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Salamun Alaikum (Peace be upon you)

 

 

FOOD PERMISSIBILITY AND PROHIBITIONS

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Copyright © 2009 Joseph A Islam: Article last modified 29th January 2013

 

The following article covers the subject from a Quranic perspective.

 

Contents of the article:

 

 

       (1)    GENERAL PROHIBITIONS

 

      (2)    ANIMALS

 

      (3)    FISH AND WATER CREATURES

 

      (4)    BIRDS

 

      (5)    FRUITS

 

      (6)    VEGETATION AND HERBAGE

 

(7)    INSECTS

 

 

QURANIC EXCEPTION

 

Anyone who is compelled by hunger, not by will to eat what is forbidden, not intending to commit sin, will find God Merciful and Forgiving (5:3)

 

 

 

(1)   GENERAL PROHIBITIONS

 

The main food group which is made lawful for consumption for believers is ‘grazing livestock’ (Arabic: bahimatu l'anaami) in verse 5:1. Dietary laws are then further expounded in verse 5:3 with notable exceptions and repeated in verses 2.173; 6:145 and 16:115. With these verses, we are also informed not to make lawful or forbidden anything other than what is mentioned in the Scripture. Please see verse 16:116.

 

In general, prohibitions and permissibility of food groups can be captured as follows.

 

PROHIBITED

 

Exception: Anyone who is compelled by hunger, not by will to eat what is forbidden, not intending to commit sin, will find God Merciful and Forgiving (5:3).

 

As mentioned above, these prohibitions are repeated in verses 5:3, 2.173; 6:145 and 16:115.

 

 

LAWFUL

EXTRA PROHIBITIONS IN PREVIOUS SCRIPTURES

 

In verse 16.118, one notes that the extra prohibitions still stand for those that call themselves Jews until they accept as a matter of complete choice the veracity of the final messenger and the final revelation to him. These (and other) burdens will then be lifted (7:157). Until then, their Mosaic laws still apply. Specific food restriction imposed for the People of the Book can be noted in verse 6:146.

 

Please note that in verse 5:5, all good things are made lawful. This verse not only includes food, but also marriage. Therefore, it is plausible to assert that this verse is not restricted to food items.

All good things are created lawful and one should not impose prohibitions unless God has forbidden them through scripture. The opposite is also true with regards making lawful that which God has not permitted. This is as true for food items as it is for other matters such as garments.

 

HUMAN FLESH

 

Human life is sacred. Humans are not to take the life of another human being without just cause (capital punishment for murder and for spreading corruption in the land). Please see verse 5:32, 4:29, 4:92-93 and 6:151. Therefore, killing another human being for food remains prohibited. One could argue that it is permissible to consume human flesh after death has occurred naturally. However this is negated by verse 5:3 in which carrion (dead meat) is also prohibited.

There is an exception given in accentuating circumstances where dead meat can be eaten but such a situation would be extremely rare. However, there have been cases where stranded people have kept themselves alive long enough (only eating as much as they need) from the dead bodies of other humans. This is an extreme situation and as verse 5:3 stipulates: "Anyone who is compelled by hunger, not by will to eat what is forbidden, not intending to commit sin, will find God Merciful and Forgiving".

 

 

 

(2)   ANIMALS

 

 

Please also see related article [1] below.

 

 

ONLY GRAZING LIVESTOCK IS LAWFUL

 

005:001

"O ye who believe! Fulfil your obligations. Grazing livestock (Arabic: bahimatu l'anaami) is made lawful (Arabic: uhillat) to you (for food) except that which is announced to you (herein), game being unlawful when ye are on the pilgrimage. Lo! God ordains that which pleases Him"

 

 

Illustration - Joseph Islam

 

 

UNDERSTANDING THE MEANING OF ‘BAHIMATU L'ANAAMI’ (Grazing Livestock)

 

‘BAHIMA’

 

Root = Ba-Ha-Miim = animals that pasture/graze, lamb/goat/sheep, animals of the bovine kind, beasts/brutes.

 

It has always been clearly understood by the classical usage of the Arabic word ‘Bahima’ that beasts of pasture or grazing animals are implied. It is also interesting to note that pigs also pasture. Therefore it is only reasonable to deduce that by virtue of the swine flesh being mentioned as an exception, it is within the category of ‘Bahima’ (i.e. animals that pasture / grazing animals or beasts) that the exception is intended and not the animal kingdom as a whole.

 

bahimah (feminine noun) 5:1, 22:28, 22:34

 

LL, V1, p: 305, 306

 

 

Source: Edward Lanes Lexicon   [1]

 

 

‘ANAAM’ (Cattle / pasturing livestock)

 

Root: N-AYN-MIM

 

 

 

Source: Edward Lanes Lexicon   [2]

 

 

 

 

Source: A Dictionary and Glossary of the Koran - John Penrice 1873  [3]

 

 

 

Source: A Dictionary and Glossary of the Koran - John Penrice 1873  [4]

 

 

Therefore, the term 'Bahimatu l-anaam’ refers to grazing livestock / cattle. These are not predators but herbivores.

 

 

THERE ARE SOME GRAZING ANIMALS WHICH ARE SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED FOR TRAVEL AND NOT FOR FOOD

 

006.142

"Of the cattle (Arabic: Anaam) are some for burden and some for meat: eat what God has provided for you, and follow not the footsteps of Satan: for he is to you an avowed enemy"

 

016.008

"And (He has created) horses, mules, and donkeys, for you to ride (Arabic: Litarkabuha) and use for show (Arabic: Wazinatan); and He has created (other) things of which ye have no knowledge"

 

Please note that the animals above have been mentioned for travel and show and not as food. It is also interesting to note that the camel is absent from this list. In the context of the verse, this possibly alludes to the fact that the camel has a dual purpose whereby it can be used for transportation and for food.

 

OTHER USAGES

 

Other uses of grazing animals have also been mentioned such as milk, for example in what their stomachs provide (16:66) or usages from their hides (16:80).

 

 

DO NOT INVENT AND FORBID YOURSELF FOOD THAT HAS BEEN MADE LAWFUL TO EAT (AS THE LIKE OF THE PAGANS OF OLD)

 

006:143

"(Take) eight (head of cattle) in (four) pairs: of sheep a pair, and of goats a pair; say, has He forbidden the two males, or the two females, or (the young) which the wombs of the two females enclose? Tell me with knowledge if ye are truthful:

 

006.144

"Of camels a pair, and oxen a pair; say, has He forbidden the two males, or the two females, or (the young) which the wombs of the two females enclose? - Were ye present when God ordered you such a thing? But who does more wrong than one who invents a lie against God, to lead astray men without knowledge? For God guides not people who do wrong.

 

006.145 
“Say: I do not find in what has been revealed to me anything forbidden to an eater to eat of except that it be what has died of itself, or blood poured forth, or flesh of swine - for indeed, that surely is impure - or that which is a transgression, is dedicated to other than God. But whoever is driven to necessity, not desiring nor transgressing the limit, then surely your Lord is Forgiving, Merciful.”

 

The above verses clearly rebuke those that invent prohibitions without warrant.

 

However, there are also some Muslims that assert that verse 6:145 allows for the consumption of all animals including those outside the category of grazing livestock. As we will note, such an assertion also has no warrant from the Quran.

 

Keeping the verse in context, one notes that verse 6:145 is a clear response to the unwarranted claims in the previous verses (6:143-44) where some have forbidden certain animals from within the category of grazing livestock (bahimatul-anaam). Verses (6:143-44) remain connected which mention such animals as sheep (da’n), goats (ma’z), camels (ibil), cow, kine, ox (baqarah) etc.

 

It is with a view to counter these unwarranted, self imposed restrictions within the category of ‘grazing livestock’ that verse 6:145 responds.

 

Verse 6:145 is not to be understood as a response addressing the exception from ‘all animals’. In this way, verse 6:145 only serves to corroborate the instructions found in other verses such as 5:1-4.

 

Please see related article [1] below. 

 

Furthermore, in responding to the baseless superstitions, the verses also make it clear what the lawful 4 pairs (8) actually allude to.

 

For superstitions, please see verses 6:139 and 5:103 below.

 

006.139

"They say: "What is in the wombs of such and such cattle is specially reserved (for food) for our men, and forbidden to our women; but if it is still-born, then all have share therein. For their (false) attribution (of superstitions to God), He will soon punish them: for He is full of wisdom and knowledge"

 

005.103

"It was not God who instituted (superstitions like those of) a slit-ear she-camel, or a she-camel let loose for free pasture, or idol sacrifices for twin-births in animals, or stallion-camels freed from work: It is blasphemers who invent a lie against God; but most of them lack wisdom"

  

 

 

 

(3)   FISH AND WATER CREATURES

 

All seafood has been made lawful to eat.

 

 

005.096

"Lawful (Arabic: uhilla) to you is the pursuit of game  (Arabic: saydu) of the sea (Arabic: bahri) and its use for food (Arabic: ta'amuhu), for the benefit of yourselves and those who travel; but forbidden is the pursuit of game of the land as long as you are in the sacred precincts or in pilgrim garb. And fear God, to Whom you shall be gathered back"

 

 

 

Illustration - Joseph Islam

 

 

 

Source: Edward Lanes Lexicon   [5]

 

 

 

  

(4)   BIRDS

 

No specific restrictions have been imposed with regards the consumption of birds.  

 

However, it is important to note that the 'flesh of birds' (lahmi tayrin) have been mentioned as food for inhabitants in paradise (56:21).

 

056:021

"And the flesh of fowls / birds (Arabic: lahmi-tayrin) of what they desire"

 

Much akin to wine, which also finds mention as an item of consumption in paradise (47:15), the flesh of birds are not expressly prohibited on earth as are those consumables which cause intoxication such as wine (5:90-91). Therefore, the flesh of fowls / birds which could include poultry arguably remains lawful as consumables on earth as they will be in paradise.  

 

Furthermore, there is also a specific mention of ‘Salwa’ being sent to the Children of Israel and classed as good things to eat (2:57; 7.160; 20:80) along with Manna. Salwa’s classical meaning is a certain bird which in the present day applies to the Quail but is not restricted to it.

 

 

Source: Edward Lanes Lexicon  [6]

 

 

There is an interesting argument here that has merit. Livestock lawfulness is limited to grazing animals (herbivores) as noted above. Therefore, animals that eat other animals (carnivorous and omnivorous) are arguably forbidden by simple deduction. Therefore applying the same principle, one could argue that hunting predatory and scavenger birds that also eat dead carcasses and other animals are also forbidden on the same grounds.

 

 

 

 

(5)   FRUITS

 

 

No restrictions have been imposed with regards the consumption of fruits.

 

016.069

“Then eat of all fruits (Arabic: kulli l-thamarati), and follow the ways of thy Lord, made smooth. There comes forth from their bellies a drink diverse of hues, in which there is healing for mankind. Surely! in that there is indeed a sign for people who reflect”

 

014.032

“God is He Who created the Heavens and the Earth, and causes water to descend from the sky, thereby producing fruits as food for you, and makes the ships to be of service to you, that they may run upon the sea at His command, and has made of service to you the rivers”

 

 

 

 

(6)   VEGETATION & HERBAGE

 

No restrictions have been imposed with regards the consumption of vegetables and herbage

 

020.53-54

"Who has appointed the earth as a bed and has threaded roads for you therein and has sent down water from the sky and thereby We have brought forth diverse kinds of vegetation. (Saying): Eat ye and feed your cattle. Surely! in that there is indeed a sign for people who reflect"

 

032:027

"Have they not seen how We lead the water to the barren land and with it bring forth crops (Arabic: Zar'an) where from their cattle eat and they themselves? Will they not then see?"

 

 

 

 

 

(7)   INSECTS

 

The Quran is silent on the matter. 

 

 

 

 

 

Related Articles:

 

(1)    Does the Quran allow the eating of Lions, Dogs, Cats, Rats etc?

(2)    Are Intoxicants Forbidden (Haram) in the Quran?

 

 

REFERENCES

 

[1] LANE. E.W, Edward Lanes Lexicon, Williams and Norgate 1863; Librairie du Liban Beirut-Lebanon 1968, Volume 1, Page 268

Highlights marked in red on the lexicon excerpt are my own insertions. They have no bearing on the original text other than they emphasise relevance to the topic at hand. These are merely illustrations and have solely been utilised for educational and explanatory purposes.

[2] Ibid., Volume 8, Page 3035

[3] PENRICE, J, A Dictionary and Glossary of the Koran 1873; Reprint 1991 Adam Publishers & Distributors, Delhi, Page 20

Highlights marked in red on the lexicon excerpt are my own insertions. They have no bearing on the original text other than they emphasise relevance to the topic at hand. These are merely illustrations and have solely been utilised for educational and explanatory purposes.

[4] Ibid., Page 149

[5] LANE. E.W, Edward Lanes Lexicon, Williams and Norgate 1863; Librairie du Liban Beirut-Lebanon 1968, Volume 1, Page 156

Highlights marked in red on the lexicon excerpt are my own insertions. They have no bearing on the original text other than they emphasise relevance to the topic at hand. These are merely illustrations and have solely been utilised for educational and explanatory purposes.

[6] Ibid., Volume 4, Page 1417

 

 

 

Joseph Islam

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