Offer food without pork, pork products (such as gelatine and lard) or alcohol, including in cooking. Meat should preferably be halal, which means it comes from an animal slaughtered in the Islamic way. If it is not possible, vegetarian, fish and seafood dishes are a safe choice.
The fuller answer
Fish and seafood, eggs, dairy, fruit, vegetables and bread are halal. Vegetarian dishes are a simple option. Check labels for gelatine, lard, animal rennet and alcohol-based flavourings. Tell your guests what is in the dish, and they will be happy to avoid what they cannot eat.
Some Muslims eat the meat of the People of the Book (Christians and Jews) when it is slaughtered in the proper way, and some do not eat any meat that is not halal-certified. It is good to ask the guest. Offering tea, dates and sweets is a good sign of hospitality: the Prophet ﷺ taught to honour the guest.
Prohibited to you are dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah, and [those animals] killed by strangling or by a violent blow or by a head-long fall or by the goring of horns, and those from which a wild animal has eaten, except what you [are able to] slaughter [before its death], and those which are sacrificed on stone altars, and [prohibited is] that you seek decision through divining arrows. That is grave disobedience. This day those who disbelieve have despaired of [defeating] your religion; so fear them not, but fear Me. This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion. But whoever is forced by severe hunger with no inclination to sin - then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
This day [all] good foods have been made lawful, and the food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you and your food is lawful for them. And [lawful in marriage are] chaste women from among the believers and chaste women from among those who were given the Scripture before you, when you have given them their due compensation, desiring chastity, not unlawful sexual intercourse or taking [secret] lovers. And whoever denies the faith - his work has become worthless, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers.
This answer follows the mainstream Sunni understanding and is general learning, not a fatwa. Where Muslims differ, the answer says so. Have a question of your own? Write to us.
