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What is the ruling on sitting in cafés that serve shisha, and is it similar to the ruling on sitting in cafés that serve alcohol or where gambling takes place? And does the spread of immorality increase by leaving these places to the immoral? And what is the ruling on sitting in restaurants that serve halal food where unveiled women or smokers are present?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

If sitting in the café occurs in the same place as the disobedience, then it is not permissible, based on the Almighty's saying: "And He has already revealed to you in the Book that when you hear the verses of Allah disbelieved in and ridiculed, do not sit with them until they enter into another conversation. Indeed, you would then be like them." This includes the prohibition of sitting with people of falsehood and evildoers. The Prophet warned against a bad companion. However, if the place does not expose the sitter to objectionable acts, there is no harm, but it is better not to frequent such places except for calling to Allah and enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong. Everyone who sits in a gathering of disobedience and does not condemn them shares in their sin. One should either condemn or leave the place. One can seek the help of experts for da'wah (invitation to Islam). The owners of cafés must be reminded of the Almighty's saying: "And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression."

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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