Eating of the sweets which are served by non-Muslims to Muslims on non-religious occasions

Q 1: We work in a hospital, and as you know, there are non-Muslim contracted workers from the People of the Book and others. When some of them have a newborn baby, they distribute sweets and other eatables on this occasion. The question, respected Shaykh, is:First, what is the ruling on eating such sweets and other eatables, which they distribute among Muslims and others?Second, what is the ruling on Muslims who do the same when they have a newborn baby and distribute sweets to the offices where there are Muslims and non-Muslims?We seek your guidance. May Allah reward you with the best. Please inform us of the ruling on these two questions.

A: First, it is permissible to eat of the sweets that are served by non-Muslims to Muslims on non-religious occasions, such as the birth of a child and so on, because this is included under the permissibility of accepting the gift of a disbeliever. It is authentically reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he accepted the gifts of the Mushriks (those who associate others with Allah in His Divinity or worship). Second, distributing sweets on the occasion of having a newborn baby is one of the customs whose primary ruling is permissibility and if a person usually does this as a custom, not as a (Part No. 10; Page No. 470) Sunnah (action following the teachings of the Prophet) and an act of worship, there is nothing wrong with this.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.