Why did Allah Almighty allow for the Muslims to eat from the “People of the Book’s” (Jews and Christians) food?
Mohamad Mostafa Nassar
Twitter:@NassarMohamadMR
There are several possible answers to this question, but the best one I believe lies in the Verses below. First, let us look at what Allah Almighty said in the Noble Quran regarding the People of the Book’s food:
“This day are (all) things good and pure made lawful unto you. The food of the People of the Book is lawful unto you and yours is lawful unto them.
(Lawful unto you in marriage) are (not only) chaste women who are believers, but chaste women among the People of the Book, revealed before your time,- when ye give them their due dowers, and desire chastity, not lewdness, nor secret intrigues if any one rejects faith, fruitless is his work, and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost (all spiritual good). (The Noble Quran, 5:5)”
Here is the reason of why I believe their food was made lawful for the Muslims:
“‘This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood.‘ (From the NIV Bible, Leviticus 3:17)”
“And wherever you live, you must not eat the blood of any bird or animal. (From the NIV Bible, Leviticus 7:26)”
“If anyone eats blood, that person must be cut off from his people.’ (From the NIV Bible, Leviticus 7:27)”
Note:
Now please be advised that we Muslims do not believe that the contents of today’s “Bible” are original Revelations from GOD Almighty. The Bible does contain overwhelming amount of corruption, contradictions and errors. But however, some Divine Revelations might have gotten preserved.
“Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been invoked the name of other than God; that which hath been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by being gored to death; that which hath been (partly) eaten by a wild animal; unless ye are able to slaughter it (in due form); that which is sacrificed on stone (altars); (forbidden) also is the division (of meat) by raffling with arrows: that is impiety.
This day have those who reject faith given up all hope of your religion: yet fear them not but fear Me. This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. But if any is forced by hunger, with no inclination to transgression, God is indeed Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (The Noble Quran, 5:3)”
The fact that the Jews’ and Christians’ meat is supposed to be very clean (blood-free), unlike the pagans’ meat where there are no standards on how to clean it, then I believe that this is the main reason why Allah Almighty permitted the Muslims to eat from their meat.
Despite the fact that they may not invoke GOD Almighty’s Holy Name on the animal before they slaughter it, even though Allah Almighty clearly Commanded the Muslims to do that in Noble Verse 5:3 above and in many other Noble Verses in the Noble Quran.
That is why Allah Almighty mentioned the “People of the Book” by the name as far as the non-Muslims whom we are allowed to eat their food.
It is important to know that the paganistic belief of trinity that the polytheist trinitarian pagans hold today did exist during Prophet Muhammad’s days. This is clearly proven in the following Noble Verses:
“Say: ‘O People of the Book (i.e., Jews and Christians)! Come to common terms as between us and you: That we worship none but Allah; that we associate no partners with Him; that we erect not, from among ourselves, Lords and patrons other than Allah.’ If then they turn back, say ye: ‘Bear witness that we (at least) are Muslims (bowing to Allah’s Will).’ (The Noble Quran, 3:64)”
“They do blaspheme who say: ‘Allah is Christ the son of Mary.’ But said Christ: ‘O Children of Israel! Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.’ Whoever joins other gods with Allah – Allah will forbid him the Garden, and the Fire will be his abode. There will for the wrongdoers be no one to help. (The Holy Quran, 5:72)”
“They do blaspheme who say: God is one of three in a Trinity: for there is no god except One God. If they desist not from their word (of blasphemy), verily a grievous penalty will befall the blasphemers among them. (The Noble Quran, 5:73)””O People of the Book! Commit no excesses in your religion: Nor say of God aught but the truth. Christ Jesus the son of Mary was (no more than) an apostle of God, and His Word, which He bestowed on Mary, and a spirit proceeding from Him: so believe in God and His apostles. Say not “Trinity” : desist: it will be better for you: for God is one God: Glory be to Him: (far exalted is He) above having a son.
To Him belong all things in the heavens and on earth. And enough is God as a Disposer of affairs. (The Noble Quran, 4:171)”
Yet, Allah Almighty still allowed us to eat their foods. So there is a clear exception for the People of the Book’s food in terms of the rules that allow or forbid the meat. The reason for this is (I believe) the Biblical verses above regarding the animal’s meat being clean from blood, because Allah Almighty in the Noble Quran did also forbid Muslims from eating blood as clearly mentioned in Noble Verse 5:3 above and many other ones.
And Allah Almighty always knows best.
Note: All true divine religions were Islam. However, those who call themselves “Jews” and follow “Judaism” are really people who follow a strict version of Islam that was made special for them. According to Islam, Allah Almighty made the Jews’ religion as “burdens and shackles” (7:157). They were made as chains due to their transgressions “ذلك جزيناهم ببغيهم“. See the following articles: But some of them are nonetheless are righteous people who will enter Paradise.
Why did Allah Almighty allow for the Muslims to eat from the “People of the Book’s” (Jews and Christians) food?All true divine religions were Islam. However, those who call themselves “Jews” and follow “Judaism” are really people who follow a strict version of Islam that was made special for them. According to Islam, Allah Almighty made the Jews’ religion as “burdens and shackles” (7:157) and Islam came to give them a way out of this hard covenant .
Their covenant was made as chains for them due to their transgressions “ذلك جزيناهم ببغيهم“. But some of them are nonetheless righteous people who will enter Paradise.
Almighty Allah is the highest and most knowledgeable, and the attribution of knowledge to him is the safest.
Right from Almighty Allah and wrong from me and Satan
Prepared by Mohamad Mostafa Nassar
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Arrogance is not only a sign of insecurity, but also a sign of immaturity. Mature and fully realised persons can get their points across, even emphatically without demeaning or intimidating others.