“Do they not earnestly seek to understand the Quran, or their hearts locked up by them? Surah Muhammad- Ayat 24”
THE practical percept of Islam, about food, cleanliness, justice and fidelity are recapitulated. Remember Allah’s favour upon you and the covenant He made with you when you said, We hear and obey. And be mindful of Allah. Surely Allah knows best what is hidden in the heart. O believers! Stand firm for Allah and bear true testimony. Do not let the hatred of a people lead you to injustice. Be just. That is closer to righteousness. And be mindful of Allah. Surely Allah is All-Aware of what you do. Allah has promised those who believe and do good His forgiveness and a great reward.
Regarding the sacrificial animals, strictly observe the limitations and restrictions enjoined by Allah. All kinds of grazing livestock have been made lawful, except hunting while on pilgrimage. Indeed, Allah commands what He wills. Do not make hunting lawful yourself during the state of ihram. Do not violate Allah’s rituals of pilgrimage, the sacred months, the sacrificial animals, the offerings decorated with garlands, nor those pilgrims on their way to the Sacred House seeking their Lord’s bounty and pleasure. When pilgrimage has ended, you are allowed to hunt.
Allah has forbidden carion and blood, the flesh of swine and of that animal which has been slaughtered in any other name other than Allah; what is killed by strangling, beating, a fall, or by being gored to death; what is partly eaten by a predator unless it is slaughtered; and what is sacrificed. But whoever is compelled by extreme hunger not intending to sin then surely Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful. All good and pure things are permissible to eat.
Allah has promised that He will pardon the errors of those who believe and do good deeds, and give them a rich award. As for those who disbelieve and treat the revelations of Allah as false, they shall go to Hell.
When you rise to offer the Salat, wash your face and your hands up to the elbows and wipe your head with wet hands and wash your feet up to the ankles. And if you are in a state of full impurity, then take a full bath. But if you are ill, on a journey, or have relieved yourselves and cannot find water, then purify yourselves with clean earth by wiping your faces and hands. It is not Allah’s Will to burden you, but to purify you and complete His favour upon you, so perhaps you will be grateful.
A story is mentioned about Adam’s two sons how each offered a sacrifice: Abel’s offering was accepted while Cabel’s was not. So Cabel threatened to kill his brother. His brother replied that Allah only accepts the offering of the sincerely devout. If you raise your hand to kill me, I will not raise mine to kill you, because I fear Allah the Lord of all worlds. Yet Cabel convinced himself to kill his brother, so he killed him and became a loser. Allah then ordained for the Children of Israel that whoever takes a life unless as a punishment for murder or mischief in the land it will be as if they killed all of humanity; and whoever saves a life, it will be as if they saved all of humanity.
As for the thieves, cut off their hands for what they have done as a deterrent from Allah. And Allah is Almighty, All-Wise. But whoever repents after their wrongdoing and mends their ways, Allah will surely turn to them in forgiveness. Indeed, Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful. The Esa pbuh, son of Maryam pbuh, was no more than a messenger. Many messengers had come and gone before him. His mother was a woman of truth. They both ate food. See how Allah makes the signs clear to them, yet see how they are deluded from the truth. How can you worship besides Allah those who can neither harm nor benefit you.
Intoxicants, gambling, idols, and drawing lots for decisions are all evil of Satan’s work. So shun them so you may be successful. Satan’s plan is to stir up hostility and hatred between you with intoxicants and gambling and to prevent you from remembering Allah and praying, so abstain from this. There is no blame on those who believe and do good for what they had consumed before the prohibition, as long as they fear Allah, have faith, and do what is good; then they believe and act virtuously, then become fully mindful of Allah and do righteous deeds. For Allah loves the good-doers.
Today all good, pure foods have been made lawful for you. Similarly, the food of the People of the Book is permissible for you and yours is permissible for them. And permissible for you in marriage are chaste believing women as well as chaste women of those given the Scripture before you as long as you pay them their dowries in wedlock, and not take them as mistresses. And whoever rejects the faith, all their good deeds will be void in this life and in the Hereafter they will be among the losers.
