Source: Fiqhi Ahkam o Masail in the Light of Quran and Hadith, Rules of Eating: Volume 02: Page 446
All praise is due to Allah, and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed!
Food is a basic necessity of the human body, and the effects of this food are also prominently reflected in a person's morals and character. Pure and good food produces good effects on a person, whereas inferior and forbidden food shows bad effects. Therefore, Allah Almighty has commanded His believing servants to eat pure and clean things and has forbidden them from eating filth, that is, forbidden and impure things.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿يـٰأَيُّهَا النّاسُ كُلوا مِمّا فِى الأَرضِ حَلـٰلًا طَيِّبًا...﴿١٦٨﴾... سورة البقرة
"O mankind! Eat from whatever is lawful and pure on the earth."
Reference: Al-Baqarah: 2/168.
Also, Allah Almighty says:
﴿يـٰأَيُّهَا الَّذينَ ءامَنوا كُلوا مِن طَيِّبـٰتِ ما رَزَقنـٰكُم وَاشكُروا لِلَّهِ إِن كُنتُم إِيّاهُ تَعبُدونَ ﴿١٧٢﴾... سورة البقرة
"O you who have believed! Eat from the good things We have provided for you and be grateful to Allah, if it is [indeed] Him that you worship."
Reference: Al-Baqarah: 2/172.
And Allah Almighty commands:
﴿يـٰأَيُّهَا الرُّسُلُ كُلوا مِنَ الطَّيِّبـٰتِ وَاعمَلوا صـٰلِحًا ... ﴿٥١﴾... سورة المؤمنون
"O Prophet! Eat from the lawful things and do righteous deeds."
Reference: Al-Mu’minun 23/51.
Further, the command of Allah Almighty is:
﴿قُل مَن حَرَّمَ زينَةَ اللَّهِ الَّتى أَخرَجَ لِعِبادِهِ وَالطَّيِّبـٰتِ مِنَ الرِّزقِ ...﴿٣٢﴾... سورة الاعراف
"Say, who has forbidden the adornment of Allah which He has produced for His servants and the good things of provision?"
Reference: Al-A'raf 7/32.
① Definition of Food (Provision)
Food or provision refers to all items that are used for eating and drinking.
② The Original Ruling on Edible Items is Permissibility
The fundamental and original rule regarding edible items is that they are permissible (halal). Allah Almighty says:
﴿هُوَ الَّذى خَلَقَ لَكُم ما فِى الأَرضِ جَميعًا...﴿٢٩﴾... سورة البقرة
"It is He who created for you all of that which is on the earth."
Reference: Al-Baqarah 2/29.
Besides this verse, there are many texts in the Book and Sunnah that indicate that the original ruling on food is that everything is permissible, except those things which the Shariah has explicitly excluded and declared forbidden.
Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, says: "Allah Almighty has made pure things lawful in the matter of food so that the servant may worship and obey Allah Almighty through the strength obtained from them, and not fall into sin." Then the following command of Allah Almighty is presented:
﴿لَيسَ عَلَى الَّذينَ ءامَنوا وَعَمِلُوا الصّـٰلِحـٰتِ جُناحٌ فيما طَعِموا ...﴿٩٣﴾... سورة المائدة
"There is no sin upon those who believe and do righteous deeds for what they have eaten and consumed."
Reference: Al-Ma'idah: 5/93.
For this reason, it is not permissible to cooperate with a sinful person by providing them with lawful food while they then consume alcohol or commit immorality after eating it. For example, if a person is given meat and bread and then drinks alcohol and indulges in lewdness, such cooperation is not correct.
It should also be remembered that a person who eats pure things but does not thank Allah Almighty is blameworthy. Allah Almighty says:
﴿ثُمَّ لَتُسـَٔلُنَّ يَومَئِذٍ عَنِ النَّعيمِ ﴿٨﴾... سورة التكاثر
"Then on that Day, you will surely be questioned about the blessings."
Reference: At-Takathur 8/102.
Allah Almighty has made pure and clean things permissible so that people may benefit from them. Allah the Exalted says:
﴿يَسـَٔلونَكَ ماذا أُحِلَّ لَهُم قُل أُحِلَّ لَكُمُ الطَّيِّبـٰتُ... ﴿٤﴾... سورةالمائدة
"They ask you what is lawful for them. Say, all pure things are lawful for you."
Reference: Al-Ma'idah: 5/4.
③ Haram things are only those whose prohibition has been stated
Allah Almighty has clarified regarding the foods and drinks that He has forbidden:
﴿وَقَد فَصَّلَ لَكُم ما حَرَّمَ عَلَيكُم إِلّا مَا اضطُرِرتُم إِلَيهِ ...﴿١١٩﴾... سورة الانعام
"Yet Allah has detailed for you what He has forbidden to you, except in cases of necessity."
Reference: Al-An'am: 6/119.
Therefore, whatever has not been declared forbidden is considered lawful. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
"إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَرَضَ فَرَائِضَ فَلاَ تُضَيِّعُوهَا . وَحَرَّمَ حُرُمَاتٍ فَلاَ تَنْتَهِكُوهَا وَحَدَّ حُدُوداً فَلاَ تَعْتَدُوهَاوَسَكَتَ عَنْ أَشْيَاءَ مِنْ غَيْرِ نِسْيَانٍ فَلاَ تَبْحَثُوا عَنْهَا"
"Allah has prescribed duties; do not neglect them. He has forbidden certain things; do not commit them. He has set limits; do not transgress them. As for some matters, He has remained silent without forbidding them; do not investigate them."
Reference: Al-Sunan al-Kubra by Al-Bayhaqi 10/12 and Sunan al-Daraqutni 4/183, Hadith 4350, and the wording is his.
④ It is not permissible to declare something halal as haram without evidence
It is not permissible to declare haram those things related to eating, drinking, and clothing which Allah Almighty or His Messenger ﷺ have not declared haram. Because Allah Almighty has detailed the things that are haram. Therefore, whatever is truly haram will definitely have its prohibition mentioned in the Quran and Hadith.
Just as it is not permissible to consider something haram that Allah has declared haram, similarly, it is not correct to declare something haram about which Allah has remained silent and has not forbidden.
⑤ The basic rule of halal and haram foods
The rule regarding halal and haram in food and drink is that whatever is pure and clean and does not cause harm is permissible, and whatever is impure is haram. For example, carrion, blood, pus, urine, intoxicating substances, hashish (cannabis), and foul-smelling and dirty things, etc.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿حُرِّمَت عَلَيكُمُ المَيتَةُ وَالدَّمُ وَلَحمُ الخِنزيرِ وَما أُهِلَّ لِغَيرِ اللَّهِ بِهِ...﴿٣﴾... سورة المائدة
"Forbidden to you is carrion, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which any name other than Allah's has been invoked..."
Reference: Al-Ma'idah 5/3.
Carrion refers to an animal whose life has ended without being slaughtered according to Islamic law. It is forbidden because it is impure food, and its prohibition is among the benefits and wisdoms of Shariah. However, if a person is in such extreme necessity that their life is at risk, they may eat enough to sustain their life.
Blood refers to the blood that flows out at the time of slaughter. In the era of ignorance, people used to roast and eat clots of congealed blood. But the blood that remains in the meat's cells or veins after slaughter is permissible. Even the blood that gets on the hands or cloth while handling meat or cleaning is neither impure nor forbidden.
Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, says: "The correct view is that the blood that flows rapidly at the time of slaughter is forbidden, whereas the blood that remains in the veins of the meat is not considered forbidden by the scholars."
Reference: Majmoo' al-Fatawa 21/522.
⑥ Ruling on Harmful Substances
Those things that are harmful and damaging are also not halal to eat or drink, such as poison, alcohol, hashish, cigarettes, and tobacco, etc. Allah Almighty says:
﴿وَلا تُلقوا بِأَيديكُم إِلَى التَّهلُكَةِ...﴿١٩٥﴾... سورة البقرة
"And do not throw yourselves into destruction with your own hands."
Reference: Al-Baqarah: 2/195.
From this noble verse, it is understood that everything which harms the body or the mind is forbidden.
⑦ Types of Halal Food
Halal food is basically of two types:
◈ Animals
◈ Plants, such as grains and fruits, etc.
Among plants, those things are permissible which are not harmful.
Animals are also of two types:
◈ Those animals that live on land
◈ Those animals that live in water
Land animals are basically permissible, but some types of them have been declared forbidden by Shariah. Some of these are as follows:
⑧ Some Cases of Forbidden Land Animals
❀ 1. Domesticated Donkey
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him:
"نهى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يوم خيبر عن لحوم الحمر الأهلية ورخص في الخيل"
"The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, forbade eating the meat of domesticated donkeys on the day of Khyber and permitted the eating of horse meat."
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Al-Maghazi, Chapter: Battle of Khyber, Hadith 4219; and Sahih Muslim, Al-Sayd wal-Dhaba'ih, Chapter: Permissibility of Eating Horse Meat, Hadith 1941, wording as such.
Ibn Mundhir, may Allah have mercy on him, states: "There has never been any disagreement among the scholars on this issue."
❀ 2. Predators with Canines
Among land animals, those that are predators with canines and that tear and rip are also forbidden. It is narrated from Abu Thalabah Al-Khashani, may Allah be pleased with him:
"أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ نَهى عَنْ أَكْلِ كُلِّ ذِي نَابٍ مِنْ السِّبَاعِ"
"The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, forbade eating the meat of predators with canines."
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Al-Dhaba'ih wal-Sayd, Chapter: Eating Every Carnivorous Beast with Canines, Hadith 5530; and Sahih Muslim, Al-Sayd wal-Dhaba'ih, Chapter: Prohibition of Every Carnivorous Beast with Canines... Hadith 1932, wording as such.
However, the meat of the hyena is permissible. It is narrated from Sayyiduna Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him:
"أمرنا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بأكل الضبع"
"The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, permitted us to eat the honey badger."
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawood, Al-At'imah, Chapter on Eating the Hyena, Hadith 3801 and Jami' at-Tirmidhi, Hajj, Chapter on What Has Been Related About the Hyena That Affects the Prohibited, Hadith 851.
Allama Ibn Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, has proven its permissibility with evidence. He states: "A predator is forbidden if it has two characteristics: one, that it is a carnivore, and two, that it is counted among predatory beasts, such as the lion, wolf, hyena, and cheetah, etc. The honey badger has only one characteristic, which is being carnivorous, but it is not included among predatory beasts. The reason a predator is forbidden is that it possesses a predatory nature that affects the constitution of the one who eats it. It accepts the same effect as the food it consumes. The predatory nature of the lion, wolf, hyena, and cheetah is not present in the honey badger, so they cannot be placed in the same category. Neither in the language nor in common usage is the honey badger called a predator."
Reference: I'lam al-Muwaqqi'in 2/120.
❀ 3. Birds that hunt with claws
Birds are generally permissible, but those birds that hunt using their claws are forbidden, such as eagles, hawks, and falcons. It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas رضي الله تعالى عنه:
"نهى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عن كل ذي ناب من السباع وعن كل ذي مخلب من الطير"
"The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم forbade eating the meat of predatory animals with talons and birds that catch prey with their claws."
Reference: Sahih Muslim, Al-Sayd wal-Dhaba'i, Chapter on the prohibition of eating every predatory beast with fangs... Hadith 1934.
Imam Ibn Qayyim رحمه الله says: "In this matter, the sayings of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم are found with continuous transmission and all are authentic. The narrations of Hazrat Ali رضي الله تعالى عنه, Ibn Abbas رضي الله تعالى عنه, and Abu Hurairah رضي الله تعالى عنه are well-known regarding this."
Reference: I'lam al-Muwaqqi'in 2/118.
❀ 4. Birds that eat carrion
Those birds that eat carrion are also forbidden, such as hawks, vultures, and crows, because their food is impure and filthy.
❀ 5. Animals considered impure
Those animals that are considered impure are also forbidden, such as snakes, rats, and insects, etc.
Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, says: "Eating snakes and scorpions is forbidden. There is consensus among the scholars on this. Whoever eats them considering them permissible will be commanded to repent. And if someone eats them knowing they are forbidden, then he is a sinner, meaning he is disobedient to Allah Almighty and His Messenger, peace be upon him."
Reference: Majmoo' al-Fatawa 11/609.
❀ 6. Insects and Bugs
Eating insects and bugs is also forbidden because they are considered impure things.
❀ 7. Animals Born from the Union of Halal and Haram Animals
Animals born from the union of one halal and one haram animal are also forbidden to eat. For example, a mule, which is born from the union of a horse and a donkey. Since the nature of the donkey is considered dominant, it is declared haram.
⑨ According to Some Scholars, Six General Categories of Land Animals That Are Forbidden
Some scholars have summarized the six categories of forbidden land animals as follows:
◈ Those animals whose names are mentioned with a prohibition, such as a domesticated donkey.
◈ Those animals that fall under the defined description and criteria, such as a predator that is crushed or a bird that hunts with its talons.
◈ Those animals that eat carrion, such as vultures and crows.
◈ Those animals that are considered impure and detestable, such as rats and snakes.
◈ Those animals born from the mixing of halal and haram, such as a mule.
◈ Those animals about which the Shariah has commanded killing, for example, the five rebellious animals: snake, rat, (biting) dog, scorpion, kite; or those whose killing is prohibited, such as the hoopoe, bat, and frog.
⑩ The ruling on other animals besides the above
Apart from the mentioned animals and birds, all other animals are halal based on the original permissibility, such as the horse, cattle i.e., cow, camel, sheep, goat, chicken, wild donkey, deer, ostrich, and rabbit, etc. The meat of all these is considered pure, clean, and desirable, and therefore they fall under Allah Almighty’s command:
﴿ قُل أُحِلَّ لَكُمُ الطَّيِّبـٰتُ﴾
"Say, all things have been made lawful for you."
Reference: Al-Ma'idah:5/4.
⑪ The Ruling on Jalalah Animals
If the majority of the food of sheep, cows, or camels consists of impure substances, they are excluded from the category of halal animals, meaning their food will be haram. It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him):
"نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ أَكْلِ الْجَلَّالَةِ وَأَلْبَانِهَا"
"The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) forbade eating the meat of animals that eat filth and drinking their milk."
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawood, Al-At'imah, Chapter on Prohibition of Eating Jalalah and Their Milk, Hadith 3785.
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-As (may Allah be pleased with him):
"أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ نَهَى يَوْمَ خَيْبَرَ عَنْ لُحُومِ الْحُمُرِ الْأَهْلِيَّةِ ، وَعَنْ الْجَلَّالَةِ ، وَعَنْ رُكُوبِهَا ، وَعَنْ أَكْلِ لَحْمِهَا"
"...The Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade eating the meat of domesticated donkeys and riding animals that eat filth and eating their meat."
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawood, Al-At'imah, Chapter on Eating the Meat of Domesticated Donkeys, Hadith 3811.
Such animals, whether livestock or poultry, and whether their milk or eggs, all are impure. Such an animal should be tied up for three days and fed only pure and clean food, then their meat or eggs may be eaten.
Allama Ibn Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) says: "There is consensus among Muslims on this issue that when an animal eats impure fodder, it should be tied and fed pure and clean fodder; then its milk and meat will be lawful. Similarly, those fields or fruit trees that are watered with dirty water should be given pure and clean water; then their produce will be lawful because impure things affect pure things."
Reference: I'lam al-Muwaqqi'in 2/15.
⑫ Ruling on Onion, Garlic, etc.
Eating onion, garlic, and similar items that have an unpleasant smell is disliked, especially when intending to come to the mosque, one should avoid these things. Because the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
"مَنْ أَكَلَ مِنْ هَذِهِ الشَّجَرَةِ - يَعْنِي الثُّومَ - ، فَلَا يَقْرَبَنَّ مَسْجِدَنَا"
"Whoever eats from this plant (onion, garlic, etc.) should not come to the mosque."
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Al-Adhan, Chapter on what has been mentioned about the Prophet's sleep and onion and leeks, 853; Sahih Muslim, Prayer, Chapter on the prohibition of eating garlic or onion... Hadith 561, 564. However, in Sahih Bukhari, instead of (Maslana) it is (Masjidana).
⑬ Ruling on Forbidden Things in a State of Necessity
A person who fears for their life may eat forbidden things in a state of necessity to save their life. Allah Almighty says:
﴿فَمَنِ اضطُرَّ غَيرَ باغٍ وَلا عادٍ فَلا إِثمَ عَلَيهِ ...﴿١٧٣﴾... سورة البقرة
"Then whoever is forced by necessity, neither desiring it nor transgressing its limit, there is no sin upon him."
Reference: Al-Baqarah: 2/173.
Similarly, if a person becomes dependent on someone else's food to save their life, and the owner of the food is not himself compelled in that situation, then it is obligatory upon the owner to give that needy person enough food in exchange for its price to save their life.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, says: "If the compelled person is poor, then it is not obligatory for him to pay for the food. Feeding the hungry and clothing the naked is a communal obligation (Fard Kifayah). And when there is no one to feed the hungry or clothe the naked, then this obligation becomes an individual duty (Fard Ayn) upon certain specified people."
Reference: Al-Fatawa al-Kubra al-Ikhtiyarat al-Ilmiyyah al-At'imah 5/548.
⑭ Lending items to a needy Muslim
If a Muslim has more than one such item that he does not currently need, while one of his Muslim brothers is in dire need of using them, and using these items does not reduce or affect them in any way, then the owner should allow his brother to benefit from them without any charge. For example, temporarily giving a sheet or blanket to someone to protect from cold, or providing a rope or bucket to draw water from a well, or giving a utensil for cooking.
If someone does not do this, then he is blameworthy in the sight of Allah Almighty. Allah Almighty says:
﴿وَيَمنَعونَ الماعونَ ﴿٧﴾... سورة الماعون
"And they refuse even small kindnesses."
Reference: Al-Ma'un 7/107.
Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) and Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) say:
"Al-Ma'un are those items which people commonly ask each other to use, such as an axe, a pot, a bucket, etc."
Reference: Tafsir al-Tabari, Tafsir Surah Al-Ma'un and Tafsir Ibn Kathir Al-Ma'un 7/107.
⑮ Eating fruit from a garden while passing by
If a person passes by a fruit garden, they may eat the fruit hanging on the tree or fallen on the ground without paying. There are narrations regarding this from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) and Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him). However, there are some conditions for this:
◈ The fruit should not be inside an enclosure.
◈ There should be no guard over it.
◈ The person should not climb the tree.
◈ The fruit should not be obtained by throwing stones at the tree.
◈ The person should not carry the fruit away with them.
◈ The person should not take from the collected fruit.
However, if there is an extreme necessity, then even in such a case, there is no harm and it is permitted by Shariah.
⑯ The Command of Hospitality
It is obligatory for a Muslim to host a stranger Muslim for one day and one night, provided that he is passing through a village or settlement far from any city. If the matter concerns a city, then hosting is not obligatory, because hotels and similar accommodations are generally available there, whereas such arrangements are not present in villages and settlements.
❀ 1. Proof of the obligation of hospitality
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
"من كان يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر فليكرم ضيفه جائزته قالوا وما جائزته يا رسول الله صلي الله عليه وسلم! قال يومه وليلته "
"Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should host his guest for one day and one night." The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all) asked the Prophet, peace be upon him, "O Messenger of Allah! How much is the guest's gift?" He replied, "One day and one night."
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Al-Adab, Chapter: Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should not harm his neighbor, Hadith 6019. Sahih Muslim, Al-Liqaat, Chapter: Hospitality and the like, Hadith 48 after Hadith 1726, and the wording is his.
This hadith indicates the obligation of hospitality, because it contains the words "من كان يؤمن بالله", and conditioning faith in Allah upon hospitality is proof of its obligation.
This narration is also recorded in the Sahihs:
"إِنْ نَزَلْتُمْ بِقَوْمٍ فَأَمَرُوا لَكُمْ بِمَا يَنْبَغِي لِلضَّيْفِ فَاقْبَلُوا، فَإِنْ لَمْ يَفْعَلُوا فَخُذُوا مِنْهُمْ حَقَّ الضَّيْفِ الَّذِي يَنْبَغِي لَهُمْ"
"If you stay with a people, accept what they offer you as suitable hospitality, and if you do not, then claim the right of hospitality from them yourself."
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Al-Mazalim, Chapter on Qisas of the oppressed if the property of the oppressor is found, Hadith 2461 and Sahih Muslim, Al-Diyafah and similar, Hadith 1727, and the wording is his.
⑰ The Incident of Sayyiduna Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and Hospitality
There is also a famous incident of Sayyiduna Ibrahim (peace be upon him) in this regard, in which it is mentioned that he presented a roasted calf to his guests. This incident is clear evidence that hospitality was also included in the Shariah of Sayyiduna Ibrahim (peace be upon him).
This incident also proves that in serving a guest, more than what is necessary should be presented. This practice is one of the highest virtues of the Abrahamic religion and is counted among noble ethics.
Our religion Islam has not only maintained this practice but has also emphasized it further and encouraged it. Islam, while mentioning ten rights, has also clarified the right of the traveler that they should be hosted. Accordingly, Allah Almighty says:
﴿وَاعبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَلا تُشرِكوا بِهِ شَيـًٔا وَبِالوٰلِدَينِ إِحسـٰنًا وَبِذِى القُربىٰ وَاليَتـٰمىٰ وَالمَسـٰكينِ وَالجارِ ذِى القُربىٰ وَالجارِ الجُنُبِ وَالصّاحِبِ بِالجَنبِ وَابنِ السَّبيلِ وَما مَلَكَت أَيمـٰنُكُم إِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يُحِبُّ مَن كانَ مُختالًا فَخورًا ﴿٣٦﴾... سورةالنساء
"Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and show kindness to parents, and to relatives, orphans, the needy, the near neighbor, the neighbor farther away, the companion at your side, the traveler, and those whom your right hands possess. Indeed, Allah does not like those who are self-deluding and boastful."
Reference: An-Nisa 4/36.
Also, it is stated:
فَـٔاتِ ذَا القُربىٰ حَقَّهُ وَالمِسكينَ وَابنَ السَّبيلِ ...﴿٣٨﴾... سورة الروم
"So give the relative his right, and the poor and the traveler."
Reference: Ar-Rum 30/38.
Furthermore, among the eight categories of Zakat recipients mentioned in Surah At-Tawbah, the traveler is also included.
All praise is due to Allah who has granted us such a perfect religion and a Shariah full of wisdom, which is entirely mercy and compassion.
ھذا ما عندی والله اعلم بالصواب
