ﱼ ﱽ ﱾ ﱿ ﲀ ﲁ ﲂ ﲃ ﲄ ﲅ ﲆ ﲇ ﲈ ﲉ ﲊ ﲋ ﲌ ﲍ ﲎ ﲏ ﲐ ﲑ ﲒ ﲓ ﲔ ﲕ ﲖ
He has only forbidden to you dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah. But whoever is forced [by necessity], neither desiring [it] nor transgressing [its limit], there is no sin upon him. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
Tafsir
Verse range: 2:173
"He has only forbidden to you..."
Readings:
"That which has been dedicated to other than Allah" Meaning: That over which voices were raised for an idol. This refers to the practice of the people of the Pre-Islamic era (Jahiliyyah) saying, "In the name of Al-Lat and Al-Uzza."
"Neither desiring" Meaning: Not seeking to transgress against another person in need by taking more than one's share.
"Nor transgressing" Meaning: Not exceeding the limit of what is necessary to satisfy hunger.
If you ask: Regarding dead animals, what is permissible? For instance, fish and locusts. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Two types of dead animals and two types of blood have been made lawful for us."
I say: The intent here is what people commonly understand and recognize by custom. Do you not see that if someone says, "So-and-so ate a dead animal," the mind does not immediately turn to fish or locusts? Just as if he said, "He ate blood," it does not immediately turn to liver or spleen.
Because of this reliance on custom and common usage, jurists have said: If a person swears an oath not to eat "meat," and then eats fish, he has not broken his oath, even though it is technically meat. Allah the Almighty says: "That you may eat from it tender meat" (An-Nahl: 14). They likened this to someone who swears not to ride a "beast" (dabbah), then rides a disbeliever; he has not broken his oath, even though Allah called the disbeliever a dabbah in His saying: "Indeed, the worst of living creatures (dawab) in the sight of Allah are those who have disbelieved" (Al-Anfal: 55).
If you ask: Why is the "meat" of swine mentioned, but not its fat? I say: Because the fat is included under the mention of meat, as it is a subordinate part of it. This is evidenced by the common expression "fat meat," meaning meat that is fatty.
"Indeed, they who conceal what Allah has sent down of the Book and purchase with it a small price—those consume not into their bellies except the Fire. And Allah will not speak to them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them. And they will have a painful punishment. Those are the ones who have purchased error for guidance and punishment for forgiveness. How patient they are in pursuit of the Fire! That is because Allah has sent down the Book in truth. And indeed, those who differ over the Book are in extreme dissension."
