Assalamu Alaikum wa rahmatul ALLAH wa baraketh! I would like to ask about the rule concerning food which contains the fat of pigs? In fact here in Japan, most of the food items contain oil or fat that we do not know its origin. In many cases they mention the origin as animal and in many cases they do not write anything. These items named shortening and margarine. Is it allowed to eat food items such as bread, cake or not? 2-Does adding wine, alcohol make the food (bread,cake,drinks..) haram or not.? 3- Many students are in doctoral and masters courses, most of them are single. I am shy to ask you, but really pardon me since I receive this question many times: Is masturbation allowed for singles or not? The Japanese environment has free sex, porno-movies or sex magazines. Viewing these items through Internet, or in magazines is it haram or not?

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 forbidden to eat the food which contains pork fat. You should be very careful when eating food especially in the country where you reside. Therefore, you should not eat any food until you make sure that it is lawful and that it does not contain any forbidden ingredient.

With regard to eating a cake, if no forbidden fat is added to it, like pork fat, then it is permissible to eat it, but if alcohol is added to any kind of food, it is forbidden for you to eat it.  

Dear brother! Seeing pornographic pictures is prohibited; it does not matter how they are, whether you see naked women face to face, or in magazines or in any kind of mass media. Allaah Says (what means): {Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision.} [Quran 24:30]. Allaah Says (what means): {He knows that which deceives the eyes and what the breasts conceal.} [Quran 40:19].

Therefore, you should fear Allaah and you should know that gazing at marriageable women and pornographic pictures is a means which leads to Zina (adultery or fornication).

As regards the ruling on masturbation, please refer to Fatwa 81150 .

Allaah Knows best.