Jalees Ahmad, Al Hakam
As the saying goes, you are what you eat, great emphasis is placed on the foods we use to fuel our bodies. What we put into our bodies determines how well they function. If we consume unhealthy foods, we can expect an unhealthy lifestyle to follow. However, if we eat nutritious and wholesome foods, we begin to feel better and perform at our best. (Foods linked to better brainpower, 3 April 2024)
Here, the question remains: how do we know what’s good or bad to eat? What foods do our bodies require to work at their best? Take pork, for example, why is it impermissible to consume? In Islam, pork is haram because the Holy Quran clearly says so. Some also mention health reasons, like how pigs eat anything and can carry diseases. But the main reason we avoid it is because Allah told us not to, and as Muslims, we follow His guidance.
As Muslims, we have a complete code and guide, the concepts of halal and haram, to help us determine what is permissible and what is not. What is haram is not just forbidden, it is harmful; and perhaps that’s exactly why it’s haram in the first place.
What the Holy Quran declares as haram
Dead meat, i.e. al maitah
“Forbidden to you is [the flesh of an animal] which dies of itself” (Surah al-Ma’idah, Ch.5: V.4)
The word to describe dead meat in the Quran is الۡمَیۡتَۃُ. Any animal that dies of itself, without proper Islamic slaughter, is haram.
Dead meat, or carrion, is the flesh of animals that die naturally, without slaughter. It is deemed unhygienic and spiritually impure. Proper Islamic slaughter ensures that the blood of the animal, zabiha, is drained and the animal is treated humanely and made lawful through the name of Allah.
Blood and flesh of swine
Flowing or congealed blood is also forbidden. Further, all parts of the pig are haram, not just the meat.
“Blood and the flesh of swine.” (Surah al-Ma’idah, Ch.5: V.4)
Blood, and that too flowing blood, is considered a medium for impurities and harmful bacteria. The religion of Islam promotes the consumption of clean and healthy meat. Completely draining the blood aids in removing contaminants.
Further, the Holy Quran is clear on the fact that the flesh of swine is forbidden. Pig is considered impure. It’s associated with dirt, disease, and overall spiritual uncleanliness. As Muslims, we are taught how Islam also highlights adherence to divine laws even when full reasons are not always known; in this case, the impurity is stated clearly.
Animals slaughtered in the name of one other than Allah
The matter of halal and haram holds both physical and spiritual significance. For example, slaughtering an animal in Allah’s name reflects gratitude and acknowledgement of His provision. As Muslims, everything we do is done in the name of Allah. Whether it’s praying, feeding others, acting with kindness, or giving charity, it is all for Allah alone. If, when slaughtering, another name is mentioned (like idols or spirits), it becomes shirk, and thus the meat becomes invalid and haram for Muslims to consume.
Forbidden for Muslims is also “that on which is invoked the name of one other than Allah” (Surah al-Ma’idah, Ch.5: V.4)
Strangled, beaten to death, fallen, gored, or partially eaten by wild animals
The Holy Quran, whilst listing forbidden meat states: “and that which has been strangled; and that beaten to death; and that killed by a fall; and that which has been gored to death; and that of which a wild animal has eaten, except that which you have properly slaughtered.” (Surah al-Ma’idah, Ch.5: V.4)
The words used in the Quran to describe these are:
وَالۡمُنۡخَنِقَۃُ وَالۡمَوۡقُوۡذَۃُ وَالۡمُتَرَدِّیَۃُ وَالنَّطِیۡحَۃُ
Munkhaniqah (المنخنقة) meaning: An animal that dies from strangulation (e.g. caught by the neck or suffocated).
Mawquzah (الموقوذة) meaning: An animal that dies after being struck or beaten (e.g. with a blunt object).
Mutaraddiyah (المتردية) meaning: An animal that falls from a height (like off a cliff or roof) and dies from the fall.
Nateehah (النطيحة) meaning: An animal that dies from being gored or butted by another animal (like in a fight).
These four ways of death, mentioned above, are unnatural, often painful, and thus cause suffering. As a result, these methods can lead to the animal being unhealthy and the blood not being properly drained.
Vermin and reptiles
Now arises the question of animals such as snakes, insects, rats, and the like. Although these are generally not considered food, it is worth addressing whether they are lawful to eat in Islam, should the question come to mind.
The Holy Quran states: “and makes lawful for them the good things and forbids them the bad.” Here, such creatures can also be linked to things that are harmful to one’s health or generally considered repulsive. Rats, for example, are known to carry diseases such as the plague. Likewise, snakes carry poison and venom, which pose serious health risks. Therefore, eating such creatures should not even be considered.
Intoxicants
All forms of alcohol and drugs that negatively alter the mind are haram.
“O ye who believe! wine and the game of hazard and idols and divining arrows are only an abomination of Satan’s handiwork. So shun each one of them that you may prosper.” (Surah al-Ma’idah, Ch.5: V.91)
Intoxicants alter the mind and impair judgment. As such, they are a leading cause of sinful behaviour. In Islam, great emphasis is placed on mental clarity, as it is one of the key criteria for forming intentions. Without the right intention, even prayer can become invalid. What clouds the intellect distances a person from remembering Allah and moral action.
This is why alcohol is referred to in Arabic as sakar (سَكَر), which comes from the root word sakara (سَكَرَ), meaning ‘to cover’ or ‘to veil.’ It is so named because it clouds or covers the intellect and the ability to think clearly.
Two matters Hadith states about halal and haram
The Holy Quran outlines the main criteria for what is lawful and unlawful in terms of food. However, not all forbidden foods are mentioned explicitly. The Holy Prophetsa further clarified and expanded on these rulings through his sayings and practices.
1. Animals with fangs
Animals with fangs are typically carnivores and beasts of prey. The Holy Prophetsa forbade the consumption of the meat of such animals. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 5530)
These animals, such as lions, tigers, wolves, etc., are predators and feed on other animals’ blood and corpses. Their nature is fierce, and their meat is neither clean nor wholesome. This is why Islam prefers that Muslims consume herbivores that are tamed and clean.
2. Birds with talons
The Holy Prophetsa forbade the eating of every beast of prey with fangs, and every bird with talons. (Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith 3803)
These birds, for example eagles or owls, are scavengers and predators. Such birds eat dead flesh and are seen as impure and unfit for human consumption.
Exception: In case if necessity
Where the Holy Quran states foods that are unlawful and must not be consumed, Allah has, however, recognised that there must be exceptions in cases of necessity. And thus, Allah states:
“But he who is driven by necessity, being neither disobedient nor exceeding the limit, it shall be no sin for him.” (Surah al-Baqarah, Ch.2: V.173)
This means that if a Muslim is starving and no halal food is available, eating haram becomes permissible to preserve life. However, even in this case God has stated “neither disobedient nor exceeding the limit”. Islam values life and flexibility in times of hardship.
Conclusion
Thus, when analysed through the Islamic lens, it becomes clear why certain things are halal and haram. The primary concern of Shari’a in matters of haram and halal, is to nourish the body in the best possible way, enabling us to maximise its performance. For who better knows what the body requires than its Creator?