A Muslim woman was left stunned after her date blamed her hijab for preventing them from dining at a non-halal cafe during their first outing together.
According to mStar, the woman shared her experience on social media, revealing that the man had planned their first date and made a reservation in advance.
She said she was initially excited about the outing as she had not known where to go.
However, upon arriving at the cafe, she noticed that many Chinese customers were eating and chatting inside.
She asked the man whether they could dine there, to which he replied that he was unsure and suggested they go in to check.
Shortly afterwards, a cafe staff member informed them that the establishment did not serve halal food.
Feeling awkward and uncertain about what to do, the pair eventually decided to leave.
But the woman was even more shocked by the man’s reaction once they returned to his car.
“Do you know what he said after getting into the car? He said it was because I went out wearing a hijab that we couldn’t eat there. Otherwise, we could have gone in and had our meal,” she recounted.
Taken aback, she asked whether he usually ate at non-halal restaurants.
He reportedly replied that he did and had always done so, adding that he did not care whether a restaurant had halal certification.
Her account sparked debate online, with many social media users expressing disbelief at the man’s attitude and questioning his understanding of religious principles.
Some users consoled the woman, saying she should be grateful to have discovered the issue early in the relationship.
Others criticised the man for allegedly disregarding basic halal dietary principles, arguing that he was unsuitable as a potential partner.
“Don’t you even care whether the food is halal? This is not something to take lightly. It’s something so basic that you should understand,” one user commented.
According to the Federal Territories Mufti Office website, Muslims are obliged to ensure that their food complies with halal requirements. If there are doubts about whether food at a restaurant is halal, they should avoid consuming it.
