Are Tim Horton’s French Vanilla and Hot Cholocate Permissible to Drink?

Answered by Shaykh Abdullah Anik Misra

Question

Can Muslims drink Tim Hortons hot drinks like coffee, hot chocolate, and french vanilla?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate

In matters of food and drink where there is a strong likelihood or suspicion of some impermissible ingredient being in them, such as foods involving meat products, a Muslim should check for clarification before consumption.

However, in foods where there is no apparent reason to doubt an ingredient (such as a hot chocolate or coffee-based beverage), the default assumption is that they are permissible to consume unless some clear evidence to the contrary comes to one. The layperson is not responsible for nor advised to do research into every product of this category, nor do they need to seek clarification before consuming. [Zuhayli, al-Qawa’id al-Fiqhiyya]

Based on this, we do not see any reason to doubt the permissibility of the drinks you mentioned. Therefore, without further clear evidence of anything questionable, it would be lawful to consume these items. If you have more relevant information to the products asked about, please feel free to share, otherwise do not worry about it.

Is the Default Ruling On Things Permissibility? – SeekersGuidance

Wassalam,
[Shaykh] Abdullah Anik Misra
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Shaykh Abdullah Misra was born in Toronto, Canada, in 1983. His family hails from India, and he was raised in the Hindu tradition. He embraced Islam in 2001 while at the University of Toronto, from where he completed a Bachelor of Business Administration. He then traveled overseas in 2005 to study the Arabic language and Islamic sciences in Tarim, Yemen, for some time, as well as Darul Uloom in Trinidad, West Indies. He spent 12 years in Amman, Jordan, where he focused on Islamic Law, Theology, Hadith Sciences, Prophetic Biography, and Islamic Spirituality while also working at the Qasid Arabic Institute as Director of Programs. He holds a BA in Islamic Studies (Alimiyya, Darul Uloom) and authorization in the six authentic books of Hadith and is currently pursuing specialized training in issuing Islamic legal verdicts (ifta’). He holds a certificate in Counselling and often works with new Muslims and those struggling with religious OCD. He is an instructor and researcher in Sacred Law and Theology with the SeekersGuidance The Global Islamic Seminary. Currently, He resides in the Greater Toronto Area with his wife and children. His personal interests include Indian history, comparative religion, English singing, and poetry.