172- YOU WHO BELIEVE, EAT OUT OF THE GOOD AND PURE THINGSALLAH PROVIDED FOR YOU, AND THANK ALLAH IF YOU TRULY WORSHIP HIM.

173- HE HAS FORBIDDEN YOU THE DEAD, BLOOD, THE FLESH OF THE PIG, AND WHAT OTHER THAN THE NAME OF ALLAH HAS BEEN INVOKED ON.  BUT WHOEVER IS COMPELLED WITHOUT BEING WILLFULY DISOBELIENT OR TRANSGRESSOR, HE INCURS NO GUILT, FOR ALLAH IS MOST FORGIVING, MOST MERCIFUL.

Another statement in the Quran where Allah the Highest is clearly telling us that All Things provided for us are Good and Pure for us to Eat i.e. Halal.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: ‘Allah the Most Exalted said: “All the goods I give my slaves are halal and I created my slaves pure, then Satan goes and forbids them what I permitted them”.  (Muslim)

In the next Ayah Allah the Highest tells us the exceptions.

Allah the Highest reminds us that for such bounties, we should be thankful always.  In fact Allah the Highest commands us to be thankful. 

Allah does not need our thanks, for He is above the need, but Allah the Highest commands us for our own good.  This is because thanking Allah the Highest is rewarded twice:

1-    In this life, for Allah the Highest said: “AND YOUR LORD DECREED, IF YOU GIVE THANKS, I SHALL GIVE YOU MORE”.  (S:14 A:7)

2-    In the Hereafter.  Allah the Highest said: “HE WHO DESIRES THE REWARD OF THIS LIFE, WE SHALL GIVE HIM FROM IT AND HE WHO DESIRES THE REWARD OF THE HEREAFTER, WE SHALL GIVE HIM FROM IT, AND WE SHALL REWARD THE THANKFUL”.  (S:3 A:145)

Then the exceptions; that are what are forbidden (Haram).  We have to note that what is forbidden here is eating, not other uses.  Four Items are mentioned here:

1-    The dead: That is the animal which died by any cause other than being slaughtered.  It might have fallen from a height, hit by a car or another animal, was sick, strangled or even died of old age. 

2-    Blood:  This means running blood, which Allah the Highest stated in another Ayah: “RUNNING BLOOD”  (S:6 A:145)

We should not drink running blood or cook it (like black pudding).  Other uses of blood like in blood transfusion are not forbidden.

3-    The Flesh of the Pig: the Scholars agree that the whole of the pig is forbidden to eat, that is flesh and bone and fat. 

4-    What has other than Allah’s name invoked on:  like offerings to Idles and other gods. 

It is important to note that what is forbidden here is eating, not other uses of the animal like using its skin for example.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him passed by a dead sheep, it was given to a freed slave of Maymona from the Zakah.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “Would you use its skin”, they said: “It is dead”.  He said: “Only eating it is forbidden”.  (B:Zakah:61 & M:Haed;101 & D:Lebas;38 & Mal:Syd;16 & N:Faraa;4)

The reasons for the prohibitions are best known to Allah the Highest. One can think of at least two reasons:

1-    Prohibited things are harmful.  Even if we can detect some of the harm now and take precautions, we should remember that we did not know about many until recently.  Therefore, it is very possible that there are others not known to us yet or that there are others to come yet.  Our knowledge is always very deficient compared to Allah’s knowledge.

2-    Obedience to Allah’s commands is a very important reason in itself.  Remember that Allah the Highest has forbidden Adam and Eave to eat from one tree in the Garden without telling them or us why.  It is a mark of submission to obey, and to put out trust in Allah.

We have a license however to eat any forbidden food or drink in case of compulsion or absolute necessity.  For Example:

1-    If we have not other food or drink, and are not going to have any so that our life will be put at risk.

2-    The Halal food available is contaminated or not fit for human consumption.

3-    If not eating certain food or drinking certain drinks will uncover out identity and put our safety at risk.

In these instances and other compelling instances, there is no sin committed by the Muslim, provided that his real intention is not to disobey.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “But your deeds depend on your intentions and every one will be recompensed according to his intention”.  (B: Eman; 41 & M: Eman; 155)

As for those who are compelled or disobey, Allah the Highest reminds us that if we repent and ask for forgiveness, we shall find Allah the Highest to be most forgiving.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said that Allah the Most Exalted and Majestic said: “Son of Adam, if you commit as much as the Earth full of sin, but do not believe in any thing besides me, I shall give you as much forgiveness”.  (A: 5; 147,148,153 & M: Zekr; 22 & T: Dawat; 98 & Da: Reqaq; 72)

With Allah’s forgiveness comes Allah’s Mercy. 

This is one form of Halal Food, food that is not forbidden or meat that is slaughtered the Islamic way.  However, the other very important aspect of food being Halal is to have it and earn the money to buy it with in a Halal way.  The food that is bought with Haram money is Haram.

There is a great reward for always having Halal to eat, drink and wear, that is to live in Halal.  Allah the Highest always answers your Dawaa. 

As for having Haram to live on, there are two severe penalties:

1-    Allah the Highest does not accept the Muslims worship or good deeds for 40 days.

2-    The destination is the Hell-Fire

Allah’s messenger companion and uncle Saad Ibn Abi Waqas asked him to pray to Allah for him so that Allah will always answer his Dawaa.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “O Saad, make sure that what you eat is good and pure, your Dawaa will be always answered.  By He who has my soul in His hand, whenever a man throws a piece of Haram inside him, Allah will not accept any thing from him for 40 days.  Any slave who’s flesh grow out of ill-gotten and usury, he shall be more worthy of the Fire”.  (T: Jomah; 79)

We should always try to eat and drink what is Halal, in kind and in the way we get and earn the money to get it.

We should remember that the rule is that every thing is permitted, except what Allah the Highest forbids, clearly and categorically.

B: Bukhari  M: Muslim    Mal: Malek   A: Ahmed   D: Abu Dawood     

 Da: Daremy       Ma: Ibn Magah            N: Nesae          T: Termezi