Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Merciful
Introduction
Food is the means of nourishment of the human body, and
its effect is reflected on mans behavior and conduct.
Hence, good lawful food has a good effect on the human
being, and evil food has an evil effect. For this reason,
Allah, the Exalted, has commanded His servants to eat
good lawful food, and has forbidden them from eating
what is unlawful. Allah says in this regard, O mankind,
eat from whatever is on earth (that is) lawful and good
[Al-Baqarah: 168], and O you who have believed, eat
from the good (i.e. lawful) things which We have provided
for you and be grateful to Allah if it is indeed Him that
you worship [Al-Baqarah: 172].
Meaning of Food
Linguistically, food is generally everything that can be
eaten or drunk, and all kinds of food are originally lawful
according to the general meaning of Allahs saying, It is
He Who created for you all that which is on earth [AlBaqarah: 29]. Allah, the Exalted, has allowed the
believers to avail themselves of the lawful things as
indicated in His saying, They ask you, (O Muhammad),
what has been made lawful for them. Say, Lawful for you
are all good foods [Al-Maidah: 4].
Lawful and Unlawful
Allah has clarified to His servants what He has forbidden
them to eat or drink, as He says, He has explained in
detail to you what He has forbidden you, excepting that to
which you are compelled [Al-Anam: 119]. Thus, any
kind of food, drink, or clothes that is not prohibited by
Allah or His Messenger (Peace be upon him) is
considered lawful. It is impermissible to prohibit it. That
is because Allah, the Exalted, has defined and explained
to us what is prohibited. Whatever Allah prohibits is well
explained. As it is impermissible to sanction what is
prohibited, it is also impermissible to prohibit what Allah
has decreed as lawful and has not mentioned as
prohibited.
The Rule of Thumb
The rule of thumb in this regard is that any pure and
harmless food is lawful, in contrast to the impure food
3.
4.
All other animals and birds that are not included under the
above mentioned categories are considered lawful
according to the rule stating that any thing is deemed
lawful until proved otherwise. The examples of such
animals are horses, animals of grazing livestock, poultry,
zebras, antelopes, ostriches, rabbits, and other wild
animals. All these animals are considered good food, so
they are included under the meaning of the Quranic verse
in which, Allah, the Exalted, says, ...And makes lawful
for them the good things [Al-Araf: 157].
5.
6.
5.
Eating onion, garlic, and suchlike foods with a bad smell
is detestable, especially when attending mosques, as
illustrated in the hadith in which the Prophet (Peace be
upon him) says, Whoever eats from this plant (i.e.
garlic) should not enter our mosque [Sahih Muslim].
If anyone is compelled by necessity to eat a prohibited
food other than poison food, lest he should perish, it is
deemed lawful for him to eat only the amount that will
support him and keep him alive. The proof of this is
shown in the noble verse in which Allah, the Exalted,
says, But whoever is forced by necessity, neither
desiring it nor transgressing its limit, there is no sin upon
him [Al-Baqarah: 173].
Eating from Others Foods
Also, if anyone is compelled to eat from the food of
others, provide that the owner of such a food does not
face the same circumstances of compulsion; the former
must be offered whatever may keep him alive in return for
paying the price of the food. Furthermore, ShaykhulIslam Ibn Taymiyah says, If the person in need of the
food is poor, then he does not have to pay compensation
in return for food, for feeding the hungry and clothing the
naked is a collective duty, and it becomes an individual
duty on the person other than whom no one can undertake
such a duty [Al-Ikhtiyarat 465].
Moreover, if someone is compelled to use the properties
of others without consuming such property, like using
clothes to protect the body from coldness, a rope or a
bucket to obtain water, or a cooking pot, he must be given
such a thing at no cost, provided that the owner is not in
need of them. This is because Allah, the Almighty, has
dispraised withholding such things from the poor in the
Quran. He says, And withhold simple assistance [AlMaun: 7].
A person passing by a garden is allowed to eat from its
fruits provided that the following conditions are fulfilled:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Foods in Islam
Sisters Only Monthly Events
Brought To You By:
Sisters For Sisters