Can We Taste Food in Stores before Buying?
Answered by Shaykh Abdul Sami‘ al-Yakti
Question
Is it permissible to eat or drink items in stores before purchasing them, especially in large supermarkets?
Answer
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. Blessings and peace be upon the Master of the Messengers, his Family, and all his Companions.
General Rule
The general rule regarding the consumption of others’ property is that it is prohibited unless the owner gives permission. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“The property of a Muslim is not lawful except with their willing consent.” [Daraqutni]
Based on this, it is not permissible to taste food that is being sold unless the seller, who owns the food, gives permission and the buyer intends to make a purchase. Without these conditions, it is impermissible to taste the food.
Custom (‘Urf)
Custom (‘urf) also plays a significant role in determining which foods and drinks require tasting and which do not. For example, items such as honey, oil, labneh (strained yogurt), and cheese often require tasting. In such cases, the customer must seek permission from the seller to taste these products in an appropriate manner. If the seller refuses, the buyer has the option to either purchase from them or look for another seller.
Additionally, how the products are displayed for sale can indicate whether tasting is permitted or not. In large, organized supermarkets, where items are typically packaged or labeled with phrases such as “please do not touch,” it is clear that tasting is not allowed. This is because touching or tasting the items may cause material or health-related harm, or it may lead to contamination, spoilage, and a lack of interest from other customers who no longer want to purchase an opened or tasted item.
This kind of harm is something the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) prohibited when he said:
“There should be no harm and no reciprocating harm.”
It was narrated that Imam Malik (Allah have mercy on him) was asked: “What is meant by ‘harm and reciprocating harm’?” He said: “Anything that harms people, whether on a road, in a sale, or in any other matter.” [Ibn Athir, Jami‘ al-Usul]
Thus, it is not permissible to eat, drink, or taste products in stores unless two conditions are met: explicit or implied permission from the seller, and the buyer having the intention to make a purchase.
And Allah knows best.
[Shaykh] Abdul Sami‘ al-Yakti
Shaykh Abdul Sami‘ al-Yaqti is a Syrian scholar born in Aleppo in 1977. He obtained his degree in Shari‘a from the Shari‘a Faculty of Damascus University, a Diploma in Educational Qualification from the Faculty of Education at Aleppo University, and a Diploma in Shari‘a and a Master’s in Shari‘a from the Faculty of Sharia, and Law at Omdurman University in Sudan. He is currently writing his doctoral thesis.
He studied under esteemed scholars such as Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri, Shaykh Mustafa al-Turkmani, and Shaykh Dr. Nur al-Din Itr, among others. Shaykh al-Yakti has worked in teaching and cultural guidance in orphanages and high schools in Aleppo. He served as an Imam, Khatib, and reciter at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi and as a certified trainer for Khatibs in Abu Dhabi’s Khatib Qualification Program.
He is involved in developing and teaching a youth education program at Seekers Arabic for Islamic Sciences.
Among Shaykh al-Yaqti’s significant works are “Imam al-Haramayn al-Juwayni: Bayna Ilm al-Kalam Wa Usul al-Fiqh” and the program “The Messenger of Allah Among Us (Allah bless him and give him peace).”
