Question 2032: What is the ruling on taking 'Nuql' (sugar-coated almonds), sweets, banknotes, and the like that are scattered over people during celebrations, weddings, etc., and people rush to grab them?
Answer
✅ Answer: Note the following hadiths:
1 عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ یَحْیَی عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَیْنِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ عَنِ الْعَلَاءِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَحَدِهِمَا قَالَ: لَا تَصْلُحُ الْمُقَامَرَةُ وَ لَا النُّهْبَةُ.
📚 Al-Kafi, Vol. 5, p. 123
Imam Baqir or Imam Sadiq (peace be upon them) said: Gambling and 'Nuhbah' (plunder/looting) are not right!
2 عَنِ الْعَمْرَکِیِّ بْنِ عَلِیٍّ عَنْ عَلِیِّ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ أَخِیهِ أَبِی الْحَسَنِ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ النُّثَارِ مِنَ السُّکَّرِ وَ اللَّوْزِ وَ أَشْبَاهِهِ أَ یَحِلُّ أَکْلُهُ قَالَ یُکْرَهُ أَکْلُ مَا انْتُهِبَ.
📚 Al-Kafi, Vol. 5, p. 123
Ali ibn Jafar said: I asked my brother Imam Kazim (peace be upon him) about sweets, almonds, and the like that are scattered over people—is eating them permissible? The Imam said: Eating that which is plundered is disliked and 'Makruh'!
3 عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَیْنِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِی الْجَارُودِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ یَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ لَا یَزْنِی الزَّانِی حِینَ یَزْنِی وَ هُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ وَ لَا یَسْرِقُ حِینَ یَسْرِقُ وَ هُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ وَ لَا یَنْهَبُ نُهْبَةً ذَاتَ شَرَفٍ حِینَ یَنْهَبُهَا وَ هُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ قَالَ ابْنُ سِنَانٍ قُلْتُ لِأَبِی الْجَارُودِ وَ مَا نُهْبَةٌ ذَاتُ شَرَفٍ قَالَ نَحْوُ مَا صَنَعَ حَاتِمٌ حِینَ قَالَ مَنْ أَخَذَ شَیْئاً فَهُوَ لَهُ.
📚 Al-Kafi, Vol. 5, p. 123
Abu Jarud said: I heard Imam Baqir (peace be upon him) saying: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: The adulterer is not a believer while committing adultery, the thief is not a believer while stealing, and a person is not a believer while plundering something of value!
Ibn Sinan said: I said to Abu Jarud: What is 'plundering something of value'? He said: Like what Hatim used to do! When he would say: 'Whatever anyone picks up belongs to them!'
4 عَنْ عِدَّةٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِی عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِیٍّ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جَبَلَةَ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِی عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْإِمْلَاکُ یَکُونُ وَ الْعُرْسُ فَیَنْثِرُونَ عَلَی الْقَوْمِ فَقَالَ حَرَامٌ وَ لَکِنْ مَا أَعْطَوْکَ مِنْهُ فَخُذْ.
📚 Al-Kafi, Vol. 5, p. 123
Ishaq ibn Ammar said: I said to Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): There are marriage and wedding ceremonies where they distribute things over the people. The Imam said: It is forbidden! But whatever amount of it they give to you directly, take it!
5 عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ یَحْیَی عَنْ أَبِی جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ أَبِیهِ عَنْ وَهْبٍ عَنْ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ أَبِیهِ قَالَ: قَالَ عَلِیٌّ لَا بَأْسَ بِنَثْرِ الْجَوْزِ وَ السُّکَّرِ.
📚 Al-Tahdhib, Vol. 6, p. 370
Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) narrated from his father that he said: Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him) said: There is no problem with scattering walnuts, sugar, and sweets!
✅ Based on the above hadiths and others, scattering Nuql, sweets, banknotes, and the like over people during celebrations, weddings, and ceremonies is not a problem. However, taking the distributed items by means of rushing and 'plundering' is not proper or right; it is forbidden and disliked. Only that which the owners themselves grant or give directly is without problem and may be taken or eaten.
✅ The proof in answering religious questions is the texts of the verses and relevant hadiths; what is explained at the end is not proof and is subject to critique.
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَی مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عَجِّلْ لِوَلِیِّکَ الْفَرَجَ وَ الْعَافِیَةَ وَ النَّصْر
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
May Allah bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad
If tomorrow, Wednesday, February 18, 2026 (29 Bahman 1404), is the end of the month of Sha'ban, it is the last Wednesday of the month, and in this case, it is appropriate to note the hadiths in the following link: