Sir, As-salaam-o-laikum, I am working and living in Dubai. Last year I moved to a flat in a new building. From 1st of Ramadan, this year a new supermarket was opened in our building, to my horror I found that the supermarket was selling pork. Is it ok for me to continue living in the same building or to move out at the earliest. Please advise. With regards. Rashid Mustafa

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

It is permissible for you to continue residing in this building and you are not obligated to move to another accommodation. Even if we suppose that the supermarket and the residential building belong to the same institution, then this does not prevent one from dealing with it in an Islamic manner, like renting a flat from it, as it is known that the Prophet and his Companions used to deal with the Jews in buying, selling, borrowing and renting while the Jews used to consume ill-gotten money, Riba (interest and usury) and their money used to be a mixture of lawful and unlawful. Nevertheless, the Sharee’ah did not prohibit dealing with them because of this as long as the transaction itself is lawful.

However, if you find another accommodation in another place where there are pious neighbors and there are no forbidden acts, then moving to it is better for you. Of course, you are not obligated to do so, but you are only obligated to avoid (eating) pork and its derivatives.

Allaah Knows best.