The sacred book of the Muslims, the Holy Quran comes with precise guidance for the mankind on how to live a life devoid of sins and iniquity. These guidelines encompass each and every aspect of human life and are compounded by the sunnah (ways and traditions) of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). The Quran lays down clear and specific principles about the dietary laws for the Muslims and has divided all things into two categories of halal (lawful or allowed) and haram (unlawful and forbidden).

~What is halal~

"O ye who believe! Eat of the good things wherewith We have provided you, and render thanks to Allah if it is (indeed) He whom ye worship" (2:172).

The good things that have been provided for nourishment of mankind include all fruits and vegetables, fish, meat of grazing animals like sheep, goat, oxen, camels and birds that have been slaughtered in a way prescribed in the Quran. In general, everything is halal for the Muslims except what has been specifically forbidden to eat and imbibe.

~What is haram~

Certain things have been declared "haram" or unlawful for the Muslims and hence including them in the diet is considered a sin for the Muslims. It is stated in the Holy Quran:

"He hath forbidden you only carrion, and blood, and swine flesh, and that which hath been immolated to (the name of) any other than Allah." (2:173).

In another place it is stated:

"Forbidden to you are the flesh of dead animals and blood and the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to any other than Allah, and that which has been killed by strangling or by beating or by falling or by being gored, and that which has been (partly) eaten by a wild beast except that which you make lawful by slaughtering (before its death), and that which has been sacrificed to idols.... (5:4)"

It is very clear from these verses of the Holy Quran that Muslims are forbidden to eat the following:

1) Carcass of an already dead animal

2) Blood

3) Pork (and all derivatives from pig meat)

4) Meat of an animal that had been dedicated to idols

5) Meat of an animal that has been killed by strangulation and blunt weapon

6) Meat of an animal from which other predators have already eaten.

~Prohibition of alcohol~

It is stated in the Holy Quran:

"Assuredly Satan desires to sow enmity and hatred among you with intoxicants and gambling, and to hinder you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayers. Will you not then desist?" (5:93-94)

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