Question:
I bought dim sum from a Muslim and certified as halal (permissible). Then, I shared it with a non-Muslim friend of mine and he said that the dim sum tastes like sim sum made from pork. Is the dim sum still considered as halal (permissible)?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Dim sum is a type of Chinese food, made from chicken, vegetables and meat then cooked in a variety of ways. Dim sum is a traditional food served together with tea.
As a religion that covers all aspects of life, Islam has set a guideline in how to choose our food, where it is commanded to eat from the permissible and good, as stated by Allah SWT:
وَكُلُوا مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ اللَّـهُ حَلَالًا طَيِّبًا
“And eat of what Allah has provided for you [which is] lawful and good.”
Surah al-Maidah (88)
Hence, in choosing food or in this context dim sum, one should check and determine the status of the permissibility of the food. Any doubt will not affect the permissibility status as long as there is no concrete evidence stating otherwise. This is in accordance with an Islamic legal maxim:
اليقين لا يزول بالشك
“Certainty is not abrogated by doubt.”
Furthermore, the permissibility status of the dim sum is in accordance with when it is first bought, which is, it is permissible. It will not change to be impermissible according to another Islamic legal maxim:
الأصل بقاء ما كان على ما كان
“The original ruling of something is constant to what it is before.”
Conclusion
According to the above discussion and evidences presented, in our opinion, as long as one is certain of the permissibility of the food, then the food is still permissible, unless there is concrete evidence that proves it otherwise.
However, as a buyer, one has to first check the ingredients used in the dim sum. If it is free from any ingredients that are prohibited and swine or pork, then it is permissible.
Furthermore, you can also refer to our article titled Bayan Linnas Series 73: Naming of Food and Drink: The Status of Halal and Its Issues. [1]
May Allah SWT give us understanding in practising His commandments. Amin.