Assalamu alaikum. I hope it is ok I have two short but very important questions too me. The first is about shares. I was born non muslim and my family is non muslim, and since I was born my father gave me shares in his company. His company is not selling haram products, but in one way or the other (since we live in a western country) the company is involved in riba. I want to get rid of my shares because of this. But im I allowed to take the money from selling them, or should I just give the shares to my father. They are worth much money. Note that my father is not speaking to me because he thinks me an extremist being a muslim not taking rent and so on, and I tried to approach him about the matter but he does not respond. Second question is about food. I want to come close to Allah, and be a true slave of him, and not love the dunya. But i feel that i love food, that I think about it many times. And i feel this distracts me sometimes from remembrance of Allah, and coming close to Him. At the same time I know we are allowed to enjoy pleasures in this world, like food. Usually I dont eat too much, but still food is beloved to me. I know I have to eat to live, but at the same time I feel it is distracting me and I want to stay away from it. How can I best deal with this matter, and distant myself from the love I feel for food. I want to eat with the intention of worship. Should I stay completely away from food which are most beloved to me like sweets and so on, since they are not healthy also, and will this make my love for this food go away? I dont want to be an extremist either, I want to have a balance, but I dont know how... Forgive me for sending two questions, one can be deleted if this is a problem. Jazak Allah khayr, may Allah reward you with jannah al firdaus. Wa salam

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.

First of all, we congratulate you for the bounty of embracing Islam and we ask Allaah to make you firm and steadfast on His Religion until the Day you meet Him.

We advise you to seek beneficial knowledge, perform good deeds and attend circles of Islamic knowledge and cooperate with your righteous and pious Muslim sisters in doing good.

With regard to this money, then you are obliged to get rid of the interest which you obtained after your becoming a Muslim, but you are not obliged to get rid of the interest that you obtained before that. Allaah Says (what means): {So whoever has received an admonition from his Lord and desists may have what is past, and his affair rests with Allaah. But whoever returns [to dealing in interest or usury]-those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein.} [Quran 2:275]

If you are not sure about the amount of forbidden interest, then you should pay an amount by which you predominantly think that you are acquitted from sin, and you should try your best to be on the safe side. For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 83946 and 90152.

As regards liking food, then in principle there is nothing wrong with this, as the Prophet used to like some kinds of food like pumpkin, sweets and honey …etc. This is evidence that there is no blame on just liking food. So, saying that one should stay away from these kinds of food that one likes is an act of extravagnace, but what is required is that one should be moderate in eating it. Allaah Says (what means): {O children of Adam, take your adornment at every Masjid, and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess.} [Quran 7:31]

As regards how to be moderate in this, it is to follow the guidance of the Prophet in that, and this is discussed in Fataawa ">163527 and 7372.

In any case, a Muslim should generally deal with these worldly matters as just means which help him prepare for the Hereafter, but they should not prevent him from what benefits him, as Allaah blamed the people whose worldly matters kept them busy from being interested in the Hereafter. Allaah Says (what means): {But you prefer the worldly life. While the Hereafter is better and more enduring.} [Quran 87: 16,17]

Concerning eating with the intention of worship, then if what is meant is seeking a reward (from Allaah), then this is possible as the scholars clarified that what is permissible can be considered as an act of obedience if it has a good intention. Their evidence for this is the statement of the Prophet : ''You do not spend anything for the Sake of Allaah only except that you would be rewarded for it even the food that you put in the mouth of your wife.”

Finally, we advise you to be kind to your father, and the best way of being kind and dutiful to him is to endeavor to make him embrace Islam by supplicating Allaah to guide him and by showing the good traits of Islam to him through your dealing and morals. In addition to this, you may seek the help of trustworthy scholars and of whatever you think may encourage him to embrace Islam and clarify the truth to him. For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 88051, 88906 and 81979.

Allaah Knows best.