Islamic Diet
Question :-
What is Islamic diet? I understand that the food of Jews and Christians allowed to Muslims. Why, then, can't they pig meat?
Answer:-
The Quran tells us that the diet of the people of the book, Jews and Christians, is lawful for Muslims. Originally, of course, the Jews and Christians ate food according to the laws in the Old Testament. But if they depart from their religion then they are not strictly the People of the Book. Or the food they eat which is outside the law cannot be halal.
On the other hand, if something has not been killed in a halal way, is it not also possible that a Muslim can mention the name of Allah over the meat and make it halal?
To this an objection has been raised:- During the time of the Prophet the Christians and the Jews were considered mushrikeen because they had also deviated from the original teachings of their scriptures. However, Allah still revealed these verses and made the food of ahl ul-kitaab halaal for us and ours for them. In order to make something haraam you have to bring sufficient daleel - from the Quran and the Sunnah. But in the above there is none.
Comment:-
Firstly, it is not true that all were regarded mushrikeen:-
"They are not all alike. Of the people of the Book there is an upright community, reciting the revelations of Allah throughout the night, falling prostrate (in Surrender). They believe in Allah, and in the last day, and bid intelligent (or right) conduct, and forbid what is stupid (or wrong), and vie with one another in good works; these are among the righteous." 3:113-114
Secondly, even if they were all mushrikeen, it does not follow that the dietary habits of these were halal for Muslims. It is the food of the People of Book which was halal not those who had departed from the Book.
Here is what the Quran tells us:-
"O ye folk! Eat of what is in the earth, things lawful and things good, and follow not the footsteps of Satan, verily, to you he is an open foe." 2:168
"O ye who do believe! Eat of the good things wherewith We have provided you, and give thanks unto Allah if it be Him ye serve. He has only forbidden for you what is dead, and blood, and flesh of swine, and whatsoever has been consecrated to other than Allah; but he who is forced by necessity, neither revolting nor transgressing, it is no sin for him; for verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving and Most Merciful." 2:172-173
"Forbidden to you (for food) is that which dies of itself, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that which is devoted to other than Allah, and that which has died by strangling, or by violence, or by a fall, or by goring, and which has been eaten by wild animals - except what ye slaughter correctly - and what is sacrificed to idols. And (forbidden) is the dividing (raffling) of carcasses by arrows (i.e. by games of chance). This is an abomination. This day are the disbelievers in despair of harming your religion; fear them not, but fear Me .......... But he who is forced by hunger, not inclined willfully to sin, verily, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. They will ask thee what is lawful for them? Say: Lawful for you are all good things. And what ye have trained hunting animals to catch, in the manner directed by Allah;- so eat of what they catch for you, but mention the name of Allah over it, and fear Allah, for verily, Allah is swift in taking account. This day all things good and pure are made lawful for you. The food of those to whom the Book has been given is lawful for you, and your food is lawful for them;...." 5:3-5
"Consume then of that over which Allah's name has been pronounced, if ye believe in His signs (or revelations). Why should you not eat from that over which Allah's name has been pronounced, when He has detailed unto you what is unlawful for you, unless ye are compelled. But, verily, many are lead astray (or will lead you astray) by their lusts (or fancies, prejudices) through ignorance. Verily, thy Lord knows best the transgressors. Forsake the outer and inner (and the open and secret) sin, verily, those who earn sin shall be recompensed for what they have earned. But consume not of that over which the name of Allah has not been pronounced, for, verily, it is an abomination. Verily, the devils inspire their friends to dispute with you. But if ye obey them, then ye will be, indeed, idolaters. " 6:119-122
Even if the meat has not been killed by us, we are required to mention the name of Allah over the food we eat to make it halal.
"Eat, then, from what Allah has provided you, things lawful and good, and give thanks for the favours of Allah, if it be Him ye serve. He has only forbidden you carrion, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that which is devoted to other than Allah; but he who is driven thereto (forced by necessity), neither craving nor transgressing due limits, then verily, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. And say not of what your own tongues pronounce, the lie "This is lawful, and this is unlawful," inventing against Allah a lie; verily, those who invent against Allah a lie shall not prosper. " 16:114-116
The difference between the diet of Muslims and those of Jews is indicated in the following:-
"And of camels two, and cows two; say: Are the two males unlawful, or the two females, or what the wombs of the two females contain? Were ye witnesses when Allah ordained for you this? - Then who is more unjust than he who devises a lie against Allah, to lead men astray without knowledge? Verily, Allah guides not the unjust people. Say: I cannot find, in what I am inspired with, anything unlawful for the eater to eat thereof, except it be carrion, or shed blood, or the flesh of swine - for that is foul - or an abomination that is consecrated to other than Allah. But he who is forced, not willfully nor transgressing - then, verily, thy Lord is Forgiving and Merciful. To those who were Jews did We prohibit everything that hath a solid (undivided) hoof; and of oxen and sheep did We prohibit to them the fat, save what the backs of both do bear, or their entrails, or what is mixed with bone; this in recompense for their rebellion, for, verily, We are true." 6:145-147
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