Importance of Halaal Food

The creation of Insaan

Allah Ta’ala has granted existence to Insaan through the body and the Ruh (soul). The most important is the Ruh as a body without a Ruh will merely be a corpse although it may be very beautiful, robust and well-built.

Allah Ta’ala said: 

"Undoubtedly, the one who purified it (the soul) has become successful." (91:9)

Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: 

"...Certainly there is a piece of flesh in the body. If it is rectified, the entire body will be rectified and if it is corrupted, the entire body will be corrupted. Certainly this piece is the heart." [Bukhari - reported by Hazrat Nou'man Ibn Bashir (Radiyallahu Anhu)]

Nonetheless, this body also has its importance as a Ruh cannot exist without a body. There must be a body through which this Ruh may exist.

In order for this body to remain fit and healthy, Allah has created certain needs which this body requires such as eating, drinking, clothing, etc. And in order to fulfil these necessities, one should get some income and money. This is the system that Allah Ta’ala has established in this world.

The income must be Halaal

However, to acquire this money and income, Islam has advocated that they must be Halaal. It should not emanate from a Haraam source.

Allah Ta’ala said: 

"O you Rasul! Eat from the pure (good) things and do good acts. Verily I am aware of what you do." (23:51)

This verse shows that if a person consumes Halaal food, his actions also will be good as Allah Ta’ala mentioned good deed immediately after Halaal food. A clear example is that when a fuel (petrol, fuel, oil, etc.) in a machine is good and pure and there is no mixture or dirt, its performance also is good and the machine functions properly. And if there is a mixture and dirt, not only will the machine not function properly, but it will also be affected and break down.

In other words, if the food consumed is Halaal, the actions that ensue also will be good, there will be a yearning to do good deeds, Nur in the heart and disgust for Gunaah. On the other hand, if the food is not Halaal, there will be the tendency to do bad deeds, there will be no Nur in the heart and there will be a disinterest and disgust for good deeds.

We also realise from this Aayah that when Allah has commanded the Prophets (who are Insaan chosen by Allah Ta’ala and are Ma'sum - innocent) to consume Halaal food, this law will apply even more to us - ordinary Muslims like us. Therefore, we should be more careful in this regard.

The one who consumes Haraam food, his Dua is not accepted

Among the misdeeds of Haraam Rozi, is that the Dua of this person is not accepted although he may be making Dua with great devotion and sincerity and is in a great difficulty and is deserving of his Dua being accepted.

Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: 

"O people! Certainly Allah Ta’ala is pure and He accepts solely actions that are pure. And certainly Allah has given the same command to the believers that He has given to His messengers (Rasul) - he said: (O messengers! Consume things that are pure (Halaal) and do good deeds, certainly I know what you are doing.) And Allah said: (O those who have Imaan! Consume the pure things that we have granted you.) And then, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) mentioned regarding a person who has undertaken a long journey, his hair is dishevelled and full of dust, he raised both his hands towards the sky (he makes Dua) and says: O my Rabb! O my Rabb! While his food is Haraam, his drink is Haraam, his clothing is Haraam and he is nourished with Haraam, so how will Allah accept this person's Dua." (Muslim and Tirmizi - reported by Hazrat Abu Hurairah (Rahmatullahi Alaiyh))

[English version of "L’importance de nourriture halaal" – Al Jamiat – Vol.1 No.12]