سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 173
إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْمَيْتَةَ وَٱلدَّمَ وَلَحْمَ ٱلْخِنزِيرِ وَمَآ أُهِلَّ بِهِۦ لِغَيْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ فَمَنِ ٱضْطُرَّ غَيْرَ بَاغٍ وَلَا عَادٍ فَلَآ إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿173﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
He has forbidden you only the Maitah (dead animals), and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that which is slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allâh (or has been slaughtered for idols, on which Allâh’s Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering). But if one is forced by necessity without wilful disobedience nor transgressing due limits, then there is no sin on him. Truly, Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
إِنَّمَا
innamā
Only
حَرَّمَ
ḥarrama
He has forbidden
عَلَيْكُمُ
ʿalaykumu
to you
ٱلْمَيْتَةَ
l-maytata
the dead animals
وَٱلدَّمَ
wal-dama
and [the] blood
وَلَحْمَ
walaḥma
and flesh
ٱلْخِنزِيرِ
l-khinzīri
(of) swine
وَمَآ
wamā
and what
أُهِلَّ
uhilla
has been dedicated
بِهِۦ
bihi
[with it]
لِغَيْرِ
lighayri
to other than
ٱللَّهِ ۖ
l-lahi
Allah
فَمَنِ
famani
So whoever
ٱضْطُرَّ
uḍ'ṭurra
(is) forced by necessity
غَيْرَ
ghayra
without
بَاغٍۢ
bāghin
(being) disobedient
وَلَا
walā
and not
عَادٍۢ
ʿādin
transgressor
فَلَآ
falā
then no
إِثْمَ
ith'ma
sin
عَلَيْهِ ۚ
ʿalayhi
on him
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
غَفُورٌۭ
ghafūrun
(is) Oft-Forgiving
رَّحِيمٌ
raḥīmun
Most Merciful
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
173. He has only forbidden you carrion, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah [215]. But whoever is compelled by necessity—neither desiring it nor transgressing the limit [216]—there is no sin upon him. Surely, Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.
[215]
The Things Forbidden by Allah:
In this verse, four things are mentioned:
1. Carrion, regardless of how it died—whether by natural death, by falling somewhere, by being struck with a stick, by being gored with a horn, or by being killed by a beast of prey—in all cases, it is forbidden.
2. The blood that flows out from the veins at the time of slaughter, and there is no harm in the blood that remains attached to the meat. Also, it is mentioned in the hadith that two dead things are lawful, i.e., fish and locust, and two types of blood are lawful: liver and spleen, which are actually congealed blood. [احمد، بحواله مشكوٰة كتاب الصيد والذبائح باب مايحل اكله ما يحرم فصل ثاني]
3. Swine or pig, which is inherently impure. Not only is eating its flesh forbidden, but it is not permissible to benefit from any part of it, whether alive or dead.
4. Anything that is dedicated in the name of anyone other than Allah. It is generally understood that only that animal is forbidden upon which, at the time of slaughter, the name of someone other than Allah is taken. This concept is completely wrong, because in the words of the Quran, neither is there mention of an animal nor of slaughter, rather the word "ma" is general. Therefore, its meaning will be that anything that is dedicated in the name of a saint or deity to seek their nearness—like the offerings for Imam Ja'far, the dish for Bibi, the goat for the spiritual guide, etc.—all these things are forbidden. And if it is an animal for slaughter, then even if the name of Allah is taken at the time of slaughter, it will still remain forbidden. In fact, even having the intention for someone else makes it forbidden, because the sacrifice or offering of things granted by Allah should be only in His name. No one else should be associated in this.
However, if a person gives some charity or makes a sacrifice and intends that its reward reaches his deceased parents or a certain relative or spiritual guide, then there is no harm in this; it is a good deed, which is proven from the Sunnah.
[216]
Conditions for the Permissibility of Forbidden Things in Compulsion:
In this verse, Allah Almighty has stated three conditions for using forbidden things:
1. He faces the danger of death due to hunger or illness, and there is no substitute for the forbidden thing.
2. He should not be a rebel against Allah or a lawbreaker, i.e., he should consume the thing considering it forbidden, not lawful.
3. He should eat only as much as is necessary to save his lifeuntil a substitute becomes available.
Then, if he mistakenly eats a little more, Allah Almighty will forgive him. And this mistake can be related to the risk of death or to the quantity of food.
[215]
The Things Forbidden by Allah:
In this verse, four things are mentioned:
1. Carrion, regardless of how it died—whether by natural death, by falling somewhere, by being struck with a stick, by being gored with a horn, or by being killed by a beast of prey—in all cases, it is forbidden.
2. The blood that flows out from the veins at the time of slaughter, and there is no harm in the blood that remains attached to the meat. Also, it is mentioned in the hadith that two dead things are lawful, i.e., fish and locust, and two types of blood are lawful: liver and spleen, which are actually congealed blood. [احمد، بحواله مشكوٰة كتاب الصيد والذبائح باب مايحل اكله ما يحرم فصل ثاني]
3. Swine or pig, which is inherently impure. Not only is eating its flesh forbidden, but it is not permissible to benefit from any part of it, whether alive or dead.
4. Anything that is dedicated in the name of anyone other than Allah. It is generally understood that only that animal is forbidden upon which, at the time of slaughter, the name of someone other than Allah is taken. This concept is completely wrong, because in the words of the Quran, neither is there mention of an animal nor of slaughter, rather the word "ma" is general. Therefore, its meaning will be that anything that is dedicated in the name of a saint or deity to seek their nearness—like the offerings for Imam Ja'far, the dish for Bibi, the goat for the spiritual guide, etc.—all these things are forbidden. And if it is an animal for slaughter, then even if the name of Allah is taken at the time of slaughter, it will still remain forbidden. In fact, even having the intention for someone else makes it forbidden, because the sacrifice or offering of things granted by Allah should be only in His name. No one else should be associated in this.
However, if a person gives some charity or makes a sacrifice and intends that its reward reaches his deceased parents or a certain relative or spiritual guide, then there is no harm in this; it is a good deed, which is proven from the Sunnah.
[216]
Conditions for the Permissibility of Forbidden Things in Compulsion:
In this verse, Allah Almighty has stated three conditions for using forbidden things:
1. He faces the danger of death due to hunger or illness, and there is no substitute for the forbidden thing.
2. He should not be a rebel against Allah or a lawbreaker, i.e., he should consume the thing considering it forbidden, not lawful.
3. He should eat only as much as is necessary to save his lifeuntil a substitute becomes available.
Then, if he mistakenly eats a little more, Allah Almighty will forgive him. And this mistake can be related to the risk of death or to the quantity of food.
