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THE QUR'ANIC IMPERATIVES ON DIETETICS

(Al-Ghadhaiyat) The first Divine injunctions in respect to human diet are found in the Qur'an. Since the health of the soul is linked to the health of the body and since both are interdependent and interrelated, the Creator of man,

Himself, cognizant of the biological needs of man, prescribed Halal and nourishing (Tayyab) food and prevented man from eating Haram and unhealthy food. Since diet is instrumental in preserving the health of man and since food controls the biological phenomena of the human body Muslim doctors and medical experts pondered over the Qur'anic verses and the jurists, exegetists, biographers and historians explained the verses in the light of the Prophetic Traditions (Ahadith dealing with Tibb-an-Nabawi-Prophetic Medicine), which gave rise to the primary Arabic medical literature. The doctors, physicians, surgeons and experts in other fields of medicine were inspired by the same religious injunctions and followed the dietary laws of the Qur'an in their medical treatment in order to save mankind from illness and physical infirmity. There is neither space nor occasion to deal with such verses in detail, yet a cursory glance over the verse dealing directly with dietetics will assist us in understanding the philosophy of medical treatment in Islam. The Qur'an addresses both the believers and the non-believers in regard to their diet. Addressing humans in general the Qur'an commands:

The believers have also been addressed in a similar tone:

From the Qur'anic verses it is evident that lawful (Halal) food is regarded as a prerequisite for the maintenance of sound health whilst the forbidden and unlawful (Haram) food has been described as injurious and impious to health, causing illness and physical ailments. The recurring theme of Halal food leads us to believe that prevention is better than cure. Haram food leads man to offensive and sinful deeds while Halal food leads him to licit deeds. The following verses merit our attention:

Eat of the good things what We have provided for you. (But they rebelled). To Us they did no harm, but they harmed their own souls (11:57).

So eat and drink of the sustenance provided by God, and do not evil nor mischief on the (face of the) earth (11:60).

0, ye who believe! Make not unlawful, the good things which God hath made lawful for you. But commit no excess for God loveth not those given to excess. Eat of the things, which God hath provided for you, lawful and good (Halal and Tayyab); but fear God in whom ye believe (V: 90-91).

Eat what God hath provided for you, and follow not the footsteps of Satan, for he is to you an avowed enemy (VI: 142).

Eat the good things We have provided for you, (But they rebelled). They did no harm, but they harmed their own souls (VII: 160).

But (now) enjoy what ye took in war, lawful and good: But fear God for God is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful (VIII: 69).

So eat of the sustenance which God hath provided for you, lawful and good (Halal and Tayyab). And be grateful for the favours of God, if it is He whom ye serve (XVI: 114).

Eat of the good things We have provided for your sustenance, but commit no excess therein, lest My Wrath should justly descend on you: and those on whom descends My Wrath do perish indeed! (XX: 81).

In addition to its emphasis on Halal and Tayyab food, the Qur'an also lays stress on eating the meat of such animals which have been slaughtered in the name of Allah. Consuming of non-Halal meat has been described as sinful (Fisq) which leads to moral depravity and dissolute life:

1. So eat of (meats) on which God's name hath been pronounced, if ye have faith in His Sings. Why should ye not eat of (meats) on which God's name hath been pronounced, when He hath explained to you in detail what is forbidden to you except under compulsion of necessity? But many do mislead (men) by their appetites unchecked by knowledge. Thy lord knoweth best those who transgress (VI: 118-119).
2. Eat not of (meats) on which God's name hath not been pronounced: that would be impiety (Fisq). But the evil ones ever inspire their friends to contend with you. If ye were to obey them, ye would indeed be Pagans. (VI: 121).

The overindulgence and wastage of food have been condemned by Allah in the following words:

The Qur'anic verse clearly indicates that good and Halal (lawful) diet stimulates man for virtuous and pious deeds (A'mal-i-Saleh) and creates Godly character. Addressing His own Messengers, Allah guides them in the following words:

Although the later verses are symbolical descriptions of life in heaven, they are down to earth. The bliss of righteousness is the result of the bliss of Halal and good sustenance, which provides individual bliss as well as the social bliss together with individual satisfaction that one obtains through sound health and pious works. It is only those who do good works, which are products of good and pure diet, shall have the throne of dignity. The words 'eating' and 'drinking', if taken in the non-literal sense, generate enormous meanings. They also imply that one should neither eat up the money of the orphans, widows or the weak, nor should one earn his livelihood through Haram means, that is, injustice, theft, forgery, exploitation etc. There is no bliss (Baraka) in life today since seldom do we eat the earnings of Halal money or Halal sources.

The Arabic imperatives (Kulu: eat) have been used throughout the Qur'an. They are very significant since the jurists interpret the imperatives as a collective duty (Fard al-Kifaya). Excessive eating or wastage (Israf) has been forbidden by the Qur'an. Contemporary medical science has been very much concerned with regulating food intake (dieting) and using normal healthy food for the nourishment and preservation of health.

In Islam the sanctity of human life can beevaluated in many verses in the Qur'an, which allow man to eat non-Halal food in emergencies, namely, if his life is in danger or medical necessities demand administering such food to the patient in order to save his life. The Qur'an first lists Haram foods and then relaxes the dietary laws only to save human life - a sacred trust (Amana) from God given to man.

Thus the Holy Qur'an spells out the infallible Divine Wisdom and Infinite Mercies of the Creator to man who is but endowed with limited and fallible wisdom and finite vision.