Question: Is eating in hotels, restaurants & marketplaces permissible in Islam? I read a hadith that says “Eating in marketplace is meanness/degrading”. How true is this? Does this mean it is prohibited to eat in marketplaces, hotels and restaurants?
Answer: Praise be to Allah
Eating in hotels, restaurants and marketplaces is permitted in Islam. There is no prohibition or dislike in doing so, according to the authentic texts. The misconception that it is disliked to eat in market places stems from an UNAUTHENTIC hadith which is very common amongst the people.
The hadith in question is not authentic
The well known hadith “Eating in the market is degrading” is a weak hadith that is not proven.
It was narrated by al-Tabarani in “Al-Kabeer” (7977) and Ibn Asaker in his “Tareekh” (45/345) from the hadith of Abu Umamah, with a very weak chain of narrators, and it was narrated by Ibn Qutaybah in “Ta’weel Mukhtalaf al-Hadith” (p. 392) and Ibn Uday in “Al-Kamil” (2/ 276), and al-Khatib in al-Tarikh (8/229) from the hadith of Abu Hurayrah, and its chain of transmission is also very weak.
Ibn al-Qayyim, may God have mercy on him, said:
The ahaadiths that forbid eating in the market are ALL invalid (false). Al-Aqili said: “Nothing is proven in this matter on the authority of the Prophet (ﷺ).” End of al-Manar al-Munif (page 130)
Al-Dhahabi, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “Reports have been narrated concerning that, and none of them have been proven.”. End quote from Siyaru ‘alaam in-Nublai (12/472). Refer: https://shamela.ws/book/22669/6378
Likewise, it was declared da’eef by Al-Iraqi in “Takhrij Al-Ihya” (p. 452), Al-Busairi in “Ithaf Al-Khayrah” (4/321), and Al-Albani in “Al-Da’ifa” (2465).
Ruling on eating in hotels, marketplaces or restaurants may differ between Mubah and Makrooh
Eating in market place does not have a single ruling for all. It varies with different markets and their conditions, situation of the countries and their cultures. It also varies from person to person. What people accept in usual condition from a person, may not accept the same from other person and consider it degrading for his personality.
Imam Ghazali (may Allah have mercy upon him) said: Eating in market is humbleness and a matter of ease for some people, so in this case it is good. and it goes against the usual customary behavior of honor for some people, so in this case it becomes disliked. And this varies with habits of countries and conditions of people … [taken from “Ihyau uloom-id-deen” (2/19)] Refer: https://shamela.ws/book/9472/379
According to the general principle, there is nothing wrong with someone who eats in hotels or restaurants, if that is the practice of people in his country, or is acceptable to personality like him.
While those who do not practice that, or the people (Ahlul Murooa’at) who strictly follow the customary and cultural norms of honor in their country, resent him, then he should not enter such places, except for a need, such as if he is on a journey, or has important work, or the like.
In fact in most of the countries, this action is no longer considered to be contradicting the actions of the people of honor, who strictly adhere to customary and cultural norms.
Conclusion
If a person needs to enter restaurants and hotels, it is must that he must be aware of the haram things, the fitna and temptations that may lurk around such places.
Nevertheless, some scholars have said that it is not permissible to enter such places, not because of a direct shari command, but rather to avoid the temptations of haram things and fitnah.
Therefore, eating in market places, hotels and restaurants is permitted in Islam, as long as there is no fitnah or haraam involved like serving alcohol or pork, playing music, mixing of men and women, etc.
Wallahualam (and Allah knows best).
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