Understanding the Ruling on Visiting Markets and Eating in Islamic Tradition
Ruling on Going to the Market and Eating There
The market is a place of necessity where some people engage in trade, and others fulfill their needs through these trades. Both the buyer and the seller benefit here: the seller’s goods are sold, and the buyer’s needs are met. Visiting the market is a natural matter, but in ancient times, the poor and needy would go to the market, while the wealthy considered it beneath their dignity to visit the market out of arrogance. However, Islamic law does not prohibit going to the market. When we read the Qur’an, we find that Allah, the Almighty, mentioned the Prophet (peace be upon him) going to the market.
Allah’s command says:
(وَقَالُوا مَالِ هَذَا الرَّسُولِ يَأْكُلُ الطَّعَامَ وَيَمْشِي فِي الْأَسْوَاقِ لَوْلَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مَلَكٌ فَيَكُونَ مَعَهُ نَذِيرًا)
Translation: “And they say: “Why does this Messenger (Muhammad SAW) eat food, and walk about in the markets (like ourselves). Why is not an angel sent down to him to be a warner with him?” (Al-Furqan 25:7)
Additionally, from the study of hadiths, it becomes clear that the Prophet (peace be upon him) taught a supplication for entering the market.
Dua for entering the market:
لا إلٰهَ إلاَّ اللّٰهُ وَحدَهُ لَا شَريكَ لَهُ، لهُ المُلْـكُ وَلَهُ الحَمْـدُ، يُحْيِـي وَيُمِيـتُ وَهُوَ حَيٌّ لَّا يَمُـوتُ، بِيَـدِهِ الْخَـيْرُ وَهُوَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَيءٍ قَدِير۔
Translation: “There is no deity except Allah alone, without any partner; to Him belongs the dominion, and to Him belongs all praise. He gives life and causes death, and He is living and does not die. In His hand is all good, and He has power over all things.”
(Sahih Ibn Majah by Al-Albani 2/21, Sahih Tirmidhi by Al-Albani 3/152)
There is a hadith that describes the market as the worst place, such as:
“The best places are the mosques, and the worst places are the markets.”
(Sahih Al-Jami by Al-Albani: 3271)
This hadith does not indicate a prohibition on going to the market because it is proven from the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he went to the market, prayed in its mosque, and even taught a supplication for going to the market, as mentioned above.
The second issue is about eating and drinking in the market. There is no prohibition from the Prophet (peace be upon him) regarding this either. Some people use a weak hadith to prove a prohibition, which is as follows:
“Eating in the market is a base act.”
(Reported by Al-Tabarani in Al-Kabeer and Ibn Asakir in his history)
Ibn Al-Arabi, Al-Qurtubi, and Al-Shawkani (may Allah have mercy on them) declared this hadith fabricated.
Sheikh Al-Albani included it in the series of weak hadiths (Al-Silsilah Al-Da’eefah: 2465).
Al-Iraqi deemed it weak in Takhrij Al-Ihya, and Al-Busiri did so in It’haf Al-Khairah.
Ibn Al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) stated that all hadiths regarding the prohibition of eating in the market are false, and Ma’eeqili mentioned that nothing in this regard is proven from the Prophet (peace be upon him) (Al-Manar Al-Muneef, p. 130).
Imam Al-Dhahabi (may Allah have mercy on him) said that some traditions exist on this topic, but none are authentic (Siyar A’lam Al-Nubala 12/472).
In light of the above texts, we can say that there is no prohibition on going to the market or eating and drinking there. However, considering the current circumstances, it is essential to keep the following points in mind regarding the market:
- 1. One should not go to the market without necessity.
- 2. Just as a woman is prohibited from traveling without necessity and without a non-mahram companion, the same approach should be taken regarding the market.
- 3. Currently, there are significant religious concerns in markets and roadside restaurants, so one should avoid religious violations when eating at such places, such as avoiding hotels that promote dance, adultery, gambling, alcohol, or serve forbidden foods.
- 4. In light of today’s circumstances, regularly eating at hotels without necessity is not advisable.
- 5. If a person is traveling or staying alone where cooking is difficult, they should choose a suitable hotel to eat at as needed.
- 6. If possible, I believe the best option is to buy food from the market’s restaurant and eat it at one’s residence.
Written by: Sheikh Maqbool Ahmed Salafi Hafizahullah
Jeddah Dawah Center, Saudi Arabia
Interpreter: Hasan Fuzail