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Fatwa CenterVisiting Places Where Alcohol Is Served
Question
I live in Holland; my husband and I like to go out but we don't know if it is ok for a Muslim couple to go to cafes and restaurant here in Europe knowing that in those restaurants they serve alcohol, but we don't consume any of the Haram food. Is it Haram for us to stay in those places?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
It is a rule in Islam that the Muslim should avoid anything even if it is lawful if it can lead to committing what is forbidden. So, anything that could lead to what is forbidden, or that could be a cause for evil or depravation, or that can lead to being suspected of doing what is forbidden and which does not include a necessary legal benefit that urges one to do it, then, in principle, it is not recommended by the Sharee'ah and one should not do it.
Allah Says (what means): {O you who have believed, do not follow the footsteps of Satan. And whoever follows the footsteps of Satan - indeed, he enjoins immorality and wrongdoing.} [Quran 24:21]
So, merely visiting such places is not recommended as it can lead to getting used to forbidden acts that one does not even deny in his heart nor does his face change when he sees such forbidden acts being performed, overtly and openly. The Prophet said: “What is lawful is evident and what is unlawful is evident, and in between them are doubtful things which many people do not know. So he who guards against doubtful things keeps his religion and honor blameless, and he who indulges in doubtful things indulges, in fact, in unlawful things, just as a shepherd who grazes his animals round a private pasture—he might trespass on it at any moment. Behold, every king has a private pasture, and the private pasture of Allah is his prohibitions.” [Muslim]
There is also an explicit evidence forbidding sitting with people who are drinking alcohol. The Prophet said:: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should not sit on a table where alcohol is served.” [at-Tirmithi]
Another narration of the same Hadeeth by Abu Dawood reads: “….at a table where alcohol is drunk.”
It was reported that a group of people who were drinking alcohol and singing were brought to ‘Umar Ibn ‘Abdul ‘Azeez 
. It was said to him that one of them was not a participant but he was merely a spectator. ‘Umar asked them to start the punishment with him.
Don't you know that Allah Says (what means): {And it has already come down to you in the Book that when you hear the verses of Allah [recited], they are denied [by them] and ridiculed; so do not sit with them until they enter into another conversation. Indeed, you would then be like them. Indeed Allah will gather the hypocrites and disbelievers in Hell all together -} [Quran 4:140]?
For more benefit on being present at a place where alcohol is served or drunk, please refer to Fataawa 351544, 90464, 86497, 85631, and 82521.
Allah knows best.
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