The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 1) — Page 276
CH. 2 AL-BAQARAH (Aqrab); (3) anything that pricks the mind as something evil (Mufradāt). Commentary: mention طيبات of This verse speaks only of food that is or unlawful. It makes no or pure and wholesome things to which reference has already been made in the preceding verse. It should not be supposed that the four things mentioned in this verse are the only things prohibited in Islam. As a matter of fact, Islam prohibits the use of many things; but they are divided into grades or classes, some of them being or unlawful and others being or simply forbidden. The verse under comment mentions only the former class. The forbidden things have been stated by the Holy Prophet and are mentioned in Ḥadīth. They must not be used by the Faithful but they cannot be called or unlawful. In fact, there is a great difference between unlawful () and forbidden (E) things. Islam recognizes due difference in the importance of different things, and SO prohibitions cannot be classed together and treated as of equal importance. The use of or an unlawful thing has a great and direct bearing on the moral and spiritual development of man but it is not so with aor forbidden thing which stands on a lower level of importance, though both are prohibited. all or the Among the things declared unlawful in this verse, injuriousness of consuming blood and the flesh of a dead animal as food has been recognized by most authorities on medicine. The use of the flesh of PT. 2 swine has also proved to be injurious not only to the physical health of man, but also to his moral and spiritual health. The swine eats filth and takes delight in living in dirty places. It has indecent habits and possesses the evil trait of sex- perversion. Tape-worms, scrofula, cancer and encysted trichina are known to be more prevalent among pork-eating peoples. The use of pork also causes trichinosis. 276 The clause, and that on which the name of any other than Allah has been invoked, refers to that animal at the time of whose slaughter the name of any deity other than Allah is invoked or that animal which is slaughtered with a view to winning the pleasure of an idol or a saint etc. , even though the name of Allah may have been mentioned while slaughtering it. Hence, all such animals as are sacrificed in order to propitiate a false deity or a saint, or any food that is cooked as an offering to a deceased person have been condemned as unlawful. Such foods are spiritually harmful. The incentive to these offerings is (i. e. idolatry) and is tantamount to rebellion against God. In spite of the fact that the above mentioned things have been declared to be unlawful, the verse goes on to say that if for want of food the very life of a person should be in danger, considerations of the preservation of human life must temporarily prevail over other considerations. This is a case of choosing the lesser of two evils. Hence the verse very wisely makes an exception in case of a real and urgent necessity when no other