Is it Permissible to Eat Hot Cross Buns and Food at a Sikh Langar?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

I pray this finds you all in the best of health and imaan. If you have the opportunity, I have a couple of questions in light of Quran, 6:145.

Is it permitted to eat hot cross buns?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_cross_bun

Would it make any difference whether they are served by a Christian in celebration of their easter, versus bought from a supermarket that produces them for purely commercial reasons? Often, they’re on sale all year round. They are an everyday food: they’re not formally consecrated bread.

Similar is Simnel cake: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simnel_cake

My Christian mother makes one around Easter time. Is there any issue in eating it?

As I’m involved in certain interfaith activities, could I ask the same about the food served at a Sikh langar?

https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Langar#Rules_concerning_the_tradition_of_Langar

Jazakum Allah khayr. May He protect all at Seekers Guidance and continue to benefit the ummah by you.

Answer

I pray you are well.

Yes, it is permissible to eat hot cross buns and Simnel cake. They have lost their religious significance in our times and in our culture. Therefore, eating them would not entail a violation off the implied prohibition in the hadith “Whoever imitates a people he is one of them.” (Abu Dawud)

The imitation implied is that of imitating religious practices, not merely engaging in common acts which don’t have a religious element shared by all members of a society which non-Muslims happen to do. Celebrating birthdays would be something like this. In fact, when combined with a good intention and gratitude for the blessing of life, one could be rewarded for such celebrations, for example. (al Mawsu’a al Kuwaitiyya; Itr, I’lam al Anam)

Please refer to this answer for more details.

Eating at a Sikh Langar

After looking at the resource you provided and speaking to someone who accepted Islam from a Sikh background, it appears that eating the food at a langar would be permissible – provided the ingredients are halal. The actual feeding, for them, is seen as a good act, and is not an intrinsic form off worship. 

It is similar to the way Muslims see feeding people: something which is rewarded with a good intention, but not an intrinsic act of worship, as is the case with the prayer and fasting. Therefore, it would be permissible to eat such food if you were present at a langar. 

However, they offer something called Prasad, which would not be permissible to consume. This is a devotional offering to a god, and in found in Hinduism too. It is usually part of a ritual performed for another god, so eating it is  impermissible. The rest of the food is not like this as it is not prepared as a devotional offering.

If you feel partaking in such food is beneficial in building bridges and maintaining good community links it’s permissible to do so. Remember to embody Prophetic good character, and to “Call to the way of your Loving Lord with wisdom and beautiful reminders…” (Quran, 16:125)

May Allah make you the means of guidance for many. Amin.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History, he moved to Damascus in 2007, where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital. He was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.