Is it OK to eat at a shia's place?

Question

There's a shia'a in my sister's school who wants to invite her to iftar. I was wondering whether I should let her go, since I'm not sure about their food and eating habits.

Do they have something that we Sunnis don't? Like, do they eat some foods that we don't consider halal? And do they follow any bida'ahs while eating?

Answer 1

No , ! Don't eat with them.

Answer 2

The only difference I know that is they open their fast about 10-20 minutes after Magribh, if I was you sis I would go, maybe they can learn by your example....? I do know couple of s**+'a families and most eat normal food just like us ;) it's a great way of dawah if you go, well that's how I see it.

Answer 3

I don't see a problem Shia's are Muslim like us and they eat halal food some maybe don't ,even if they follow any bida'ah she doesn't have to follow them.

Answer 4

Sure, you are more then welcome to have Iftar at my place. : )  

Answer 5

Salam maryam..

i dn't mean any offense in any way.

but u wudn't allow ur sister to go to a non-shia/sunni house for dinner? like even if their christian.

i think it matters about the family not the religion itself. cuz im sure if the family respects themselves and others. there not gona give ur sister pork.

Salam

Answer 6

i agree with E zaanarhaf.

  

Answer 7

My cousins are Shia. They eat the same things as you do dw bout it. I think they iftaar 10 mins after maghrib also. They are muslim even if they are shia. Im going to their place on sunday night to iftaar. They are really similar and only differ in prayers and some aspects of belief.

Answer 8

no .. i am one of the shia's and the food is the same .. dont worry

i am one of them and i live among sunna so .. yeah u can lt her

and oue iftar is 10 mins after sunnas

Answer 9

Caspians are s**+'as, they have sick pizza... mmm food.

Answer 10

Al-Azhar Verdict on the Shia

What follows is the Fatwa (religious verdict/ruling) of one of the Sunni world's most revered scholars, Sheikh Mahmood Shaltoot with regard to the Shia. Shaikh Shaltoot was the head of the renowned al-Azhar Theological school in Egypt, one of the main centers of Sunni scholarship in the world. It should be of interest to know that a few decades ago, a group of Sunni and Shia scholars formed a center at al-Azhar by the name of "Dar al-Taqreeb al-Madhahib al-Islamiyyah" which translates into "Center for bringing together the various Islamic schools of thought". The aim of the effort, as the name of the center indicates, was to bridge the gap between the various schools of thought, and bring about a mutual respect, understanding and appreciation of each school's contributions to the development of Islamic Jurisprudence, among the scholars of the different schools, so that they may in turn guide their followers toward the ultimate goal of unity, and of clinging to one rope, as the well-known Quranic verse, "Hold fast to the Rope of Allah and do not diverge" clearly demands of Muslims.

This massive effort finally bore its major fruit when Sheikh Shaltoot made the declaration whose translation is appended below. It should be made unequivocally clear as well, that al-Azhar's official position, vis a vis the propriety of following any of the Madhaahib (schools of law), including the s**+'ite Imami school, has remained unchanged since Shaikh Shaltoot's declaration.

For the readership's reference the phrase "al-Shia al-Imamiyyah al-Ithna 'Ashariyyah" means the Twelver Imami s**+'ite School of thought which comprises the overwhelming majority of s**+'ites today. The phrase "Twelver s**+'ites" is used interchangeably with "Ja'fari s**+'ites" and "Imami s**+'ites" in various literature. They are merely different names for the same school of thought.

"al-Shia al-Zaidiyyah" are a minority among the s**+'ites, concentrated mainly in Yemen located in the Eastern part of Arabian peninsula. For a more detailed description of the Zaidis vs. the Twelver s**+'ites, please refer to the book, "s**+'ite Islam" written by the great s**+'ite scholar, Allamah Tabataba'i, and translated by Seyyed Hossein Nasr, and published by the State University of New York Press (SUNY).

And as for Shaikh Shaltoot's declaration ...

Fatwa (ruling) of Shaikh Mahmood Shaltoot

Head Office of al-Azhar University:

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE BENEFICENT, THE MERCIFUL Text of the Verdict (Fatwa) Issued by His Excellency Shaikh al-Akbar Mahmood Shaltoot, Head of the al-Azhar University, on Permissibility of Following "al-Shia al-Imamiyyah" School of Thought

His Excellency was asked:

Some believe that, for a Muslim to have religiously correct worship and dealing, it is necessary to follow one of the four known schools of thought, whereas, "al-Shia al-Imamiyyah" school of thought is not one of them nor "al-Shia al-Zaidiyyah." Do your Excellency agree with this opinion, and prohibit following "al-Shia al-Imamiyyah al-Ithna Ashariyyah" school of thought, for example?

His Excellency replied:

1) Islam does not require a Muslim to follow a particular Madh'hab (school of thought). Rather, we say: every Muslim has the right to follow one of the schools of thought which has been correctly narrated and its verdicts have been compiled in its books. And, everyone who is following such Madhahib [schools of thought] can transfer to another school, and there shall be no crime on him for doing so.

2) The Ja'fari school of thought, which is also known as "al-Shia al- Imamiyyah al-Ithna Ashariyyah" (i.e., The Twelver Imami s**+'ites) is a school of thought that is religiously correct to follow in worship as are other Sunni schools of thought. Muslims must know this, and ought to refrain from unjust prejudice to any particular school of thought, since the religion of Allah and His Divine Law (Shari'ah) was never restricted to a particular school of thought. Their jurists (Mujtahidoon) are accepted by Almighty Allah, and it is permissible to the "non-Mujtahid" to follow them and to accord with their teaching whether in worship (Ibadaat) or transactions (Mu'amilaat).

Signed, Mahmood Shaltoot.

The above Fatwa was announced on July 6, 1959 from the Head of al-Azhar University, and was subsequently published in many publications in the Middle East which include, but are not limited to:

al-Sha'ab newspaper (Egypt), issue of July 7, 1959. al-Kifah newspaper (Lebanon), issue of July 8, 1959.

THE SHAHADAH: THE DECLARATION OF FAITH

La iláha il Alláh, Muhammadan Rasúl Alláh, Alíyun Walí-Alláh, Wasíyu Rasulillah, wa Khalífa tuhu bila fasl. There is no god but Alláh, Muhammad is the Messenger of Alláh, 'Alí is the Friend of Alláh. The Successor of the Messenger of Alláh And his first Caliph.

USUL AL-DÍN: THE FUNDAMENTALS OF ISLAM

1) Tawhíd (The Oneness of Alláh)

2) 'Adl (Divine Justice)

3) Nubuwwah (The Prophetho

Answer 11

honestly im not very into the whole school of thought.. shia non shia wotever.. as long as they are MUSLIM ( believe in Allah and Allahs messangers ) and buy halaal food. u can eat there.

as far as i know wether u r sunni or shia all muslims can only eat halal foods

Answer 12

If If you are allowed to eat from Christians & Jews food, why it would not be allowed to eat some other Muslims food?

Don't widen the gap further, we are all Muslims.

Answer 13

THERE IS DIFFERENCES OF TIMING IN SHIA AND SUNNI FASTING

SHIA BREAK THERE FAST AFTER 20 MINUTES   OF SUNNI MAGRIB ADAN