Dietary Prohibitions
By Haroon Khan (e-mail: Sooly@globalnet.co.uk)

Dietary laws, just like any other commandment in Islam make up an important part of the religion, which should be practised by every Muslim. Unfortunately over time Muslim's have made the same mistake the Jews did. Like the Jews they started to innovate extra dietary laws and attribute these lies to God.

Inshallah (God willing), I will attempt to show what the dietary laws are according to the Quran which is fully detailed (see 6:114). The myth associated with Halaal food is that food is not Halaal (Lawful) unless it has been slaughtered the so-called Islamic way (slitting its throat with a knife) while reciting/mentioning God's name.

Let us take a look at the verses that talk about what food is lawful and what is lawful in the Quran.

“O people, eat from the earth's products all that is lawful and good, and do not follow the steps of Satan; he is your most ardent enemy.” 2:168

We are encouraged to eat from all the provisions on earth that are lawful and are especially told not to follow Satan, after all, he is on a mission to lead us astray (see 7:16-17). We are once again told to eat from all that is lawful:

“O you who believe, eat from the good things we provided for you, and be thankful to God, if you do worship Him alone. He only prohibits for you the eating of animals that die of themselves, blood, the meat of pigs, and animals dedicated to other than God. If one is forced without being malicious or deliberate, he incurs no sin. God is Forgiver, Most Merciful.” 7:172-173

Note the beginning of this verse. We are told to eat from all that is provided for us and be thankful to God, IF we do worship Him alone. Four categories of food have been explicitly forbidden.

1. Animals that die of themselves (I will clarify this later on in the article)

2. Blood (this too will be clarified later)

3. The meat of pigs

4. Anything dedicated to other than God (this constitutes shirk/idol worship, the only unforgivable sin if maintained till death, please see 5:87, 9:37, 7:32, 6:119, 6:140 and 10:59.

Animals that die of themselves may sound like a very vague category, but the Quran is a book that explains itself, the category has been explicitly explained in the following verse:

“Prohibited for you are animals that die of themselves, blood, the meat of pigs, and animals dedicated to other than God. strangled, struck with an object, fallen from a height, gored, attacked by a wild animal--unless you save your animal before it dies--and animals sacrificed on altars. Also prohibited is dividing the meat through a game of chance; this is an abomination. Today, the disbelievers have given up concerning your religion; do not fear them and fear Me instead. Today, I have completed your religion, perfected My blessing upon you, and I have decreed Islam (Submission) as the religion for you. If one is forced by famine (to eat prohibited food ), without being deliberately sinful, then God is Forgiver, Merciful.” 5:3

Now comes the part concerning blood, blood is another category that is prohibited. This is one of the justifications for the halaal meat. The argument being that if animals are slaughtered the so-called Islamic way (cutting the throat with a knife) it drains most of the blood out. This means that animals have to be slaughtered a particular way or else we can’t eat them. People who propose such hardships in the religion forget that God did not wish us any hardship in our religion.

“…..God does not wish to make the religion difficult for you; He wishes to cleanse you and to perfect His blessing upon you, that you may be appreciative.” 5:6

If God does not wish us any hardship then there has to be an explanation as to what comes under the category of blood. Once again the Quran explains itself.

`Say, "I do not find in the revelations given to me any food that is prohibited for any eater except: (1) carrion (animals that die of themselves) , (2) running blood, (3) the meat of pigs, for it is contaminated, and (4) anything blasphemously dedicated to other than God." If one is forced (to eat these), without being deliberate or malicious, then your Lord is Forgiver, Most Merciful.` 6:145

God in His infinite mercy has clarified that is it running blood that He has prohibited, not blood trapped within the meat.

Let us now deal with the verses talking about mentioning God’s name upon that which we eat.

“You shall eat from that upon which God's name has been pronounced, if you truly believe in His revelations.” 6:118

“Why should you not eat from that upon which God's name has been mentioned? He has detailed for you what is prohibited for you, unless you are forced. Indeed, many people mislead others with their personal opinions, without knowledge. Your Lord is fully aware of the transgressors.” 6:119

“Do not eat from that upon which the name of God has not been mentioned, for it is an abomination. The devils inspire their allies to argue with you; if you obey them, you will be idol worshipers.” 6:121

Note the verses I quoted, none of them say explicitly that we HAVE to mention God’s name during slaughtering the animal. This is no accident, had God willed He would have specifically said so, God does not run out of words (see 18:109). We should mention God’s name before eating though, after all we are to be appreciative of what God have given us, hence mentioning God’s name before we eat something gives us a moment to remember God and be thankful for the food.

God has explicitly mentioned what is prohibited (see 6:145). Furthermore, we are not allowed to prohibit anything that has not been prohibited.

“They follow idols who decree for them religious laws never authorized by God. If it were not for the predetermined decision, they would have been judged immediately. Indeed, the transgressors have incurred a painful retribution.” 42:21

We are not allowed to prohibit anything that God did not authorize, following blindly those who do innovate such laws is shirk/idol worship.

Furthermore, innovating false dietary laws and attributing them to God is not a new thing:

“They said, "These are livestock and crops that are prohibited; no one shall eat them except whomever we permit," so they claimed. They also prohibited the riding of certain livestock. Even the livestock they ate, they never pronounced GOD's name as they sacrificed them. Such are innovations attributed to Him. He will surely requite them for their innovations. They also said, "What is in the bellies of these livestock is reserved exclusively for the males among us, and prohibited for our wives." But if it was a still birth, they permitted their wives to share therein. He will certainly requite them for their innovations. He is Most Wise, Omniscient.” 6:138-139

History repeats itself, and today yet again we are faced with false dietary laws in the form of Halaal Meat which is not only an innovated dietary law, but also in many countries the owners of Halaal Meat stores charge premium prices to those who think they have no other choice but to eat Halaal Meat. And people have the nerve to attribute this lie to God!!!!

As always God has the best argument and asks those who innovate false dietary laws in His name a question:

“Say, "Did you note how GOD sends down to you all kinds of provisions, then you render some of them unlawful, and some lawful?" Say, "Did GOD give you permission to do this? Or, do you fabricate lies and attribute them to GOD?" Does it ever occur to those who fabricate lies about GOD that they will have to face Him on the Day of Resurrection? Certainly, GOD showers the people with His grace, but most of them are unappreciative.” 10:59-60

Summary There are only 4 prohibited categories of food

1. Carrion/animals that die of themselves (for an extensive definition please see 5:3)

2. Running blood

3. Meat of pigs

4. Anything blasphemously dedicated to other than God.

Plus we should always mention God’s name before we eat anything.