Tafsir of Al-Ma'idah 5:87-88

"O you who have believed, do not prohibit the good things which Allah has made lawful to you and do not transgress. Indeed, Allah does not like transgressors. And eat of what Allah has provided for you [which is] lawful and good, and fear Allah, in whom you are believers."

"The good things which Allah has made lawful to you" That which is pleasant and delicious among the lawful things.

"Do not prohibit" Do not deny them to yourselves as one denies something forbidden, or do not say, "We have forbidden them to ourselves," as an exaggeration in your resolve to abandon them out of asceticism and austerity.

It is narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) once described the Day of Resurrection to his companions, speaking at length and with great intensity in his warning. They became fearful and gathered in the house of Uthman ibn Maz'un, agreeing to fast continuously, to stand in prayer at night, to never sleep on beds, to never eat meat or fat, to never approach women or use perfume, to renounce the world, to wear coarse wool, to wander the earth, and to castrate themselves. When this reached the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), he said to them: "I have not been commanded to do this. Indeed, your own selves have a right over you; so fast and break your fast, stand in prayer and sleep. For I stand in prayer and sleep, I fast and break my fast, I eat meat and fat, and I approach women. Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not of me."

It is also narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to eat chicken and faludhaj (a sweet dish), and he liked sweets and honey, saying: "The believer is sweet and loves sweetness."

Regarding this, it is narrated that a man said to Ibn Mas'ud, "I have forbidden myself from sleeping on a bed." Ibn Mas'ud recited this verse and said, "Sleep on your bed and offer expiation for your oath."

It is also narrated that Al-Hasan was invited to a meal, and with him was Farqad al-Sinji and his companions. They sat at the table, which was spread with various dishes of fattened chicken, faludhaj, and other things. Farqad withdrew to the side. Al-Hasan asked, "Is he fasting?" They said, "No, but he dislikes these types of food." Al-Hasan turned to him and said, "O little Farqad, do you think a Muslim would find fault with bee's honey mixed with the heart of wheat and pure butter?"

It is also narrated that it was said to him, "So-and-so does not eat faludhaj, saying, 'I cannot fulfill the gratitude due for it.'" He replied, "Does he drink cold water?" They said, "Yes." He said, "He is ignorant; for Allah’s blessing upon him in cold water is greater than His blessing in faludhaj." He added, "Allah has disciplined His servants and disciplined them well." Allah says: "Let a man of wealth spend from his wealth" (At-Talaq: 7). Allah has never blamed a people upon whom He expanded the world, provided they lived in comfort and obeyed Him, nor has He excused a people from whom He withheld it, if they disobeyed Him.

"And do not transgress" Do not overstep the limits of what Allah has made lawful for you into what He has forbidden for you. Or, do not be excessive in consuming good things. Or, He considered the prohibition of good things to be a transgression and an injustice, so He forbade transgression so that the prohibition of declaring them unlawful would be included under it primarily, as it follows immediately after. Or, He meant: "Do not transgress by doing that [prohibiting them]."

"And eat of what Allah has provided for you" Meaning: from the good sources that are called "provision."

"Lawful" An accusative state (hal) from "what Allah has provided for you."

"And fear Allah" An emphasis on the recommendation to follow what He has commanded. He further emphasized this by saying:

"In whom you are believers" Because belief in Him necessitates piety in adhering to what He has commanded and avoiding what He has forbidden.