Is the act of an employee, his colleague, and the driver eating lunch at a tourist hotel after completing an inspection of an environmental complaint considered "ghulūl" (ill-gotten gain/embezzlement)? And does the Hadith of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, apply to them: "Why doesn't one of you sit in the house of his father and mother and see if anything is given to him as a gift?" given that gifts to workers are "ghulūl"? And what should they do if that is indeed "ghulūl"?
The questioner is not permitted to accept the invitation or the food, because this food falls under the category of gifts to employees, and he was invited because of his position. Most often, such places are associated with reprehensible acts and unlawful earnings, and the doubt regarding the permissibility of this food is present. To rectify what has occurred, the questioner must pay the value of the food to its owner; if that is not possible, he should donate its value as charity.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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