Sunnat Regarding Food and Drinks and Forbidden Food in Islam

HOLY PROPHET'S SUNNAT REGARDING FOOD AND DRINK

A reference to the Holy Prophet's food habits and to his abstemiousness has been made at pages 149, 170 and 171, which may be reference to. From the authentic books of Ahadis, the Holy Prophet's Sunnat in regard to eating and drinking is briefly as follows :- He used to wash his hands before commencing his meal; he invariably recite "Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim" before starting to eat; he used his right hand for eating; he did not recline on a pillow or bolster but used to sit at the table-cloth in a respectful posture; he used to eat from the side of the plate or bowl in front of him; he used ti take small morsels and used to chew each morsel slowly and carefully; he never found fault with the food placed before him; if he relished it, he partook of it; otherwise he refrained from eating but never complained about the quality of the food; he did not allow food to be wasted and took in his plate only so much as he needed and he cleaned his plate; he washed his hands after eating; he invariably gave thanks to Allah after meals; one of his supplications as recorded in Tirmizi, Abu Dawood, Ibn Maja etc., is:- "Al-hamd-u-lillah-il-lazi at'amana wa saqana wa ja'alna min-al muslimin" (Praise to be Allah, Who has fed us and given us to drink and made us Muslim); he never ate any thing while standing, or walking in the streets; he never ate anything while standing and walking in the streets; he did not like a raw onion and raw garlic; he used to drink water, or milk, in three sips. while sitting and used to hold the bowl in his right hand l he advised his followers not to blow with their mouths into a bowl of milk etc ; he used to say ''Allhamdu-lilah'' after drinking milk or water; and he advised his following that, while dining together, they should have regard for others and not get up from the table-cloth while others were still eating.

FORBIDDEN FOOD

Specially for new Converted Muslims
Let us now consider the verses regarding forbidden food. These are :-2 : 173 : 5 : 4 ; 6 : 121, 145 ; and 16 : 115. The things forbidden by these verses are :-dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which any other name has been invoked besides that of Allah ; that which has been killed by strangling, by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by being gored to death ; that which has been (partly) eaten by a wild animal, unless you are able to slaughter it (in due form) ; that which is sacrificed on stone (altars) ; (forbidden) also is a division (of meat) by raffling with arrows ; that is impiety ; meat on which Allah's name has not been pronounced ; that would be impiety ; but if one is forced bu necessity, without  willful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits, then he is guiltless ; for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.

The following extracts from Abdullah Yusuf Ali's notes on these verses will make the position clear :-. . . . ."Maitat". . . . the original Arabic has a slightly wider meaning given to it in Fiqah (Religious Law) : anything that dies of  itself  and is not expressly killed for food with the Takbir duly pronounced on it. But there are exception, e.g. fish and locusts are lawful though they have not been made specially halal with the Takbir. But even fish or locusts as carrion would be obviously ruled out " . . . . . . ." Carrion on dead meat and blood as articles of food would obviously cause disgust to any refined person. So would swine's flesh where the swine live on offal. Where swine are fed artificially on clean food, the objections remain : (1) that they are filthy animals in other respects, and the flesh of filthy animals taken has food affects the eater : (2) that swine's flesh has more fat then muscle-building material : and (3) that it is more liable to disease than other kinds of meat: e. g. trichinosis, characterized by hair-like worms in the muscular tissue. As to foods dedicated to idols or false gods, it is obviously unseemly for the Children of  Unity to partake of it". As pointed out by another commentator, "that which dies of itself and that which was torn by beasts was forbidden by the law of Moses also (Lev. 17 : 15), so was blood (Lev. 7 :26) ; and the flesh of swine (Lev. 11 : 7)....The Jews held the swine in great detestation and the mention of the animal in Gospels shows that Jesus Christ held it in equal abhorrence, which proves that he too regarded the animal as impure. Neither does he appear to have broken the Jewish law in this respect''. To continue with Abdullah Yusuf Ali's notes :- ''If an animal dies by strangling or by a violent blow, or a headlong fall, or by being gored to death, or by being attacked by a wild animal, the presumption is that it become carrion, as the blood is congealed before being taken out of the body. But the presumption can be rebutted. If the life-blood still flows and the solemn mode of slaughter (Zibah) in the name of God as a sacrifice is carried out, it becomes lawful as food.''
''This (sacrifice on stone altars) was also an idolatrous rite. Different from that in which a sacrifice was devoted to a particular idol or false god.....Division of meat in this way (i.e. a sort of lottery or raffle practiced by Pagan Arabs) is here forbidden, as it is a form of gambling''. As regards the words ''damam masfuhan'' occuring in 6: 145, Abdullah Yusuf Ali has explained :- '' Blood poured forth : as distinguished from blood adhering to flesh, or the liver, or such other internal organs purifying the blood''

A part from the forbidden food specifically mentioned in the verses of the Holy Quran cited earlier, the meat of certain other animals was forbidden by the Holy Prophet. In the light of the Quranic verses and the Holy Prophet's traditions, our doctors of law have worked out the other detail. To put it briefly, (a) carnivora, (b) birds of prey which attack their prey with their claws and beaks, (c) birds of the air which eat nothing but carrion, (d) reptiles, and (e) insects, have been declared unlawful (Haram). The list includes :- lions, tigers, leopards, panthers, wolves, jackals, foxes, bears, elephants, donkeys, dogs, cats, monkeys, eagles, hawks, falcons, kites, crows, snakes, weasels, chameleons, lizards, rats, frogs, alligators, and crocodiles. On the other hand, declared as lawful (Halal) is the meat of horses, deer, antelopes and hare, and the flesh of fowls, such as cocks, hens, drakes, ducks, geeze, peacocks, partridges, pigeons, doves, quails, and sparrows. Fish and locusts have already  been mentionad above as being lawful.
Regarding other things, it may be explained here that the permission contained in 5 : 5 is obviously subject to the restrictions imposed by 5: 2 , 97 and 98 on hunting and the use of game while a person is Ihram or within the sacred precincts.

Ummahat ul Momineen | The Wives of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

KHADIJA                                                                                                                                          
The Holy Prophet's first marriage with Khadija,  who was his only wife for the twenty-five years of his youth and manhood. The Holy Prophet was fifty years of ago, or a little older, when Khadija died.           
           SAUDA                                                                                                                                                 
A few months after Khadija's death, the Holy Prophet married Sauda, daughter of Zama, who was a widow, had an issue from her former husband and was the only Muslim in her whole family, which had turned against her, and she thus required protection and help. On the advice of some of his companions, the Holy Prophet married Sauda and took her under his on protection.

AYESHA
Ayesha, daughter of Abu Bakr,was the only virgin whom the Holy Prophet married, shortly before the Hijrat, to ful fil the wish his dearest friend Abu Bakr. There are conflicting reports regarding Ayesha's age at the time of her marriage. it is reported that her elder sister, Asma (who prepared the baggage for the Hijrat of the Holy Prophet and her Father) was ten years senior to Ayesha; and Asma died at the age of 100 in A.H.73(see Ibn-i-Kasir's Albadaya. wan Nihaya and alikmal fi Asmair Rijal). According to this calculation, Ayesha's age at the time of her marriage to Holy Prophet was 17 or 18 years. Some reports say it was 16 years; and others put it at a lower figure. Ayesha was an exceptionally intelligent and talented lady; she had an excellent memory and was very eloquent. She is the narrator of as many as 2,210 traditions (Ahadis) of the Holy Prophet she was considered to be an authority on the life of the Holy Prophet and on the meaning and interpretation of the verses of the Holy Quran; and many eminent companions of the Holy Prophet, both male and female, came to seek her guidance on intricate religious matters. It was Ayesha who testified to the sublimity of the morals of the Holy Prophet by telling a questioner; "Kana Khulquhul Quran", i.e.his morals are the Quran. The major portion of the material about religious matters relating to woman was with her. She survived the Holy Prophet by some 48 years.

Marrieages in Medina
With the exception of one, who was a divorced, the ladies whom the Holy Prophet married in Medina were all widows or prisoners of war. The circumstances in which there marriages took Place are given below.

HAFSA
Hafsa, daughter of Umar, became a widow when her husband, Khunais, fell a martyr at Battle of Badr. In accordance with the wishes of her father, Umar, The Holy Prophet married Hafsa. She is the narrator of some 60 traditions.

ZAINAB, DAUGHTER OF KHUZAIMA, UMMUL MASAKIN
The Holy Prophet married Zainab, daughter of Khuzaima, in similar circumstances when her husband Abdulla, son of jahash, fell a mrtyr at the Battle of Uhud. She was a very pious and alms giving lady, who was always helping the poor and needyand earned the title of ''Ummul Masakin''. She expired in Ah.H, 4, during the life-time of the Holy Prophet.

UMM-I-SALMA
Another martyr of the Battle of Uhud was Abu Salma, who was one of the early converts to Islam and one of those who migrated to Abyssinia. When Abu Salma died, the Holy prophet married his widow, Ummi Salma. She used to instruct Muslim women in religious matters and is the narrator of some 378 traditions. She lived to the ripe old age of 80 or 81 years.

ZAINAB, DAUGHTER OF JAHASH
Zainab. daughter of Jahash, was a cousin of the Holy Prophet through his aunt, Umaima, daughter of Abdul Muttalib. Zainab was married to Zaid, son of Haris, a freedman, whom the Holy Prophet had brought up as a son. She and her brother were not agreable to his marriage, but bowed before the wishes of the Holy Prophet. thus marriage was celebrated in Mecca eight years before Hijrat. The marriage proved a failure, and much against the advice and wishes of the Holy Prophet, Zaid divorced Zainab. After the period of waiting (Iddat) was over, the Holy Prophet married Zainab, in accordance with her own wish and the wishes of her family, in order to assuage her injured feelings and console her by raising het to the status of a mother of the believers. The Holy Prophet had also to show by his own conduct and example that, as declared by Allah (Cf. 33 : 4, 5, 37), an adopted son is not like a real son. (For verses relating to this marriage see:- 33. 36-40). Zainab was the only divorcee married by the Holy Prophet.

MARRIAGES FOR SOCIO-RELIGIOUS CONSIDERATIONS
Apart from marriages contracted for affording protection and succour to helpless or destitute widows of companions killed in battles fought with the enemies of Islam, the Holy Prophet also contracted some marriages in order to woo certain influential tribes to Islam.

JUWAIRIA
In the Ghazwa Bani Mustalaq, Barra, the daughter of the Chief of the tribe, who was a widow, became a prisoner of war. The companions advised the Holy Prophet that, as she was the daughter of the chief of a tribe, the Holy Prophet should take her and marry her. He accepted the advice; and, as a result, the Muslims released over a hundred prisoners of the tribe and the whole tribe embraced Islam. She was given the name of Juwairia by the Holy Prophet.

UMMI HABIBA
Ummi Habiba, daughter of Abu sufyan (who was for years one of the bitterest enemies of the Holy Prophet) was married to Abdulla son of Jahash. She was one of the early converts to Islam and emigrated to Abyssinia along with her husband. There her husband became a Christian and she and her daughter were left in a destitute condition in a foreign country. The Holy Prophet married her, through the Vakalat of jafar, son of Abu Talib. Ummi Habiba was such a pious lady and was so devoted to the Holy Prophet what when her father, Abu sufyan, (who was till then a pagan), came to Medina after the Treaty of Hudaibiya, and visted her, she did not allow him to sit on the Holy Prophet's bed ! this act of Abu Sufyan's daughter was also instrumental in impressing of his followers, on Abu Sufyan who eventually embraced Islam. She was also one of the consorts who quenched the first for knowledge of Muslim women. She is the narrator of some 65 traditions. She died at the age of 73.

MARIA
Maria Qibtiya, was sent to the Holy Prophet as a present by the Ruler of Egypt ; and she gave birth to the Holy Prophet's last and youngest son, Ibrahim.

SAFIYA
Safiya, was the daughter of Hayyi bin Akhtab, Chief pf the Banu Quraiza tribe. She was a widow and became a prisoner of  war at the time of Battle of  Khaibar. In view of  her social status, the Holy Prophet married Safiya. She died at the age of  sixty. She is the narrator of some ten traditions.

RAIHANA, DAUGHTER OF ZAID
Raihana, daughter of Zaid, belonged to the Banu Quraiza tribe of  Jews. She had married one of her on tribesmen, named Hakam. When the Banu Quraiza capitulated, Raihana became a captive. According to Ibn Sad, Hafiz Ibn Hajar and Waqidi, the Holy Prophet set Raihana free and thereafter married her. Her own statement to this effect is on record, and is conformed by and entries in the History of  Medina by Muhammad Bin Alhasan, and in the Tabaqat-us-Sahaba by Ibni Manda. Raihana died during the Holy Prophet's lifetime. (Vide pages 403-405, Vol. 1, Seerat-un-Nabi by Shibli Naumani).
 
MAIMUNA
 The Holy Prophet's last marriage, in A.H. 7,was with Maimuna, daughter of  Haris, who was a widow. She is the narrator of some 76 traditions. She died in A.H.51.

MARRIAGES NOT FOR GRATIFICATION OF SENSUAL APPETITE
According to the most authentic reports, the life of Muhammad (P.B.U.H) prior to his first marriage with Khadija was absolutely chaste and pure ; and even his enemies have testified to this. The pagans offered him not only riches and a kingdom, but also the most beautiful girls ; but he spurned the offer. During his youth and manhood, he proved a faithful and ideal husband. He was 50 years old, or somewhat older, when he married a second time; and all his subsequent marriages were at an advanced age.       

Hazrat Umar (R.A)

The Great Hero of ISLAM:
HAZRAT UMAR FAROOQ (R.A)
was the 1st man in the world,
who:
1-Made Army & Navy as a state department,
2-Introduced police system,
3-Introduced intelligence system & agencies,
4-Introduced disaster management cell,
5-Introduced Ehtisab council,
6-Introduced system of Districts,
7-Used fast horses 4 improving Post Office Services,
8-Introduced self support financial schemes,
9-Introduced revenue department,
10-Introduced idea of food, cloth, shelter etc;

Cambridge University U.k has placed Hazrat Umar (R.A)
as the most genius Ruler of all times.

Concept of Angels In Islam

Angels are celestial beings, who are not visible to ordinary mortals and thus belong to the category of ''unseen beings'', covered by the term 'ghaib'. Belief in angels in one of the cardinal articles of our faith and it forms the second ingredient thereof next only to faith in Allah (CF. Iman Mufassal, and 2:17 , 285; 4: 136).

Angels, Allah's creation; Their Limitation and Duties
Angels are one of Allah's creation and they are His honored servants (35:1; 37:150; 43:19; 21:26). They are not Allah's daughters. Angels have no knowledge save what Allah has taught them (2: 32. 33; 82: 12). They speak not before Allah speaks and the act in all things by His command (21: 27; 41:38) ; They do not grow weary and are not languid (21 :19, 20; 41: 38); nor are they proud (cf. 7: 206; 21: 19; 41: 38). They flinch not (from executing) the command they receive from Allah but do (precisely) what they are commanded (66: 6); they prostrated before Adam(A.S) when Allah commanded them to do so (2: 34; 7: 11; 15 :30 and several verses). Angels never fail in their duty (6: 61) Angels are the sinless beings.

shirk