Dought & clear, - Is the fermentation of tea haraam?

I came across an old magazine, and noticed the following, which I will
quote as it appears in the magazine, about tea and its benefits:
"There is a difference between green and black tea in the way it is
preserved and 'fermented' after being collected. Black tea, which is
also known as Ceylon tea or English tea, is made from green tea, after
the fresh leaves are picked and dried in a simple fashion, then they
are soaked until they ferment.
My question is: Is this process of fermenting tea regarded as haraam?.
Praise be to Allaah.
The fermentation of tea that is mentioned in this article is not the
same as the fermentation that happens to grapes, dates etc in order to
make them intoxicants. Rather what is meant by fermentation here is
oxidization, i.e., exposing the tea to oxygen for three hours,
according to the experts.
With green tea, the leaves are treated with steam after picking, then
they are dried immediately, and not exposed to any oxidization, rather
they are preserved with the same properties as are found in fresh tea.
But in the case of black tea, the leaves are separated after
collection and are sorted into fine layers on a net made of wire or
sackcloth in order to get rid of excess water, then the leaves are
crumbled and sifted, then subjected to an oxidization process, by
exposing the fresh leaves to oxygen for three hours, until the tea
loses its green colour and becomes dark coloured, after which it
becomes black tea.
If this oxidization is done only partially, we get tea that is
partially fermented, between green and black. This is called tannin
and it combines the qualities of both black and green tea.
See:Mawsoo'ah al-A'shaab al-Tibbiyyahby the pharmacist Dr Ahmad
Muhammad 'Awf;Qaamoos al-Ghidha' wa'l-Tadaawi bi'l-Nabaatby Ahmad
Qudaamah, published by Daar al-Nafaa'is;al-Ghidha' la al-Dawa'by Dr.
Sabri al-Qabbaani, published by Dar al-'Ilm li'l-Malaayeen. All of
these books are arranged in alphabetical order.
This is what we have been able to find out about expert opinions on
this matter. Thus it is clear that the process of fermenting tealeaves
is not haraam, rather fermenting them means exposing them to oxygen,
and we do no know of any scholar who says that this is haraam.
And Allaah knows best.

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Regards,
NAJIMUDEEN M/
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Dought & clear, - Using wine to cook haraam meat

Some restaurants marinate meat in alcohol or wine before cooking, then
they cook it after that. They do that so that the meat will be softer
and tastier. What is the ruling on eating that?.
Praise be to Allaah.
The fact that alcohol is forbidden in Islam is a well established fact
and no Muslim has any excuse for not knowing it. It is one of the
major sins that doom a person to Hell. This prohibition is mentioned
in the Holy Book, where Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted, says
(interpretation of the meaning):
"O you who believe! Intoxicants (all kinds of alcoholic drinks), and
gambling, and Al-Ansaab (stone altars for sacrifices to idols etc),
and Al-Azlaam (arrows for seeking luck or decision) are an abomination
of Shaytaan's (Satan's) handiwork. So avoid (strictly all) that
(abomination) in order that you may be successful"
[al-Maa'idah 5:90]
This prohibition is general and applies to all manners of using
alcohol, whether in food or in drink. It is not permissible to use it
in food or drink in any way whatsoever.
It says inal-Mawsoo'ah al-Fqhiyyah(25/95):
The one who cooks meat with alcohol and consumes the juice is to be
subjected to the hadd punishment, because the essence of the alcohol
is still present. The same applies to making dough with it and eating
it. This was stated by the Shaafa'is and Hanbalis. End quote.
Al-Sarkhasi said inal-Mabsoot(24/25), which is a Hanafi book:
If he makes dough with flour and alcohol, then bakes it, it is makrooh
(i.e., haraam) to eat it, because the flour becomes impure from the
alcohol and the impure dough cannot be purified by baking, so it is
not permissible to eat it. end quote.
He also said (24/32):
If he puts alcohol in the sauce then cooks it, it is not permissible
to eat it. This action is not permissible because it is using alcohol
like vinegar, and we have explained that this is not allowed. End
quote.
This is very similar to what is mentioned in the question, that
alcohol is being used like vinegar.
So it is not permissible to marinade meat in alcohol or to soak it in
it, and it is not permissible to cook with it at all. In that which is
permissible there is sufficient and we have no need of that which is
forbidden. The Muslim is enjoined to avoid alcohol completely, so we
should boycott restaurants that use alcohol as an ingredient in their
food and in preparing and cooking food, rather we should advise them
and exhort them and warn people against them.
And Allaah knows best.

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Regards,
NAJIMUDEEN M/
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Dought & clear, - Ruling on energy drinks

I am from Iraq. We have a problem regarding a drink called 'tiger'
which has an image of a tiger on the can; some said it is haram
because it contains stimulants, while others said it is permissible to
drink. Please clarify the ruling on drinking this drink, may Allah
reward you.
Praise be to Allaah.
After studying a number of medical reports and articles, and the
results of research, we cannot be certain whether these drinks are
harmful or not, or about what quantity is harmful, or for which sector
of people. These drinks still need further study in order to determine
their real effect on people.
But in the light of what we have read about them, most authors warn
against them and doubt whether they are healthy. Many doctors have
advised that it is important to do without these drinks and to do
other healthy things instead such as exercise, healthy meals, getting
enough sleep, and so on.
The warning is more serious for those who have heart problems, high
blood pressure or are young (under 16 years).
We should take into account the fact that there are hundreds of type
of these drinks, which vary in content, and this makes it more
complicated to research them, because what may apply to one drink may
not apply to another, and so on.
Until there is more research which shows the real nature of these
drinks, we cannot issue a ruling as to whether they are halaal or
haraam.
If you want to be on the safe side with regard to your health, and
heed the warnings of many doctors, that is better.

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Regards,
NAJIMUDEEN M/
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For children, - Contentment in Islam: Secret of true Happiness,

We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting
something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating
what we do have.
Example of Prophet Muhammed (saws) Life
This is indeed following the example of Prophet Muhammed (saws)and
the early Muslims. The story is told of the time Prophet Muhammed
(saws) saw his beloved daughter Fatima Zahra (sa)wearing a dress made
of camel hair. Although tears welled in his eyes at the sight, he is
reported to have told her, "Fatima, today endure the hardships and
poverty with patience so that you may acquire the comfort of Paradise
tomorrow on the Day of Judgment."
On another occasion, Umar bin Khattab saw the simple life of Prophet
Muhammed (saws) and said: O Messenger of Allah (SWT)! While kings
sleep in soft, feather beds, you are lying on a rough mat. You are the
Messenger of Allah (SWT) and thereby deserve more than any other
people to live an easy life. Prophet Muhammed (saws) was reported to
have replied: Do you not agree that the luxuries of the world should
be theirs but those of the Hereafterours? (Bukhari, Tafsir, 287;
Muslim, Talaq, 31) There can be no doubt that Prophet Muhammed (saws)
and our Imams - some of the greatest heroes of Islam - lived very
simple lives with contentment. Checkout the Food of Sher e Khuda, Imam
Ali ibn Abu Talib (as)
Practical Suggestions in Developing Contentment
The following are some principles that, if remembered, will help us
develop this type of contentment in our own lives.
*.As previously mentioned, we should look at the people who have less
than us, not those who have more.
*.When purchasing something, we should consider what we need, not how
glamorous or prestigious it is.
*.We should feel empathy for the poor and know that they have rights
on our excess money.
*.We should look at what we already have and be thankful to Allah (SWT).
Many people possess the material goods of the world and are not happy.
In fact, they are often the most miserable people. With everything
they have, they still feel they want more. This unfilled desire, along
with the constant nagging in their heart for more, makes them unhappy.
Those who have little but feel no need for more do not experience this
nagging in their heart. They can relax and find peace. Indeed, the
richest person is not the one who has the most, but the one who is
content with what he has.
Prophet Muhammed (saws) said, "Riches does not mean having a great
amount of property; real wealth is self-contentment." Sahih Bukhari
(Book 81, Chapter 15)

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