Article appeared Friday, August 26th, 2016 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (440)

yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

Every day not only do we eat a variety of food, throughout the world there are a variety of
cooking methods or cuisines {1} that can be followed to add choices for breakfast, lunch and/or
dinner. We have a variety of meats, poultry, fish, vegetables and fruits to choose from.
Additionally, in each type of fruit we have numerous varieties. Just as an exercise, can it be
estimated how many varieties of bananas exist in the world? In 2014, it was estimated {2} that
the world has at least 1600 varieties of bananas! There are people {3} who go around the world
sampling food documenting their experiences on radio, television and the Internet. So, where do
all these varieties, palatable and beneficial, come from and why? In the Holy Quran we find the
following Verse.
So eat of the sustenance which Allah has provided for you lawful and good; and be
grateful for the favors of Allah if it is He whom you serve. [16.114]
It is the Creator who has favored/blessed humans with all these varieties so that we derive
pleasure as well as benefit and then turn to Him in gratitude, if we believe and wish to do so. To
understand the nature of the Creator and what He is doing for us, let us consider the following
analogy. Can we run away from the fact that the relationship of food to the body is similar to the
relationship between petrol and the car engine? Consider therefore, in order to provide the
required benefits to the body, are so many varieties of food necessary? Also consider whether
the tongue or taste has any necessary function in this process? Does the car need a variety of
foods or a tongue to derive the requisite benefit from petrol? Given that the Creator has
conceptualized, designed and created the production systems for all types and varieties of
foods, given each food its unique taste and flavor, conceptualized, designed and created the
system of the taste recognition through the tongue and digestive system does He deserve
recognition, adoration, love and gratitude from the humans who are benefitting constantly from
His Wisdom and Love?
Would such a Creator want humans to eat things that are harmful? In the Verse [16.114] He is
asking us to eat things that are lawful and good. How would these two terms apply to food?
Taking both adjectives together good could mean food that is beneficial as opposed to food
that is harmful. Given that human beings find it difficult to resist temptation, would it be a good
idea on the Creators part to make harmful foods unlawful?
O people! Eat of what is on earth lawful and good; and do not follow the footsteps of the
evil one for he is to you an avowed enemy. For he commands you what is evil and
shameful and that you should say of Allah that of which you have no knowledge. [2.168
2.169]
How can the evil one or Satan invite humans to follow his footsteps? Just as Satan convinced
Adam and Eve to eat from the forbidden tree [7.20], he can easily convince humans to eat
unlawful or forbidden food, i.e., food that would bring harm in one way or another. Accepting
Satans logic over the Creators Wisdom to find ways to eat forbidden foods is tantamount to
rejecting faith.
The parable of those who reject faith is as if one were to shout like a goat-herd to things
that listen to nothing but calls and cries; deaf dumb and blind, they are void of wisdom.
[2.171]
When it is said to them, "Follow what Allah has revealed", they say, "Nay! We shall
follow the ways of our fathers." (Allah asks) What? Even though your fathers were
devoid of wisdom and (refused) guidance? [2.170]

What benefit could a Benevolent Creator get by making something unlawful? So, what has the
Creator made unlawful and why?

16.115 He has only forbidden you dead meat and blood and the flesh of swine
and any (other food) over which the name of other than Allah has been invoked;
but if one is forced by necessity without willful disobedience nor transgressing
due limits then Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.
What is the link between blood, dead meat and the flesh of swine? As explained {4} blood
retains, carries and grows bacteria that is harmful. So, if blood remains in the dead body of the
animal the meat becomes contaminated and therefore such meat has been made unlawful or
haram. The halal way of slaughter allows the heart of the animal to continue beating so that all
the blood is pumped out. If the head is completely chopped off at the moment of slaughter, the
connection between the brain and the heart is lost. If the heart immediately stops beating, the
blood stagnates in the veins and arteries (not being pumped out) and contaminates the meat.
Consuming meat contaminated with blood makes humans more vulnerable to infections and
joint pains. On the other hand, the Creator has created fish in such a way that the moment it is
removed from water, its entire blood is redirected to a part called the Epiglottis in its mouth
which turns bright red indicating that the blood is drained. This part should be removed and not
consumed. The flesh of swine contains deadly parasitic worms {5} such as tapeworms,
roundworms, pinworms and hookworms in addition to other toxins, which needless to say are
harmful to human health. Eating things on which a name other than Allah has been pronounced
would be rebelling against Him. The prohibitions are straightforward and clear. However, Satan
invites us in a variety of ways. Therefore,

16.116 But say not false things that your tongues may put forth, "This is lawful
and this is forbidden" so as to ascribe false things to Allah. For those who
ascribe false things to Allah will never prosper.
Allah reminds,
Say, "See all the things Allah has sent down to you for your sustenance? Yet you hold
forbidden some things and (some things) lawful." Ask, "Has Allah indeed permitted you
or do you invent (things) to attribute to Allah?" [10.59]
According to Ibn Kathir, this Verse pertains to any situation when/where one permits what is
forbidden or forbids what is permitted on the basis of ones personal opinion. For example, if
while eating, Allahs name is pronounced over a cooked chicken piece which has retained
contaminated blood, would it make the chicken lawful or Halal?

16.117 (In such falsehood) is but a paltry profit; but they will have a most
grievous Penalty.
The paltry profit is in the momentary taste or convenience, however, we would be dishonoring
the Creators wisdom and thereby demonstrating disbelief.
--------{Notes}:
{1} https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cuisines
{2} https://www.reference.com/food/many-types-fruits-world-ef78fe775fd75a9b
{3} http://regevelya.com/foods-around-the-world/
{4} https://www.quora.com/What-does-the-holy-Quran-say-about-Halal-and-other-food-relatedpractices
{5} http://islam.ru/en/content/story/why-eating-pork-pig-meat-forbidden-islam