has thirteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town). He is currently building an Islamic online learning and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and has completed his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy living and fitness.
