Page 14 The Islamic Bulletin Issue 10 Page 15 The Islamic Bulletin Issue 10 merely because they have not been included in the list of prohibi - tions. As regards the criterion for judging whether a thing is pure or not, it should be noticed that all those things are pure which are not unclean according to any principle of Islamic Law, or which are not offensive to good taste or have not universally been regarded as repugnant by cultured people. After stating this general principle with regard to permissible foods, the Qur’an specifies the prohibited foods in these words, “He has only forbidden you dead meat and blood and swine flesh, and that (food) over which the name of other than God has been invoked; but if one is forced by necessity, without willful disobedience nor transgressing due limits, then truly God is Forgiving, Merciful.” (Qur’an 16:115 and 2:173) These four things are absolutely forbidden in Islam for reasons best known to God. However, research in these things has shown that some of them are injurious to human health (as dead meat; blood and swine flesh) and some are harmful to moral health as well (as flesh of swine) and still others to spiritual health (as food over which the name of any other than God has been invoked). This list of prohibited foods also includes the following, “That which has been killed by strangling, or 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); and (forbidden) also is the division (of meat) by raffling with arrows. This is impiety.” (Qur’an 5:3) Alcohol is also prohibited because its harmfulness is greater than its benefits. They ask you (O Muhammad) concerning alcoholic drink and gambling. Say: “In them is a great sin, and (some) belefit, but the sin of them is greater than their benefit.” (Qur’an 2:219) “You who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, idols, and raffles, are only a filthy work of Satan; turn aside from them so that you may prosper. Satan only wants to stir up enmity and jealousy among you by means of intoxicants and gambling, and to hinder you from remembering God, and from praying. So will you not then abstain?” (Qur’an 5:90-91) The physical, moral, social and spiritual evils of intoxicants and gambling are clearly referred to in the above verse of the Qur’an. BalancedDiet The Qur’an has also given very useful tips regarding a balanced diet which contains every useful ingredient necessary for the growth, strength and repair of the human body, including animal protein, fat, calcium, iron, salts, etc. The most balanced diet consists of meat, fish, fresh milk, cheese and fruit. Fish is considered to be food of very high protein and very important for human consumption. The Qur’an refers to this fresh food in these words, “It is He Who has made the sea subject, that you may eat thereof flesh that is fresh and tender.” (Qur’an 16:14) And again in Surah Al-Fatir, we read, “Yet from each (kind of water) you do eat flesh fresh and tender.” (Qur’an 35:12) The Qur’an then refers to the importance of animal protein in general in human diet. “And the cattle He has created for you; from them you derive warmth, and numerous benefits, and of their meat you eat.” (Qur’an 16:5) And in Surah Al-Mu’min, we read, “It is God Who has made cattle for you, that you may use some for riding and some for food.” (Qur’an 40:79) The usefulness of fresh milk is stressed in these words, “And in the cattle there is truly a lesson for you. We give you to drink of that which is in their bellies; there are in them, (besides), numerous other benefits for you; and of their meat you eat.” (Qur’an 23:21) And in Surah Al-Nahl, we read, “And truly in the cattle there is a lesson for you. We give you to drink of that which is in their bellies, between the refuse and the blood, pure milk palatable to the drinkers.” (Qur’an 16:66) Fish is considered to be food nourishment is described in these words, “And of the fruits of the date-palm, and grapes, you get out wholesome drink and also good nourishment (as food). Behold, in this also is a Sign for those who are wise.” (Qur’an 16:67) “(And We produce) grapes and nutritious plants, and olives and dates, and enclosed gardens of thick foliage, and fruits and fodder, provision for you and your cattle.” (Qur’an 80:28-32) In Surah Al-Rahman, we have: “Wherein is fruit, the date-palm and pomegranate. Then which of the favors of your Lord will you deny?” (Qur’an 55:68-69) The righteous are promised all kinds of fruits in Paradise. “Every fruit will be there for them, and they shall have whatever they call for.” (Qur’an 36:57) In Surah Al- Zukhruf, we read, “You shall have therein abundance of fruits, fromwhich you shall eat (those of your choice).” (Qur’an 43:73) And in Surah Al-Waqi’ah are these words, “And with fruits, any that they may select.” (Qur’an 56:20) Again, in the same Surah, we read, “And fruit in plenty, neither out of reach nor (supply) limited.” (Qur’an 56:32-33) The Qur’an also reminds man of the many Bounties of God, espe - cially various kinds of fruit. “Then We produce for you therewith gardens of date-palms and grapes, wherein is much fruit for you and whereof you eat.” (Qur’an 23:19) God isOne : TheWay of Islam R. Marston Speight, Friendship Press, New York, NY, 139 pp. $5.95, Paper. With the global resurgence of Islam, there is a keen desire in the western world, particularly in the United States, to knowmore about the Muslim faith. There is frequent mention about Islam in the news media, and it is sometimes a topic of conversation whenever groups of people assemble, but their knowledge if Islam is usually shallow and superficial. They usually possess distorted views and misconceptions about the Muslim faith. For example, what is frequently heard from these sources are that Muslims can have four wives, that Islam was spread by means of the sword, that Muslims can keep their wives in veils as slaves, etc. Now an excellent opportunity is offered to the Muslims to present their faith in a fair, factual and unbiased way to the non-Muslims in the form of this interesting book on Islam, from a surprising source, and in its fourth printing in 1991. The author of “God is One...” is R. Marston Speight. He is an ordained Methodist Minister, who is currently Director of Office on Christian-Muslim Relations of the Council of the Churches of Christ, U.S.A. Mr. Speight holds a Ph.D. degree in History of Religions from the Hartford Seminary Foundation, and has been intimately involved, throughout his professional career, with Christian-Muslim Relations, and spent 28 years in Algeria and Tunisia as a committed Christian missionary. Virtues of Fasting Abu Hurairah reported the Messenger of God (pbuh), saying: “Allah said ‘Every action of the son of Adam is for him except fasting, for that is solely for Me. I give the reward for it. The fast is a shield.” “If one is fasting, he should not use foul language, raise his voice, or behave foolishly. If someone reviles him or fights with him, he should say, ‘I am fasting,’ twice.” “By the One in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, the [bad] breath of the one who is fasting is better in the sight of Allah on the Day of Resurrection than the smell of musk.” “The one who is fasting is happy at two times: when he breaks his fast he is happy with it, and when he meets his Lord he will be happy that he has fasted.” This is related by Ahmad, Muslim, and an-Nasa’i. A similar version was recorded by al-Bukhari and Abu Dawud, but with the following addition: “He leaves his food, drink, and desires for My sake. His fasting is for Me ...I will give the reward for it, and for every good deed, he will receive ten similar to it.” Abdullah ibn Amr reported that the Messenger of God (pbuh) said: “The fast and the Qur’an are two intercessors for the servant of Allah on the Day of Resurrection. The fast will say: ‘O Lord, I prevented him from his food and desires during the day. Let me intercede for him.’ The Qur’an will say: ‘I prevented him from sleeping at night. Let me intercede for him.’ And their intercession will be accepted.” Ahmad related this hadith with a sahih chain. Abu Umamah reported: “I came to the Messenger of God and said: ‘Order me to do a deed that will allow me to enter Paradise.’ He said: ‘Stick to fasting, as there is no equivalent to it.’ Then I came to him again and he said: ‘Stick to fasting’.” Abu Said al-Khudri reported that the Messenger of God said: “No servant fasts on a day in the path of Allah except that Allah removes the hellfire seventy years further away from his face.” Sahl ibn Sa’d reported that the Prophet (pbuh) said: “There is a gate to Paradise that is called ar-Rayyan. On the Day of Resurrection it will say: ‘Where are those who fasted?’ When the last [one] has passed through the gate, it will be locked.” This is related by al- Bukhari and Muslim. Types of Fasting There are two types of fasting: obligatory and voluntary. Obligatory can be further subdivided into the fast of Ramadan, the fast of expiation and the fast of fulfilling a vow. In this issue we shall only discuss the Fast of Ramadan. The fast of Ramadan according to the Qur’an and Sunnah is oblig - atory. The evidence from the Qur’an consists of the following two verses: ‘O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for the people before you in order for you to gain God-consciousness...” “...The month of Ramadan, during which the Qur’an was revealed, a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance and the criterion; and whoever of you is resident, let him fast the month.” (Qur’an 2:185) From the Sunnah we have the following statements of the Holy Prophet (pbuh): “Islam is built upon [the following] five pillars: testifying that there is no God except Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger, the establishment of the prayer, the giving of zakah, the fast of Ramadan and the pilgrimage to Makkah.” Talhah ibn ‘Ubaidullah reported that a man came to the Prophet (pbuh) and said: “OMessenger of Allah, tell me what Allah requires of me as regards fasting.” He answered, ‘The month of Ramadan.’ The man asked: “Is there any other [fast]?” The Prophet answered: “No, unless you do so voluntarily.” TheVirtues ofRamadan Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (pbuh) said: “The blessed month has come to you. Allah has opened the gates of paradise and closed the gates of hellfire, and the devils are chained. There is a night [during this month] which is better than a thousand months. Whoever is deprived of its good is really deprived [of something great].” Abu Sa’id al Khudri reported that the Prophet (pbuh) said: “Who - ever fasts the month of Ramadan, obeying all of its limitations and guarding himself against what is forbidden, has in fact atoned for any sins he committed before it.” TheArrival ofRamadan This event is confirmed by sighting the new moon, even if it is seen by only one just person, or by the passage of thirty days in the immediately preceding month of Shaban. Ibn ‘Umar said: “The people were looking for the new moon and when I reported to the Messenger of Allah that I had seen it, he fasted and ordered the people to fast.” Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (pbuh) instructed: “Fast after you have seen it [the new crescent] and end the fast [at the end of the month] when you see it. If it is hidden from you, then wait until the thirty days of Sha’ban have passed.” This is related by al-Bukhari and Muslim. DietaryRegulations Many verses of the Quran draw man’s attention to his own self and invite him carefully and seriously to study his body and soul and the nature of their mutual relationship. It is therefore necessary to keep the physical body very healthy so that other things (i.e., spirit and soul) may also remain healthy and so help him in the service of both his material and spiritual attainment. Diet has therefore played an important role in Islamic medicine. Islam has prohibited certain foods because of their ill effects and allowed all other pure, good and clean things. “O Muhammad! Ask them who has forbidden the decent and clean things that God has produced for His servants and (who has forbidden) the good and pure things of life granted by Him. Say: All these things are for the believers in this world but on the Day of Resurrection, these shall be exclusively for them. Thus do We make clear Our revelations to those who possess knowledge.” (Qur’an 7:32) And in Surah Al-Baqara, we read, “ O believers! Eat of the good and pure things that We have provided for you and be grateful to God, if you are true worshipers of God.” (Qur’an 2:172) Then people in general are advised to eat good and pure things and not to indulge in impure, bad and harmful things, following their open enemy, the Devil. “O People! Eat of what is lawful and good on earth and do not follow the footsteps of the Evil One, for he is your open enemy.” (Qur’an 2:168) It may be here pointed out that the word ‘pure’ has been qualified with the word ‘lawful’ so that impure things may not be made lawful Sayings of theProphet BookReview
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