Knowledge and Practice of diet in ISLAM

Halal and Haram: The Islamic Dietary Laws.

“There are two favors that many people are prejudiced by it: The health and the leisure.” [Bukhari]

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Islam prescribes a set of dietary guidelines for its believers to follow: In general, Islamic dietary law distinguishes between food and drink that are allowed (halal) and those that are prohibited (haram). These rules serve to bond followers together as part of a cohesive group and, according to some scholars, they also serve to establish a unique Islamic identity. For Muslims, the dietary rules of allowed and forbidden foods are fairly straightforward to follow. The rules for how allowed food animals are killed are more complicated.

 Muslims eat halal (lawful) foods, which include fruit,  and eggs. Any meat and meat products they consume must be from a halal slaughtered animal. Milk and dairy foods are halal, cheese may be halal depending on ingredients. There are concerns that not all meat sold as halal actually is, so careful sourcing is important.

Haram (prohibited) foods include pork, crustaceans, blood, non-halal animal-derived additives such as gelatin or , alcohol and any foods containing alcohol as an ingredient.

✅Halal: Food and Drink that Are Allowed.

Muslims are allowed to eat what is "good" (Quran 2:168)—that is, food and drink identified as pure, clean, wholesome, nourishing and pleasing to the taste. In general, everything is allowed (halal) except what has been specifically forbidden. Under certain circumstances, even prohibited food and drink can be consumed without the consumption being considered a sin. For Islam, a "law of necessity" allows for prohibited acts to occur if no viable alternative exists. For example, in an instance of possible starvation, it would be considered non-sinful to consume otherwise forbidden food or drink if no halal were available. 

🚫❌Haram: Forbidden Food and Drinks

Muslims are enjoined by their religion to abstain from eating certain foods. This is said to be in the interest of health and cleanliness, and in obedience to the Allah's rules. In the Quran (2:173, 5:3, 5:90-91, 6:145, 16:115), the following foods and drinks are strictly prohibited (haram):

👉Dead meat (i.e. the carcass of an already-dead animal—one that was not slaughtered by the proper method).

👉Blood.

👉The flesh of swine (pork).

👉Intoxicating drinks. For observant Muslims, this even includes sauces or food-preparation liquids that might include alcohol, such as soy sauce. 

👉The meat of an animal that has been sacrificed to idols.

👉The meat of an animal that died from electrocution, strangulation or blunt force.

👉Meat from which wild animals have already eaten.

🐑🐐Correct Slaughtering of Animals🐐🐏👇

In Islam, much attention is given to the manner in which animals' lives are taken in order to provide food, because in the Islamic tradition, life is sacred and one must kill only with God's permission, to meet one's lawful need for food.

Muslims slaughter🔪 their livestock by slitting the animal's throat in a swift and merciful manner, reciting "In the name of God, God is Most Great" (Quran 6:118–121). The animal should not suffer in any way, and should not see the blade before slaughter. The knife must be razor sharp and free from any blood of a previous slaughter. All of the animal's blood must be drained before consumption. Meat prepared in this manner is called zabihah, or simply, halal meat. 

These rules do not apply to fish🐟 or other aquatic meat 🐟🐠sources, which are all regarded as halal.

The Qur'an states:

"Oh you who believe! Eat of the good things that we have provided for you, and be thankful to Allah if it is he alone you worship. Indeed, what He has forbidden to you is the flesh of dead animals and blood and the flesh of swine, and that, which has been sacrificed to anyone other than Allah. But if one is compelled by necessity, neither craving nor transgressing, there is no sin on him; indeed, Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

 Halal, that which is permitted, is good for us and we should partake of halal foods. The milk group is a halal group of foods. Milk, cheese, yogurt and butter can all be eaten. Fruits and vegetables are also considered halal unless they are known to be poisonous.

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Vegetables may be pickled in brine or vinegar, but it cannot be fermented as ft gives an alcohol content to the food and this is not permitted. Cereals axe also considered halal. All grains and bread products are considered -edible. The meat group falls into two categories, halal and haram depending on the type of meat and how it was handled. Amongst the halal or permitted meats are fish and anything taken from the sea, unless it is poisonous. The only land animal mentioned specifically by name to be prohibited is the pig. 

 the Qur'an it states:

"Oh mankind! Eat of what is permissible and good on the earth, and do not follow in the footsteps of satan; truly; he is an open adversary to you." (2:168)

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Although swine are the only animal mentioned specifically in the Qur'an that is forbidden to eat, there are other meats that are considered haram as well. Among these are animals that were not slaughtered correctly. Animals that have been killed in the following way may not be eaten by Muslims:

1. Strangulation - Any animal that has been killed by garroting or by suffocation my not be consumed.

2. Falling - Any animal that dies as a result of a fall into a gully or ravine may not be eaten.

3. Beating - Any animal that has been beaten to death by a blunt instrument may not be consumed.

4. Found Dead - Any animal already found dead may not be eaten.

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Alcohol and drugs for recreational and not medical purposes are considered forbidden, or haram. In the Qur'an it states:

"You who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, idols and raffles are only a filthy work of satan, turn aside from them so that you may prosper. Satan only wants to stir up enmity and jealousy among you by means of intoxicants and gambling, and to hinder you from remembering God, and from praying; so will you not abstain?"(5: 90 - 91)

following reasons to be amongst that Muslims shun the consumption of alcohol.

🚫Alcohol is considered to be an abominatio

🚫Alcohol is Part of Satan's handiwork

🚫Drinking alcohol generates enmity and hatred among people.

🚫Alcohol prevents people from remembering God.

Alcohol prevents and/or delays Muslims from performing their daily prayers. Even if they pray they will not understand the meaning and significance of what they are doing and saying.

🚫Those who drink will be denied paradise.

Those who drink alcohol are considered by Islam to be similar to those who worship idols, which is totally prohibited in Islam.

When a person drinks alcohol he is not considered to be a believer.

🚫Alcohol is the mother of all evils in society.

Muslims believe that the prophets of God did not taste alcoholic beverages and that alcohol was prohibited in the original scriptures of divinely revealed religions.Alcoholic beverages have some benefits, but sin and harm resulting from their consumption are far greater than their benefits.

🚫Alcohol brings God's (Allah's) curse down on those who drink it, as well as those who plant or cultivate its raw materials, produce, sell or deal with it, and those who participate in drinking parties.Alcohol is responsible for a large number of road accidents.

🚫Alcohol is the cause of many broken families.

Under the influence of alcohol, more homicide, rape and other offenses are committed.

🚫Alcohol🥂🍷 in any form is considered wrong and should be avoided, even in medicine. It was said that once the wife of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Umm Salama gave heir daughter some wine when she fell ill. The Prophet (PBUH) became furious with her and told her that God did not create illness so that Muslims could cure themselves with what is haram.

Fasting is required during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, when Muslims must refrain from consuming food, liquids and medication between sunrise and sunset.Some individuals are exempt from fasting, including pregnant, breastfeeding or menstruating women, children under 12 years, older people and chronically or acutely ill people.

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Encourage Muslims to practice the following alternatives to insure that their diet remains halal:

🔴Include vegetables in every meal.Use fruits as deserts instead of cakes or pies.Use fresh juices instead of preserved ones. Fresh juices are better than soft drinks.

🔴Use herbal teas instead of coffee and tea.Fresh foods are better than frozen foods. Frozen foods are better than canned foods. Finally, canned foods are better than dried foods.

🔴Freeze dried foods are high quality foods.

Use raw vegetable oils instead of fats or hydrogenated vegetable oils.

🔴Pressure cooking method is better than normal cooking.

The use of the microwave oven is nutritionally a very good method.

🔴Look for spring water, mountain natural water, and even hard water instead of soft water.

Whenever possible, uses honey instead of sugar and use brown instead of white sugar.

🔴Use whole cereal grains instead of refined ones.Use brown breads instead of white.Use whole flour instead of bleached.Use brown rice instead of polished (white) rice.

🔴Look for "zabiha" meat and zabiha products in all foods.Use plant jello and pectin and not animal ones.Use microbial yeast instead of brewer's yeast.

🔴Look for microbial renin or rennet or plant enzymes instead of animal ones.

🔴Look for natural flavorings, colorings and preservatives instead of synthetic ones.

 If Muslims pay attention to the type of food that they put into their bodies, they will insure that they lead healthy fives. 

Great reminders, these habits are scientifically backed to be of allot of benefits. Amazing to see that it’s the Sunnah of the prophet as well.

Jazak Allah  khair

Imad Hussain  and sharja Siddiqui 

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