Understanding the food laws (pronouncing God's name). *Need an answer urgently*
-
Peace glorytothegracious,
Remember God before you eat.
You shall eat from that upon which GOD's name has been pronounced, if you truly believe in His revelations.
Why should you not eat from that upon which GOD's name has been mentioned? He has detailed for you what is prohibited for you, unless you are forced. Indeed, many people mislead others with their personal opinions, without knowledge. Your Lord is fully aware of the transgressors.
Do not eat from that upon which the name of GOD has not been mentioned, for it is an abomination. The devils inspire their allies to argue with you; if you obey them, you will be idol worshipers.
Say, " I do not find in the revelations given to me any food that is prohibited for any eater except (1) carrion, (2) running blood, (3) the meat of pigs, for it is contaminated, and (4) the meat of animals blasphemously dedicated to other than God." If one is forced (to eat these), without being deliberate or malicious, then your Lord is Forgiver, Most Merciful. (6145)
Prohibited for you are animals that die of themselves, blood, the meat of pigs, and animals dedicated to other than GOD. (Animals that die of themselves include those) strangled, struck with an object, fallen from a height, gored, attacked by a wild animal?unless you save your animal before it dies?and animals sacrificed on altars. Also prohibited is dividing the meat through a game of chance; this is an abomination. Today, the disbelievers have given up concerning (the eradication of) your religion; do not fear them and fear Me instead. Today, I have completed your religion, perfected My blessing upon you, and I have decreed Submission as the religion for you. If one is forced by famine (to eat prohibited food), without being deliberately sinful, then GOD is Forgiver, Merciful
They consult you concerning what is lawful for them; say, "Lawful for you are all good things, including what trained dogs and falcons catch for you." You train them according to God's teachings. You may eat what they catch for you, and mention God's name thereupon. You shall observe God. God is most efficient in reckoning. (54)
The animal offerings are among the rites decreed by God for your own good. You shall mention God's name on them while they are standing in line. Once they are offered for sacrifice, you shall eat therefrom and feed the poor and the needy. This is why we subdued them for you, that you may show your appreciation. (2236)
I hope these ayats are helpful,
Enjoy the company of your father!
Peace Thank you, 2236 is definitely what I overlooked, I must have focused just on the mentioning God's name part and the slaughtering part without giving a full read at the entire verse.... thus causing this state I was in.
Just another question, also directed to Reee,
The command not to eat what is dedicated to other than God/slaughtered on altars (I assume the 'slaughtered on altars' is an explanation of what is dedicated to other than God just as the examples listed for what is found already dead), how do you know if the meat you are eating has been dedicated to other than God?
-
To be honest, I am not sure about it, but one possible interpretation (in line with my thoughts I mentioned above) is that "dedicated to other than God" could also mean the meat industry that kills not for the sake of feeding the hungry, but to make the most money, which is not according to God's will (in my opinion).
Anyway, to be sure that the animal is not dedicated to other than God, you woudl have to slaughter with your own hands or let it do someone whom you trust personally.
-
Well now I'm very similarly back to where I was a few hours ago.... urrgahghuh
-
Well now I'm very similarly back to where I was a few hours ago.... urrgahghuh
Have you reflected over that surah 22 is called "Al-Haj" and that verses involving animals are speaking about what to do when making a sacrifice to Allah? It is not everyday food we are talking about.
Other than that the Quran states you mention Allah over the animal you eat as per the verses from surah 6 hawkninetynine provided......popular phrase used is "bismillah". And the only one who can give you "your" bismillah is you. Eventhough the animal you eat has been slaughtered the halal way, how do you know the butcher is pure at heart? Maybe he doesnt believe in what he is doing, maybe he thinks it is stupid to utter bismillah over every darn chicken he chops the head off.............Who knows?
You have to be pragmatic about it, not even prophet Muhammed single handed slaughtered or personally "bismillahd" all the animals before slaughter. The buck stops with you, as long as you have uttered your thanks to Allah for the food you are about to put in your mouth you are in the clear way.
-
Have you reflected over that surah 22 is called "Al-Haj" and that verses involving animals are speaking about what to do when making a sacrifice to Allah? It is not everyday food we are talking about.
Other than that the Quran states you mention Allah over the animal you eat as per the verses from surah 6 hawkninetynine provided......popular phrase used is "bismillah". And the only one who can give you "your" bismillah is you. Eventhough the animal you eat has been slaughtered the halal way, how do you know the butcher is pure at heart? Maybe he doesnt believe in what he is doing, maybe he thinks it is stupid to utter bismillah over every darn chicken he chops the head off.............Who knows?
You have to be pragmatic about it, not even prophet Muhammed single handed slaughtered or personally "bismillahd" all the animals before slaughter. The buck stops with you, as long as you have uttered your thanks to Allah for the food you are about to put in your mouth you are in the clear way.
Yes I misunderstood 2236 and I'm passed that. Where I'm at now is how do you know if the food has been dedicated to other than God? I thought about it for a while, and came to the conclusion that even if you're watching the slaughter happen, the slaughterer could simply dedicate it other than God by thinking it, so we can never be sure, thus I will only not eat it if I know it was dedicated to other than God. But then we go to the prohibition of food being slaughtered on altars. In this situation you actually have to be there to know for sure, I can't see a way out of that and I simply cannot blindly accept that it is 100% lawful when I've read reports that food which was labelled halal were in fact not halal. This is going too far now, where I can't know for sure, unless I see the slaughter, if the animal is strangled, killed by a blow, etc
I very much think that I have looked too far into this, but I don't want to simply ignore it and go back to where I was where I would just not eat the food I knew 100% that it was killed in an unlawful way. How do I get out of this state I am in?? -
Thoughts are inconsequential.
When an animal is slaughtered in dedication to the base desires of man, that is dedication to other than God. If the animal is slaughtered wholesomely in accordance with the sunnatullah (the way of God) then it is intrinsically in God's name. The sunnatullah means we must slaughter them in a sustainable fashion that preserves the balance of life on Earth (ref ch551-10) and slaughter them with justice, minimal pain and total gratitude to the Source.
Food is food at the end of the day. For example pig can never ever be slaughtered in God's name, so that should lend you a little clue. In any case, say the basmalah when you eat it. These words do certainly have power, when you comprehend the meaning of what you are saying. An empty phrase means nothing but truly appreciating your sustenance will charge the food with a certain kind of rejuvenating energy.
-
Yes I misunderstood 2236 and I'm passed that. Where I'm at now is how do you know if the food has been dedicated to other than God? I thought about it for a while, and came to the conclusion that even if you're watching the slaughter happen, the slaughterer could simply dedicate it other than God by thinking it, so we can never be sure, thus I will only not eat it if I know it was dedicated to other than God. But then we go to the prohibition of food being slaughtered on altars. In this situation you actually have to be there to know for sure, I can't see a way out of that and I simply cannot blindly accept that it is 100% lawful when I've read reports that food which was labelled halal were in fact not halal. This is going too far now, where I can't know for sure, unless I see the slaughter, if the animal is strangled, killed by a blow, etc
I very much think that I have looked too far into this, but I don't want to simply ignore it and go back to where I was where I would just not eat the food I knew 100% that it was killed in an unlawful way. How do I get out of this state I am in??Ah, I see.................
But when was the last time you ate meat that was slaughtered in the name of......oh, I dont know......Odin the viking God? Because that is what the Quran says Say, " I do not find in the revelations given to me any food that is prohibited for any eater except (1) carrion, (2) running blood, (3) the meat of pigs, for it is contaminated, and (4) the meat of animals blasphemously dedicated to other than God
The risk of you eating meat that has been slaughtered in the name of a God other than Allah is quite slim, dont you think?When was the last time you heard of a butcher killing the animals by spear or using blunt force?
The risk there is also very slim, especially if you live in a country that actually has laws against such animal abuse.The food is not haram when it lands on your plate just because nobody has said bismillah. It becomes halal when the words are uttered by you or anyone in your presence before the food lands in your mouth.
The term "halal" food comes from a tradition of ritual slaughter that has no basis in the Quran. It doesnt state the throat has to be slit, it doesnt state the animal must be facing Mecca or that the animal must be fully conscious when the knife goes in. These are all culture traditions, ok? Islamic traditions, granted......but still traditions only.
Many people here including myself see the term halal to mean good, clean and healthy food. This conclusion derives from other verses such as that we should not harm ourselves, eat what is good on this earth, etc...... An animal that has been treated fair and killed in a humane way is more islamic than the ritual slaughter, all according to the message within the Quran. You also have to consider earth as a whole. IMO (based on the spirituality of the Quran) a locally produced meat is more halal than a meat that has been shipped from another continent. We are responsible to create an Ummah in which all are given the opportunity to be respected and liked, and this includes our animals as well. An Ummah based on islam do not treat the animals or environment poorly. In the ritual slaughter there are no such guidance.
-
The reason I still eat "halal" meat from the Pakistani shop because I am not sure about carrion and contamination. I understand your point, Emil, about animal abuse, and I have thought about this already-in fact I agree with everything you have said. I have thought this for a while, but I don't know if the meat was from carrion-I hope that being labelled as "halal", it will not be from carrion, and will also not be contaminated either. There is a part of me that would not want to offend my mum by eating fod which she would not consider to be halal (Emil, is this me subscribing to "parental dictatorship! voodoo I think it is to be honest ) )
-
From my experience "halal" meat and normal organic or free range meat out there are no different. You won't know for sure if it is carrion or not but looking at FSA regulations, animals must be alive and slaughtered correctly. All meats that I have got, whether from a "halal" pakistani shop or sainsburys has some blood on it. Obviously we wash it and cook it which means if there is any blood iyt would have been dried which is fine as running bloof is what is forbidden. We put our trust in the food regulators (though you have horse meat flying around) who make sure animals are healthy and slaughtered correctly . I had "halal" food for a month then realised theres no point. .
peace
-
Glorytothegracious,
We shall not eat bad foods or spoilt foods for if we eat we fall to sickness. The Curer is the One who cures you, though there are self-claimed 'curlers, healers, doctors, specialists etc'. All these words are associations to "The Curer, The Healer, The Speacialisr or The Best". All the Best Names on earth are those what man attributes to himself, while they belong only to Allah. Thus there are many many Names of Allah, attributed to men very plainly such as King, Governor and so on without a prefix 'servant of The King, servant of The Governor, servant of The Honorable, servant of His Highness. Thus if our fear is that we shall not associate partners to Allah with reference to All His Beatiful Names, never qualify and call a man with the best of adjectives, or in other words, equate not these filthy people to His Highness, the Majesty of Allah.
We fall sick after eating bad foods or spoilt foods; after the sickness has set in, it is only The Curer cures removing the evil of the foods. Allah says while I, The Purifier make the foods pure for you, and make them Lawful to you to eat thereof, and why do you not invoke My Names O the Curer, O the Purifier, O the Lawful, O the Forgiver, O the Provider, O the Relenting, O the Knower, O the Truthful. What made you believe the organic or halal shop owners, while I am the Trustworthy, The Mumin.
Allah says nothing shall prevent you from eating before touching every food on your platter while remembering of My Names suitably invoking it where necessary and eat while you fear Me alone without fearing the food or worrying about the source from where they came. Because to do so is sin before Allah. If a food refuses to agree with your digestion, your call is upon O the Rectifier.
What has been made as unlawful foods are clearly prescribed thus the dead, the pouring blood, the meat of swine and those foods upon which other than Allah's Names are pronounced. A day to day example for this is we thank and wish each other for providing food at home feast or a feast hosted in restaurants without giving Thanks to Him, The Most Appreciative and without seeking His Forgiveness and His Mercy for our entire future to come.
Finally to invoke the Names of Allah, remember this. In all your needs are His Names. And remember not to grope for Allah' names.
Salam
-
Beautiful post drfazl.
I like chanting mantras 24/7 in my head.
Breathe in, bismillah
breathe out, alhamdulillah
Right foot forward, bismillah
Left foot forward, alhamdullilahThis particularly opens your awareness to God's guiding of your footsteps. It is pronounced in particular when you are on the road and in danger of death from heavy vehicles. To reach each red light knowing Bismillah and to pass each light knowing Alhamdullilah!
Samad and Ahad... Hayy and Haqq, the names come in beautiful pairs!
112 - Al-Ikhlas (Sincerity)
Sahih International Allah , the Eternal Refuge.Pickthall Allah, the eternally Besought of all!
Yusuf Ali Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;
Shakir Allah is He on Whom all depend.
Muhammad Sarwar God is Absolute.
Mohsin Khan "Allah-us-Samad (The Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, He neither eats nor drinks).
Arberry God, the Everlasting Refuge,
The word Samadhi implies total dissolution into the Self-Sufficient Master who needs not to breathe nor eat nor drink. Samadhi is known as the breathless state, aptly named for one does not need to breathe in this state but merely direct the oxygen already inside the body through where it needs to go.
Samadhi implies Samad-like. It seems that the Arabs and the Hindus share this word from God knows where. So for God to name himself Samad is very interesting, for God to create a state of being of the body. Samadhi is the correct natural state/fitrah of the human body. Abiding in Samadhi (total one pointed absorption), the body does nothing but that which is in accordance with the Tao, the Sunatullah, The Way of Allah As-Samad Al-Ahad The One Clear Light which bestows light to all existence.
Ahad, Samad, breath in, breathe out. 24/7.
Power level <9000
-
I remember when I was in Saudi Arabia, my aunt sent me out to get a chicken. So I went to the local butcher shop. I picked out my chicken. He grabbed it, continued laughing and having a conversation with his coworker, and cut it's head off. I heard no utterances about God. People assume in a country like Saudi Arabia, everything would be "halal". Not true. I prefer praying Fatiha over my food before I eat, expressing and acknowledging my gratitude to God, for providing another meal and I'm ok with that. May God forgive me if I'm wrong but I feel intention is the real purpose, not the technicalities of the ritual.
-
I remember when I was in Saudi Arabia, my aunt sent me out to get a chicken. So I went to the local butcher shop. I picked out my chicken. He grabbed it, continued laughing and having a conversation with his coworker, and cut it's head off. I heard no utterances about God. People assume in a country like Saudi Arabia, everything would be "halal". Not true. I prefer praying Fatiha over my food before I eat, expressing and acknowledging my gratitude to God, for providing another meal and I'm ok with that. May God forgive me if I'm wrong but I feel intention is the real purpose, not the technicalities of the ritual.
Salaam,
Red Do you mean, you recite sura fatiha on food before you eat? hmm
I agree with what you said about Saudi Arabia, I have seen myself butcher cutting chicken while saying bad words to his friend. So, I stopped taking food from them, I do cut them with my own hands when I go to their shop.
May Allah bless you pr
mmKhan -
Salaam,
Red Do you mean, you recite sura fatiha on food before you eat? hmm
I agree with what you said about Saudi Arabia, I have seen myself butcher cutting chicken while saying bad words to his friend. So, I stopped taking food from them, I do cut them with my own hands when I go to their shop.
May Allah bless you pr
mmKhanWaleikum As Salaam brother,
Yes. I meant recite Surah Fatiha. Slaughtering it yourself is the best way of all if you can. Where I live, in the United States, there are too many legal and logistic issues to do that easily.