SOME OF THE UNLAWFUL ANIMALS

VERSE NO. 145

      In order to make distinct the false prohibition from the true unlawful; the prophet is ordered to say:

      ``I do not find in the religion inspired to me anything unlawful to be eaten, except;

      1- The carrion which is dead or decaying flesh.

      2- The blood which is shed out of the animal's body. The blood shed out is to be distinguished from the blood adhering to the flesh, or to the liver or to such other internal organs purifying the blood.

      3- The swine flesh which is filthy, and wickedness

      4- And the meat which has been slaughtered by the sinful act of invoking a name on it, apart from Allah. ''

   These prohibitions and unlawfuls can be lawfuls in emergency cases, when someone is constrained to eat them, and if he avoids to eat' will endanger his life. Of course, the emergency use of these is not unconditioned, and they should neither eat desiring nor exceeding the moderate limits of want.

* * * * *

      (The latter two items of prohibitions and unlawful meats the swine flesh, and the meat dedicated to idols are also strictly declared as unlawful in the Law of Moses and Jesus. We read in: LEVITICUS- 11: 7-8

      Do not eat swine flesh, for the pigs are filthy. They do not chew the cud, but they have divided hoofs. So do not eat the flesh of these animals and even do not touch their dead bodies. The pigs are unclean animals.

      As for the meat dedicated to idols, we read in: EXODUS- 22: 20

      ``Condemn to death anyone who offers sacrifices to any god except Me.''

      And also we read in: ACTS - 7: 39

      Then our ancestors said: ``We do not know what has happened to Moses... It was then that they made an idol in the shape of a calf and they offered sacrifices to it. So God turned away from them and gave them over to worship the stars, as it is written in the Book of the prophets: People of Israel! It was not to Me that you slaughtered and sacrificed animals.''

      CORINTHIANS - 8: 1-4 You asked about eating the food offered to idols. We know that an idol stands for something that do not really exist....

(TRANSLATOR'S NOTE)