“يا أيها الناس كلوا مما فى الأرض حلالا طيبا “

“Oh people, eat from whatever is on earth that is lawful and good”

What is Halal?

  • Halal Food

 

We will look at two important topics before we start talking about the food there are allowed and forbidden and the concept of Halal food or food and religions and faiths:

1: The importance of food for the body

2: The connection between the soul and the food

 

1: The important of food for the body

Allah says in chapter 80:24 “Let the human look at his food”, there is no doubt That food I an important yet an essential part of everyone’s life, that without out it, human being would not survive. Food gives the human body energy and nutrition’s that allows him to grow, develop, become healthier and active so he/she could work, play, think and learn and advance as he/she gets older. Such human development will only be possible with food, when a person deprives himself of food that essentially would lead to sickness, Diseases And ultimately death as a result of hunger.

The body needs a variety of these 5 things to have a balanced healthy body: Nutrition’s, protein, Carbohydrate, Fat, Vitamins and minerals So the body could stay healthy and productive, if these are not given to the body in the amount it requires it will cause imbalance in the body.

What we feed our bodies will ultimately manifest itself on our intellect. The food that we eat effects our mood swing, our abilities to think, our activeness and laziness and everything else that is related to our mental state and that’s why it’s said “a healthy mind in a healthy body”[1] , thus the more the body deprival itself of these 5 things the worse the bodies will become and so will the intellect.

From this analysis ,we get to understand how important it is for us to have A specific and healthy diet to eat, and that we cannot eat whatever we desire as it will have catastrophic impact on your meatal health, and that’s why we began with the verse that says let mankind look at what they eating.

Islam As One of the major religions in the world has set the guidelines of what we should and should not eat, based on the harm and benefit that the body will get, and so did other religion set guidelines for their flowers, and not even religions but even what we call dietitians today try to provide a specific health plan or meal plan for people to maintain healthy body.

Thus, by understanding the effects of food and the importance of it, we understand why religions and faiths have emphasized and gave specific directions and guidelines to its followers to follow and uphold.

 

2: The connection between the soul and the food

 

The effects of food Is not only limited to the body but in fact It has a deeper effect on the soul and the spiritual state of a person. This is something that has been talked about, discussed and analyzed by scholars back in the olden days and even doctors today in the medical field. Certain foods give a boost to the spiritual state of a person or Vis versa.

The medical labradorites in our current day has been able to analyze food and break it down to its natural sources and ingredients and Special qualities and its chemical Signature, however when it comes to its Spiritual effect It has not been able to understand or see the link between the two.

We do understand that certain foods if a person eats he becomes happy and other foods he eats it makes him sad and so on and so forth yet such discovery has not been made by Medical science today however prophets And the Infallibles have informed us of How certain foods effect The soul, For example in Islam It tells us that drinking blood makes a person heart becomes hard, less merciful And he wouldn’t even Care If he ends up killing one of his own kids, Same with the drinking alcohol it has certain traits on the soul, or eating pork for example.

We see the link between the two and we can feel it but it’s not something that we can put under the microscope, we will only know that because such knowledge is considered to be from the god which God has revealed to us through his messengers.

Therefore, god when sending his messengers, he gave them specific teachings in regards to food and what can and cannot be consume, and even religion that don’t have prophets we still see that they have strict food guide, and that what we will discusses in the second lesson.

  • FOOD AND RELIGION

Food behaviors are influenced by economic and cultural factors as much as religious conceptions

In the four Major Abrahamic religions, God has prescribed certain foods that people cannot eat and Indulge In, some of which Has been laid down by the creator himself and some has been made by the followers of these religions, so let us look at them one by one and see what kind of limitations on food Has been placed in these religions starting with Judaism.

Judaism/Hebrew

Perhaps the most distinctive aspect of Jewish practice is the special diet. The food Jewish people are permitted to eat is known as, “Kashrut” which comes from the Hebrew root Kaf-Shin-Reish, meaning fit, proper or correct. It is the same root as the more commonly known word “kosher,” which describes food that meets these standards. (Which means “fitting” or “correct”)? The Kashrut Laws cover the type of animals a Jew can eat; how they are prepared; the prohibition of consuming blood and certain forbidden fats and sinews; the prohibition of consuming flies and insects, the mixing of meat and milk and many other aspects of diet and food preparation.

Christianity

Christianity did not develop elaborate dietary rules and customs. This probably grew out of the controversy between the Judaizing and Hellenizing branches of the church during the earliest years of Christianity over whether or not to observe Mosaic food laws.

Islam

Islamic jurisprudence specifies which foods are halāl (حَلَال “lawful”) and which are harām (حَرَامْ “unlawful”). This is derived from commandments found in the Qur’an, the holy book of Islam, as well as the Hadith.

Rulings of Foods and Drinks (Arabic:باب الأطعمه و الأشربه) is a title of a chapter in jurisprudential sources. The chapter deals with the rulings about foods and drinks. However, various rulings about foods and drink are discussed peripherally in other chapters such as hunting and slaughteringtahara (purification), hajj and transactions.

Halal is an Arabic word meaning lawful or permitted. In reference to food, it is the dietary standard, as prescribed in the Qur’an. The opposite of halal is haram, which means unlawful or prohibited. In general, every food is considered halal in Islam unless it is specially prohibited by the Qur’an or the Hadith.

 

Foods

In Islamic jurisprudential sources, foods are generally divided into two groups: foods that are obtained from animals, foods that are not obtained from animals.

1- Animals: Explanation of rulings about the foods that are obtained from animals requires categorizing and knowing the religiously edible and religiously non-edible animals (eating whose meat is forbidden). Animals are divided into three categories:

Land animals: Those are divided into two kinds:

1- Domestic animals

2- Wild animals: Those are divided into two according to their food:

1-Herbivorous animals

2-Animals that have canine teeth and are considered as carnivorous

Marine animals: According to some Islamic sects there is no need to subdividing this category; however, in Imamiyya  jurisprudence they are divided into: fish and non-fish; and fish are divided into: scaly and non-scaly, each of which has a specific ruling.

Birds: Birds are divided into: birds with claws and birds without claws.

  1. b) Non-animals: Foods that are not obtained from animals are mostly plants. However, other subjects such as dirt and nijasatare discussed in this section; although the rulings about such a things are discussed under two broader topics: “non-edible things” and “Khaba’ith” (the impure).

Some prohibited foods and drinks are specifically mentioned in the Qur’an, such as: mayta (carcass), blood, and pork. Prophet Muhammad (s) added some other things to the prohibited foods and drinks.

Why Halal food?

Once man had been created, God created sustenance for him as well. Just as the food contributes to growth and strength of a man’s body, it also influences his mind and soul considerably. Hence, God – the Wise, has forbidden people from eating certain foods so as not to negatively affect our souls.

While modern scientists have not yet discovered the negative effects of impermissible foods on people’s minds and souls, there are scientific findings, which confirm the harmful effects of impermissible foods on physical health. This provides some evidence for the miracle of the Holy Quran. In these paper impermissible foods mentioned in the Quranic chapters’ al-Baqarah and al-Maidah have been discussed.

 

 

The importance of obeying Allah

Obedience means to submit to the orders and commands of someone’s as well as to comply with rules and regulations, and religiously its abiding to and by the orders of Allah and avoiding his prohibitions.

From a young age we learn to be obedient to our parents our elderly based on the fact that we know that they know better than us and that a very logical statement that everyone’s understand, and as we progress in life, we start to become obedient to more people based on their profession and knowledge i.e. doctors and engineers and so on for merely the fact that they know better than us.

When to comes to Allah the creator we need to submit to him fully without any disagreement as he knows what’s good and bad for us, as stated in the holy Quran “And Allah extracted you from the wombs of your mothers not knowing a thing”[1], thus its only logical we turn to him when it comes to our affairs and ask him for guidance and follow his laws.

When Allah declares a law whether its allowed or forbidden its always done on the bases of benefit and harm. When Allah for examples forbids us from consuming a certain food its only because its harmful for us and since only, he knows the harm then its only logical we obey him, same when he allows me to consume a certain product due to the fact, he knows the benefit in it.

With the advances in science, scientists have proven that all the regulations and orders given to us in regards to slaughtering animas for the meat we eat, for example, is the best way for our health. The ban on drinking alcohol has its benefits on our health, especially the liver. There are hundreds of examples and we are still discovering medical and psychological benefits of so many things we are asked to do as Muslims.

Our lives are determined by our choices; the best of these choices is the choice to obey Allah. When we submit to Allah, we are not going to have our rights abused; we are not going to lose out in any.

By obeying and submitting to Allah, we stand to gain in ways that we will not expect nor foresee and the most important thing is to realize that the greatest success is to be granted Allah’s blessings in all aspects and throughout our lives.

[1] 16:78

We might assume that obedience is limited to humans only however Allah praise be to him tells us that everything around us is obedient to him and as an example to that, his saying “Then he directed himself to the heaven while it was in the state of smoke and said it and to the earth come willingly or by compulsion, they said we have come willingly”[1] and also said “And to him submitted all those within the heavens and earth willingly and by compulsion and to him they will return”[2] and also said “And to Allah prostrate whoever is within the heavens and earth willingly or by compulsion”[3].

From this verse and others, we get to understand that the concept of obedience applies to all the creation and creatures of Allah and that’s only because they know that Allah knows what’s best for them. And this love originated out of love for him rather than compulsion.

Furthermore abidance to Allah is a sing of love for Allah praise be to him, and the lover always shows and manifest his love to the one he loves by submitting to his will and following his orders, as the holy Quran states “Say if you love Allah then follow me, Allah will love and forgive your sin”[4]

 

The benefits of being obedient to Allah in the Quran

A quick look into the verses of the holy Quran and the words of the infallibles we get to realizes that our success in this world and in the next is solely based on our obedience to Allah glory be to him, and so is our level of nearness and farness to him, having said that the Quran gave us some benefits of being obedient to Allah amongst of which:

  1. Victory and success: Allah say’s “And whoever obeys Allah and his messenger has certainly attained great victory”[5], and also said: “The only statement of the believers when they are called to Allah and his messenger to judge between them is that they say “we heard and obeyed” and those are the successful”[6] thus we get to understand that the only system that is complete and the is no wrong in it is the system of Allah and whoever follows it will be successful in this world and in the other and will be guided.
  2. Satisfaction of Allah: when people follow Allah and his messenger, he will be happy with them and blessed them with his satisfaction with them, Allah says “certainly Allah was pleased with the believers when they pledged allegiance to you”[7].
  3. Guidance from Allah: Allah associated guidance with obedience and made it a condition to it as without obedience there is no guidance “And if you obey him you will be guided”[8]

Companionship with the prophets and martyrs: amongst the blessing Allah bestows upon those who obey him they will be considered amongst prophets and martyrs in the world and will be resurrected

[1] 41:11  [2] 3:83 [3] 13:15 [4] 3:31  [5] 33:71 [6] 24:51 [7] 48:18  [8] 24:54

  1. with him in the hereafter “and whosever obeys Allah and his messenger will be with the ones upon whom Allah has bestowed favor of, the prophets, the truthful, the martyrs and the righteous”[1].
  2. Good life: all of us seek to live a happy comfortable life and most of the time we don’t and that’s only because we do not follow the commands and laws of Allah, however if we to change that the result will change accordingly “O you who believe respond to Allah and to the messenger when he calls you to that which gives your life”[2]
  3. Heaven: the ultimate result of being obedient to Allah is eternity in heaven and that’s what we all seek and such a thing will not be achieved except with the obedience of Allah “and whoever obeys Allah and his messenger will be admitted to heavens”[3]and also the same verse was repeated in chapter 48:17.

These are just some of the direct verses that emphasize on the importance of the obedience of Allah, and its effects in this world and the hereafter. It’s also important to realize that Allah will not benefit from our obedience or disobedience it’s always us.

 

Obedience to Allah in the hadith

If we look in the narration of the prophet and the infallibles we see hundreds of narrations that rotate around the obedience of Allah and its importance and consequences.

 

Seeking Halal

When we talk about Halal food, most of the time we neglect or we forget to remember that not only food itself has be Halal but also the source of it.

If we obtain food from Haram money or haram sources food becomes forbidden to eat even though it’s been slaughter Islamic or fit the Islamic rules and regulations.

And that’s why we see the prophet and his pure household always emphasize on the fact that we need to eat Halal food and make sure the source of it is also Halal.

It was narrated that a man came to the prophet and he said “Oh messenger of Allah I love for my supplication to be accepted” and the prophet peace be upon him Said “Purify what you eat and do not enter anything in your stomach that is forbidden”[4]

 

Adherence to obtaining halal earnings

One of the most important Fundamentals Of one’s life Is to seek and obtain Halal means and profits.

[1] 4:69  [2] 8:24  [3] 4:13  [4] Wsail Alshia V7 P145

 

The Holy Profit Said “worship is 70 parts and the best of it seeking that which is Halal”[1] he also said “Toba (Tree in heaven) for he from the believers who earns money without committing A disobedience”[2]

The purity of earnings and money has big effect on the purity of the heart and as we narrated before how it affects the acceptance of supplication thus the prophet said purify what eat and don’t enter anything forbidden in your stomach and you prayers and supplications will be accepted.

 

Effects of Halal earnings

  1. Enlightening of the heart: the holy prophet said “he who eats Halal food for 40 days Allah well Enlighten his heart”[3].
  2. Easiness of crossing the path (Sirat) one day of judgment: the holy prophet said “He who eats from what his hands earn will Cross the path like lightning”[4]
  3. Then reward of Mujahid it in the way of Allah: Imam Musah Al-kathem said “He who seeks sustenance from Halal, so he could sustain himself and his family he is a Mujahid in the way of Allah”[5]
  4. Mercy from Allah: the holy prophet said “He who eats is from his hand Allah will look at him with a merciful look, then he will never punish him”[6]
  5. Obtaining the reward of the prophets: The holy prophet said “he who eats from his hard work will be resurrected on the day of judgment amongst the prophets and will get the reward of the prophets”[7]
  6. Opens the gates of heaven: The holy prophet said “He who eats Halal from his hard work, the doors of heaven will be opened for him, entering from any of it as he wishes”[8]

Avoiding Haram (forbidden) earnings

The holy Quran and the prophet have warned against obtaining money from falsehood, Interest, oppression, and corruption and some of effects are:

  1. Action won’t be accepted: the holy prophet said “He who eats from that which is forbidden Allah will not accept anything from him”[9]
  2. Supplications won’t be answered: the holy prophet said “He who loves for his supplications to be accepted then let his food and earning be Halal”[10]
  3. curse of the Angels: the holy prophet said “when one bite of Haram falls into the stomach of the servant he will be cursed by every angel in the heavens on earth”[11]

 

[1] Alkafi V5 P78  [2] Alkafi V8 P169  [3]   Edt Alssai Wa Najah Almasaei P140  [4] Mustdrak Alwasil V13 P23  [5] Al kafi V5 P93  [6] Mustdrak Alwasil  V13 P24  [7] Same as previous  [8] Same as previous  [9] Edt Alssai Wa Najah Almasaei P140  [10] Edt Alssai Wa Najah Almasaei P128  [11] Bihar Alnwar V63 P314