by Janette Peel

Created on: July 11, 2009

The Qur'an instructs that God created everything with an intended purpose and for humans use. But, along with these instructions, the Qur'an also put in place specific guidelines, or dietary laws regarding what foods are fit for human consumption. Certain foods are prohibited and any food not prohibited is lawful. Muslims then distinguish between what is permitted, or halal, and what is prohibited, haram.

All in all, Islam allows people to eat what is healthy and halal and prohibits all things that are harmful or haram. Muslims follow these rules in accordance with the sacred text of Islam without question, trusting in the guidance of Allah.

The foods that these dietary laws specify as forbidden to Muslims from eating include:

Pork; meat may be eaten, with the exception of pork or any by-product of pork

Any animal slaughtered as a sacrifice to other gods or false gods

Blood and blood by-products

Carcasses of already dead animals

Animals that have been traumatically killed, such as by strangulation, beaten to death, gored or eaten by wild animals, or their death has occurred as the result of a fall

Carnivores; predatory animals and birds of prey such as dogs, cats, lions, monkeys, eagles and owls

Land animals without ears such as reptiles; snakes and lizards

Gelatin and certain enzymes where their source and process or making is unknown.

In order for the meat to be halal, the creature must be killed in the correct way, by swiftly cutting the animal's throat with a sharp knife severing the major blood vessels, while its heart is still beating, and then hanging it to drain completely of its blood. The slaughterer recognizes they are taking a life that God has made sacred, so pronounces the name of Allah over the animal as a reminder that they are killing with God's permission, only to meet their need for food.

The rules, which are carefully observed, lay down that the animal must not see the knife, and that no other animal should be able to see the act of killing.

Apart from pork and improperly slaughtered meat, Muslims may not eat meat if its method of slaughter is unknown.

Muslims believe that God has set down these dietary prohibitions for their protection. But there is an important exception. If a Muslim found themselves faced with the choice of starving or eating unlawful, haram foods, the Muslim should eat in order to save his life.

The other main dietary prohibition cover intoxicants, such as alcohol. Muslims learn that God has provided all kinds of foods for humans to partake of and enjoy, but that these gifts must not be misused. For instance, grapes, the fruit of the vine are good and healthy to eat, but fermented, this fruit produces wine, an intoxicating beverage that brings with it change of character, corruption and evil, so alcohol is therefore prohibited.

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