islamic dietery laws
Quran 7:31
…and eat and drink but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess. (NFBL)
Commentary of Quran 7:31
God has commanded us to eat and drink without wasting. Even if we eat some halal food excessively which may cause health hazard this will amount to wasting, excessive.
Quran 2:173
He has only forbidden to you dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah. But whoever is forced [by necessity], neither desiring [it] nor transgressing [its limit], there is no sin upon him. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. (NFBL)
Commentary of Quran 2:173
Islamic law books detail the manner and form of these prohibitions. Basically, we can understand that dead carcass of animals which has not been slaughtered in the Islamic way, pork, blood and food offered to idols or in name of idols are forbidden. Also, any slaughter which is done in names other than God is also forbidden. In an Islamic rule all food servicing businesses must be halal certified. This means all prohibited foods and diets are forbidden, its trade and consumption. Haram foods are haram because these are harmful to health and society so non Muslims are also prohibited to sell and consume these foods.
This verse establishes necessity as an excuse to eat forbidden food. This necessity must be genuine that is if not fulfilling the necessity leads to established physical or mental harms then such a necessity is genuine. Necessity does not arise just because you find something difficult to fulfill. All religious actions entail a level of difficulty and hardship. Such necessity also must not make you desire and love forbidden acts or things. Necessity does not justify admiration but rather your heart must remain hateful against things God forbidden.
Quran 5:1
…Lawful for you are the animals of grazing livestock except for that which is recited to you [in this Qur'an] -….. Indeed, Allah ordains what He intends. (NFBL)
Commentary of Quran 5:1
Animals are generally omnivorous, carnivores or herbivorous. Such distinction has been hinted in Sunnah of prophet (PBUH), for example prophet forbade all claw possessing animals suggesting these are predators and eat meat. It is safe to say that almost all plant eating animals are halal unless other evidences are established such as potential to diseases, hygiene, diet habit etc. Detailed discussions are found in classical Islamic law books including manner of slaughter, age of animal, health of animal and many other related issues which qualify the generally permissible.
Quran 6:145
Say, "I do not find within that which was revealed to me [anything] forbidden to one who would eat it unless it be a dead animal or blood spilled out or the flesh of swine - for indeed, it is impure - or it be [that slaughtered in] disobedience, dedicated to other than Allah . But whoever is forced [by necessity], neither desiring [it] nor transgressing [its limit], then indeed, your Lord is Forgiving and Merciful.” (NFBL)
Commentary of Quran 6:145
This verse repeats the same legal injunction as previous one.
Quran 5:3
Prohibited to you are dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah, and [those animals] killed by strangling or by a violent blow or by a head-long fall or by the goring of horns, and those from which a wild animal has eaten, except what you [are able to] slaughter [before its death], and those which are sacrificed on stone altars, and [prohibited is] that you seek decision through divining arrows. That is grave disobedience. (NFBL)
Commentary of Quran 5:3
God has prohibited here cruelty and torture of animals among other things. Prolonging suffering of animals is considered cruelty and torture. Also, manner of killing can also be cruel where it takes long effort to kill. This verse also establishes the rule of sanctity that is offerings of false deities and idols are prohibited. Quran obligates all acts of rituals and worship only to God, that is any act done out of veneration directly towards the divine is to be done only to God.
Quran 5:5
This day [all] good foods have been made lawful, and the food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you and your food is lawful for them…. (FBL)
Commentary of Quran 5:5
Goodness is established by a) legal texts already specifying permissible food b) harm vs benefit of the food c) source of the food such as means used to get/produce the food.
The food of Jews and Christians as per the dictates of their revealed books are permissible. All food in their holy books which do not contradict Quran are permissible as these are indications of not being tampered. Also, the food which are permissible must also be slaughtered in the name of God as is the command in Bible also. Basically, food of the practicing Jews and Christians should be permissible as a general rule.
Quran 6:119
And why should you not eat of that upon which the name of Allah has been mentioned while He has explained in detail to you what He has forbidden you, excepting that to which you are compelled. And indeed, do many lead [others] astray through their [own] inclinations without knowledge. Indeed, your Lord - He is most knowing of the transgressors. (NFBL)
Commentary of Quran 6:119
The detailed explanation is both in Quran and Sunnah as has been mentioned in the beginning that Sunnah is an explanation of Quran from God through Prophet and Ahl Bayt.
Quran 22:30
…And permitted to you are the grazing livestock, except what is recited to you….(NFBL)
Commentary of Quran 22:30
Animals are generally omnivorous, carnivores or herbivorous. Such distinction has been hinted in Sunnah of prophet (PBUH), for example prophet forbade all claw possessing animals suggesting these are predators and eat meat. It is safe to say that almost all plant eating animals are halal unless other evidences are established such as potential to diseases, level of hygiene, dietary habit etc. Detailed discussions are found in classical Islamic law books including manner of slaughter, age of animal, health of animal and many other related issues which qualify the generally permissible.
Quran 7:32
Say, "Who has forbidden the adornment of Allah which He has produced for His servants and the good [lawful] things of provision?" Say, "They are for those who believe during the worldly life [but] exclusively for them on the Day of Resurrection." Thus do We detail the verses for a people who know. (NFBL)
Commentary of Quran 7:32
The general rule is everything is permissible unless qualified and defined by God and His prophet. In this verse God has allowed a limited form of materialism unlike hedonistic materialism. This Islamic materialism is a form of materialism which is based in the principle as Imam Ali explained: “Detachment is not that you should own nothing, but nothing should own you”. So, a Muslim must not be owned by materialistic world even though he or she may possess material pleasure. It is that you need to be ready to sacrifice material for God’s cause. This verse also establishes a universal welfare principle regarding the natural resources God has created. The principle of universal distribution which is everyone must have a share of benefit from the natural resources of their nations. No matter which entity utilizes and exploits the natural resource everyone must have benefit from the God given resources of their lands. So, the big oil, gas and other resources corporations must share the profit from these resources apart from paying their Islamic taxes.
Quran 5:4
They ask you, [O Muhammad], what has been made lawful for them. Say, "Lawful for you are [all] good foods and [game caught by] what you have trained of hunting animals which you train as Allah has taught you. So eat of what they catch for you, and mention the name of Allah upon it, and fear Allah ." Indeed, Allah is swift in account. (FBL/NFBL)
Commentary of Quran 5:4
God has made all halal things good and usable, consumable. God has allowed hunting animals even dogs to be used in hunting. This is an exception for usage of dogs, other than that dogs cannot be kept in house due to its impurity of saliva which will invalidate prayers and rituals in house. This verse also proposes the science and art of training animals. God is hinting us about the great potential in training animals, especially for military and security purpose.
Quran 5:87
O you who have believed, do not prohibit the good things which Allah has made lawful to you and do not transgress. Indeed, Allah does not like transgressors. (NFBL)
Commentary of Quran 5:87
The general rule of permissible things is to remain permissible so that our lives can be defined by God's permissibility. We must not whimsically prohibit God's permissible because of potential harm and negative aspects that may arise from this by design.
Quran 5:88
And eat of what Allah has provided for you [which is] lawful and good. And fear Allah, in whom you are believers. (NFBL)
Commentary of Quran 5:88
God has commanded us to eat halal good which is good that is beneficial. But why is red meat which can be halal cause heart diseases or other health conditions? It is not because the food itself is bad but because we waste the food by eating too much. We must not be wasteful biologically even in consuming halal food. Anything done excessively can be harmful even worship of God. Human activities and relationship with God thus must be balanced vis a vis human biology and health. That is human limitation.
Further reading www.researchgate.net/publication/347424572_The_Islamic_Society_The_Sociological_Perspective_4th_Ed
Section "Health and Society"
…and eat and drink but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess. (NFBL)
Commentary of Quran 7:31
God has commanded us to eat and drink without wasting. Even if we eat some halal food excessively which may cause health hazard this will amount to wasting, excessive.
Quran 2:173
He has only forbidden to you dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah. But whoever is forced [by necessity], neither desiring [it] nor transgressing [its limit], there is no sin upon him. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. (NFBL)
Commentary of Quran 2:173
Islamic law books detail the manner and form of these prohibitions. Basically, we can understand that dead carcass of animals which has not been slaughtered in the Islamic way, pork, blood and food offered to idols or in name of idols are forbidden. Also, any slaughter which is done in names other than God is also forbidden. In an Islamic rule all food servicing businesses must be halal certified. This means all prohibited foods and diets are forbidden, its trade and consumption. Haram foods are haram because these are harmful to health and society so non Muslims are also prohibited to sell and consume these foods.
This verse establishes necessity as an excuse to eat forbidden food. This necessity must be genuine that is if not fulfilling the necessity leads to established physical or mental harms then such a necessity is genuine. Necessity does not arise just because you find something difficult to fulfill. All religious actions entail a level of difficulty and hardship. Such necessity also must not make you desire and love forbidden acts or things. Necessity does not justify admiration but rather your heart must remain hateful against things God forbidden.
Quran 5:1
…Lawful for you are the animals of grazing livestock except for that which is recited to you [in this Qur'an] -….. Indeed, Allah ordains what He intends. (NFBL)
Commentary of Quran 5:1
Animals are generally omnivorous, carnivores or herbivorous. Such distinction has been hinted in Sunnah of prophet (PBUH), for example prophet forbade all claw possessing animals suggesting these are predators and eat meat. It is safe to say that almost all plant eating animals are halal unless other evidences are established such as potential to diseases, hygiene, diet habit etc. Detailed discussions are found in classical Islamic law books including manner of slaughter, age of animal, health of animal and many other related issues which qualify the generally permissible.
Quran 6:145
Say, "I do not find within that which was revealed to me [anything] forbidden to one who would eat it unless it be a dead animal or blood spilled out or the flesh of swine - for indeed, it is impure - or it be [that slaughtered in] disobedience, dedicated to other than Allah . But whoever is forced [by necessity], neither desiring [it] nor transgressing [its limit], then indeed, your Lord is Forgiving and Merciful.” (NFBL)
Commentary of Quran 6:145
This verse repeats the same legal injunction as previous one.
Quran 5:3
Prohibited to you are dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah, and [those animals] killed by strangling or by a violent blow or by a head-long fall or by the goring of horns, and those from which a wild animal has eaten, except what you [are able to] slaughter [before its death], and those which are sacrificed on stone altars, and [prohibited is] that you seek decision through divining arrows. That is grave disobedience. (NFBL)
Commentary of Quran 5:3
God has prohibited here cruelty and torture of animals among other things. Prolonging suffering of animals is considered cruelty and torture. Also, manner of killing can also be cruel where it takes long effort to kill. This verse also establishes the rule of sanctity that is offerings of false deities and idols are prohibited. Quran obligates all acts of rituals and worship only to God, that is any act done out of veneration directly towards the divine is to be done only to God.
Quran 5:5
This day [all] good foods have been made lawful, and the food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you and your food is lawful for them…. (FBL)
Commentary of Quran 5:5
Goodness is established by a) legal texts already specifying permissible food b) harm vs benefit of the food c) source of the food such as means used to get/produce the food.
The food of Jews and Christians as per the dictates of their revealed books are permissible. All food in their holy books which do not contradict Quran are permissible as these are indications of not being tampered. Also, the food which are permissible must also be slaughtered in the name of God as is the command in Bible also. Basically, food of the practicing Jews and Christians should be permissible as a general rule.
Quran 6:119
And why should you not eat of that upon which the name of Allah has been mentioned while He has explained in detail to you what He has forbidden you, excepting that to which you are compelled. And indeed, do many lead [others] astray through their [own] inclinations without knowledge. Indeed, your Lord - He is most knowing of the transgressors. (NFBL)
Commentary of Quran 6:119
The detailed explanation is both in Quran and Sunnah as has been mentioned in the beginning that Sunnah is an explanation of Quran from God through Prophet and Ahl Bayt.
Quran 22:30
…And permitted to you are the grazing livestock, except what is recited to you….(NFBL)
Commentary of Quran 22:30
Animals are generally omnivorous, carnivores or herbivorous. Such distinction has been hinted in Sunnah of prophet (PBUH), for example prophet forbade all claw possessing animals suggesting these are predators and eat meat. It is safe to say that almost all plant eating animals are halal unless other evidences are established such as potential to diseases, level of hygiene, dietary habit etc. Detailed discussions are found in classical Islamic law books including manner of slaughter, age of animal, health of animal and many other related issues which qualify the generally permissible.
Quran 7:32
Say, "Who has forbidden the adornment of Allah which He has produced for His servants and the good [lawful] things of provision?" Say, "They are for those who believe during the worldly life [but] exclusively for them on the Day of Resurrection." Thus do We detail the verses for a people who know. (NFBL)
Commentary of Quran 7:32
The general rule is everything is permissible unless qualified and defined by God and His prophet. In this verse God has allowed a limited form of materialism unlike hedonistic materialism. This Islamic materialism is a form of materialism which is based in the principle as Imam Ali explained: “Detachment is not that you should own nothing, but nothing should own you”. So, a Muslim must not be owned by materialistic world even though he or she may possess material pleasure. It is that you need to be ready to sacrifice material for God’s cause. This verse also establishes a universal welfare principle regarding the natural resources God has created. The principle of universal distribution which is everyone must have a share of benefit from the natural resources of their nations. No matter which entity utilizes and exploits the natural resource everyone must have benefit from the God given resources of their lands. So, the big oil, gas and other resources corporations must share the profit from these resources apart from paying their Islamic taxes.
Quran 5:4
They ask you, [O Muhammad], what has been made lawful for them. Say, "Lawful for you are [all] good foods and [game caught by] what you have trained of hunting animals which you train as Allah has taught you. So eat of what they catch for you, and mention the name of Allah upon it, and fear Allah ." Indeed, Allah is swift in account. (FBL/NFBL)
Commentary of Quran 5:4
God has made all halal things good and usable, consumable. God has allowed hunting animals even dogs to be used in hunting. This is an exception for usage of dogs, other than that dogs cannot be kept in house due to its impurity of saliva which will invalidate prayers and rituals in house. This verse also proposes the science and art of training animals. God is hinting us about the great potential in training animals, especially for military and security purpose.
Quran 5:87
O you who have believed, do not prohibit the good things which Allah has made lawful to you and do not transgress. Indeed, Allah does not like transgressors. (NFBL)
Commentary of Quran 5:87
The general rule of permissible things is to remain permissible so that our lives can be defined by God's permissibility. We must not whimsically prohibit God's permissible because of potential harm and negative aspects that may arise from this by design.
Quran 5:88
And eat of what Allah has provided for you [which is] lawful and good. And fear Allah, in whom you are believers. (NFBL)
Commentary of Quran 5:88
God has commanded us to eat halal good which is good that is beneficial. But why is red meat which can be halal cause heart diseases or other health conditions? It is not because the food itself is bad but because we waste the food by eating too much. We must not be wasteful biologically even in consuming halal food. Anything done excessively can be harmful even worship of God. Human activities and relationship with God thus must be balanced vis a vis human biology and health. That is human limitation.
Further reading www.researchgate.net/publication/347424572_The_Islamic_Society_The_Sociological_Perspective_4th_Ed
Section "Health and Society"
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