In the name of Allah ,the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Muslim food and Drink

 

The issue of what is right or wrong for one to eat or drink is not an issue of debate just in our times. But it has been an important issue through out the world history.

Humans being with limited knowledge and self desire have made lawful certain substances and made unlawful other substances to themselves and to others. However these man made laws differ from country to country and change from time to time depending on which group of people have the most influence and power. This cycle may repeat many times over through out the history of that nation.

We also see even in our own times human beings being burnt alive because they ate beef. A person may have been found to have eaten a cow by a egatarian people someone in their locality ate a cow. Similarly in the west if the so called animal rights activists had their way people will be slaughtered for eating meat.

However, the same people will find no wrong in drinking alcohol. Alcohol a substance which leads to destruction not just of the individual but the whole society. How many times do we here of a person who killed someone whilst drinking because he was under the influence of Alcohol?

In the Britain for instance we can see humans juggling over whether to legalise drugs such as cannabis. I say juggling because they do not know for certain what the correct thing to do is. Not only are human laws plagued with uncertainty but they are often influenced by the desire of those making the laws.

However, we as Muslims should be should show great gratitude to our Lord that he has not left us to make our own laws and go round in circles making error upon error. It Is a great blessing on the believers that Allah has shown us what is good to eat and drink and what is bad for us to eat and drink.

Allah created us and created the food for us and through His infinite wisdom knows what is beneficial for us and what is harmful for us.

Allah says:

 O mankind! Eat of that which is lawful and good on the earth, and follow not the footsteps of Shaitân (Satan). Verily, he is to you an open enemy. (Quran 2.168)

  O you who believe (in the Oneness of Allah - Islamic Monotheism)! Eat of the lawful things that We have provided you with, and be grateful to Allah, if it is indeed He Whom you worship. (Quran 2.172)

Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Forbidden to you (for food) are: Al‑Maitah (the dead animals — cattle — beast not slaughtered), blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which Allaah’s Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering (that which has been slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allaah, or has been slaughtered for idols) and that which has been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by the goring of horns — and that which has been (partly) eaten by a wild animal — unless you are able to slaughter it (before its death) ‑ and that which is sacrificed (slaughtered) on An‑Nusub (stone‑altars). (Forbidden) also is to use arrows seeking luck or decision; (all) that is Fisqun (disobedience of Allaah and sin). This day, those who disbelieved have given up all hope of your religion; so fear them not, but fear Me. This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. But as for him who is forced by severe hunger, with no inclination to sin (such can eat these above mentioned meats), then surely, Allaah is Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful”

[al-Maa’idah 5:3]

“And why should you not eat of that (meat) on which Allaah’s Name has been pronounced (at the time of slaughtering the animal), while He has explained to you in detail what is forbidden to you, except under compulsion of necessity?”

[al-An’am 6:119]

Allah says :

“O you who believe! Make not unlawful the tayyibaat (all that is good) which Allaah has made lawful to you, and transgress not. Verily, Allaah does not like the transgressors.” [al-Maa’idah 5:87]

“Say: ‘Who has forbidden the adornment with clothes given by Allaah, which He has produced for His slaves, and al-Tayyibaat [all kinds of halaal (lawful) things] of food?’ Say: ‘They are, in the life of this world, for those who believe, (and) exclusively for them (believers) on the Day of Resurrection (the disbelievers will not share them).’ Thus We explain the aayaat (Islamic law) in detail for people who have knowledge.” [al-A‘raaf 7:32]

“Say: ‘Tell me, what provision Allaah has sent down to you! And you have made of it lawful and unlawful.’ Say: ‘has Allaah permitted you (to do so), or do you invent a lie against Allaah?’” [Yoonus 10:59]

Allah has also warned His slave against forbidding anything without knowledge. He said :

“And say not concerning that which your tongues put forth falsely: ‘This is lawful and this is forbidden,’ so as to invent lies against Allaah. Verily, those who invent lies against Allaah will never prosper.” [al-Nahl 16:116]

Insha' Allah in this section we will deal with what is lawful for Muslims (Halal) and what is Unlawful (Haram) for Muslims and the civilised way of eating and drinking.

So what can a Muslim eat and drink?

 

 What can a Muslim not eat

Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Forbidden for you (for food) are: al-maytatah (dead animals – cattle-beast not slaughtered), blood, the flesh of swine, and the meat of that which has been slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allaah, or has been slaughtered for idols, etc., or on which Allaah’s Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering, and that which has been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by the goring of horns – and that which has been (partly) eaten by a wild animal – unless you are able to slaughter it (before its death)…” [al-Maa’idah 5:3].

1 A Muslim can not eat nor drink anything that causes intoxication in any amounts. What intoxicates in large amounts is unlawful in small amounts. In fact a Muslim is not even allowed to sit in a table were alcohol is being served (Detailed article on Alcohol)

a. So Alcohol and products containing or made from Alcohol are Haram (even if all the alcohol has evaporated).

Thus Spirit Vinegar is Haram ( but if Vinegar was produced without using Alcohol then it is lawful)

Vanilla Extract is made  by macerating and percolating vanilla beans in a solution of ethyl alcohol and water and therefore it and products containing it would not be lawful.

b. Narcotics, Heroin, cocaine, marijuana and any other substances which causes intoxication are also forbidden

c. Nutmeg also causes intoxication is also Haram

2 Pig and any products containing pig is Haram

3 All carnivores which have fangs such as lions, tigers, wolves , dogs, cats etc are Haram

4 All birds which have talons such as  hawks, falcons, vultures, eagles etc are haram

It was narrated from Ibn Abbaas that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade all carnivorous animals which have fangs and all birds which have talons.
(Narrated by Muslim, 1934)

Narrated by Abu Dawood (5267) and Ibn Majaah (3224) from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade killing four kinds of animals: ants, bees, hoopoes and sparrow-hawks. Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood

5 Domesticated donkeys are haram

Ali (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) forbade mutah (temporary marriage) in the year of Khaybar and he forbade the meat of domesticated donkeys."
(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5203; Muslim, 1407)

6Animals which we are commanded to kill such as mice, scorpions, snakes are haram

7 Animals that are sacrificed  to anyone other than Allah is haram

8. Any animal that has died (except fish and sea creatures) before being slaughtered in the Islamic manner. (will be described below)

9 Eating or drinking blood is haram.

9 Frogs are haram to eat

Abd al-Rahmaan ibn ‘Uthmaan (may Allaah be pleased with him), according to which a doctor asked the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) about using frogs in medicine, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade killing them.

Narrated by Abu Dawood (5269), classed as saheeh by al-Nawawi in al-Majmoo’ (9/34).

9. Ibn ‘Umar  said The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) forbade eating jallaalah or (drinking) its milk. Narrated by Ahmad, Abu Dawood and at-Tirmidhi who said: (it is) hasan ghareeb. It was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Irwaa’, 2503 (see below for details)

10 Narrated Ibn umar:"Allah's Messenger prohibited eating or drinking the milk of the animal which feeds on filth (Al-Arba'a except An-Nasa'i reported it. At-Tirmidhi graded it hasan)."

 

What  can Muslims eat

1 We can eat all fruit and vegetables.

2 We can eat all fish and sea food but not frogs nor crocodiles as crocodiles have fangs (fish do not have to be slaughtered)

Allah say

Lawful to you is (the pursuit of) water-game and its use for food - for the benefit of yourselves and those who travel...(5:96)

Ibn ‘Abbaas said: “ Sayduhu (lit. hunting, pursuit) refers to whatever is taken from it alive, and ta’aamuhu (lit. its food) means whatever is taken dead.”

3 There are certain animals who are halal (lawful) as long as they have been slaughtered in the Islamic way

These animals are  cows, sheep, lamb, chickens, hens, turkey, ducks, camels, goats, goose, ostrich, etc if they are slaughtered in the halal way.

Allah says

“Eat not (O believers) of that (meat) on which Allah’s Name has not been pronounced (at the time of the slaughtering of the animal)”

[al-An’aam 6:121]

So the halal way of slaughtering an Animal which is regarded as halal to eat is having a sharp knife saying Bismillaah, wa Allaahu akbar (In the name of Allaah and Allaah is Most Great). and then cutting the throat and oesophagus of the animal and letting the blood flow. After the blood has drained out the animal is fit for consumption (note the head can only be cut of after the blood has drained out. It is also sunnah to have the anima's head facing the qibla. note if the animal is killed in any other way (such as by strangulation, electric shock, stunning, poison etc) it becomes Haram to eat.

al-Saheehayn that Anas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) slaughtered two rams with his own hand, and he said Bismillaah and Allaahu akbar. Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 7/130, no. 5554; Muslim, 3/1556, no. 1966; Ahmad, 3/115. 

4 An Animal who is normally allowed to eat but it has fed on haram feed is known as Jallaalah and it cannot be eaten until it has been kept for three days and nights and fed only with halal feed.

It says in Kashshaaf al-Qinaa‘ (6/193): Jallaalah – which refers to animals most of whose food is najis – is haraam, as is its milk, because of the report narrated by Ibn ‘Umar who said: The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) forbade eating jallaalah or (drinking) its milk. Narrated by Ahmad, Abu Dawood and at-Tirmidhi who said: (it is) hasan ghareeb. It was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Irwaa’, 2503…

… (it is haraam) until it has been kept for three days and nights, because if Ibn ‘Umar wanted to eat (such an animal), he would keep it for three days and feed it with pure food, and prevent it from eating impure food, whether it was a bird or animal, because the factor that was preventing it from being halaal would be removed thereby. End quote.

5 Narrated Anas regarding the story of the hare: he (Abu Talha) slaughtered it and sent its launch to Allah's Messenger (SAW) and he accepted it. (Agreed Upon).

6 Narrated Ibn Abu Ammar. I asked jabir, "Is hyena a game ?" He replied, "Yes." I asked "Did Allah's Messenger (SAW) say that?" He replied, "Yes." (Reported by Ahmad and Al-Arba'a. Al-Bukhari and ibn hibban graded it Sahih)

7 Narrated Abu Qatada regarding the Zebra's story; the Prophet (SAW) ate from it. (Agreed upon)

8 Ibn `Umar said that the Prophet said: We have been allowed two dead things and two bloody things: fish and locusts; and liver and spleen. (Ash-Shafi`i, Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and Ad-Daraqutni )  (noe as long as liver and spleen is from an animal which is halal to eat)

9 Certain foods are allowed although the prophet disliked to eat them himself.


“Khaalid ibn al-Waleed reported that some grilled lizard meat was brought to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and put in front of him. He stretched out his hand to take some, but one of the people present said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, it is lizard meat,’ so he pulled his hand back. Khaalid ibn al-Waleed asked, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, is lizard haraam?’ He said, ‘No, but it is not known among my people and I cannot face eating it.’ So Khaalid took some of the lizard meat and ate it, whilst the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) looked on.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 4981, al-Nisaa'i, 4242, and Abu Dawood, 3300).

 

 

Meat of Christians and Jews

The Christians and Jews are regarded people of the book because Allah's messengers came to them with original Bible and Original Torah but the Christians and Jews changed those books and in doing so became Kaffirs. Because they are Ahle Kitab Kaffirs not say other types of kaffirs it is allowed to to eat meat that is slaughtered by them on conditions that the meat is slaughtered and on the condition that animal is of those types which are halal and that the animals throat and oesophagus of the animal are cut and the blood is allowed to flow and that no name other than Allah's is mentioned nor is it dedicated to anyone other than Allah.

 The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was invited to eat some barley bread and other food by a Jewish boy. Narrated by Ahmad, classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Irwa’ al-Ghaleel, 1/71.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and his companions did wudoo’ from the leather water skin of a mushrik woman. Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 337; Muslim, 682

Made lawful to you this day are At-Tayyibat [all kinds of Halal (lawful) foods, which Allah has made lawful (meat of slaughtered eatable animals, etc., milk products, fats, vegetables and fruits, etc.). The food (properly slaughtered cattle, eatable animals, etc.) of the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) is lawful to you and yours is lawful to them. (Lawful to you in marriage) are chaste women from the believers and chaste women from those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians) before your time, when you have given their due Mahr (bridal money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage), desiring chastity (i.e. taking them in legal wedlock) not committing illegal sexual intercourse, nor taking them as girl-friends. And whosoever disbelieves in the Oneness of Allah and in all the other Articles of Faith [i.e. His (Allah's), Angels, His Holy Books, His Messengers, the Day of Resurrection and Al-Qadar (Divine Preordainments)], then fruitless is his work, and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers. (quran 5:5

 

In  reality Christian nowadays kill animals mostly by haram methods. Many scholars say such kind of meat is thus not allowed. Some Jews do slaughter their animals by cutting the animals animals throat and oesophagus and letting the blood flow but it is not clear if they mention any one else's name other than Allah's.

 Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said that some people said to the Prophet (peace be upon him) that a people come to them with meat which they do not know whether they have mentioned the name of Allah upon it or not. The Prophet replied "Mention the name of Allah upon it and eat it (Bukhari)

Also in a multinational company it is not even known who slaughtered the animal. The company may belong to a Jew r Christian but the worker may be Atheist or Hindu, Sikh or Buddhist etc.

 

What if a person is stranded in a desert  or an isolated and there is no halal food to eat?

There are incidences were you will not  find any halal food at all. Not even an apple. You may only find a wild pig. If you do not kill and eat that wild pig then you will die of starvation. In such a case it is allowed for a person to eat a small amount of that pig. Just enough to survive until he can find halal food.

Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Forbidden to you (for food) are: Al‑Maitah (the dead animals — cattle — beast not slaughtered), blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which Allaah’s Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering (that which has been slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allaah, or has been slaughtered for idols) and that which has been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by the goring of horns — and that which has been (partly) eaten by a wild animal — unless you are able to slaughter it (before its death) ‑ and that which is sacrificed (slaughtered) on An‑Nusub (stone‑altars). (Forbidden) also is to use arrows seeking luck or decision; (all) that is Fisqun (disobedience of Allaah and sin). This day, those who disbelieved have given up all hope of your religion; so fear them not, but fear Me. This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. But as for him who is forced by severe hunger, with no inclination to sin (such can eat these above mentioned meats), then surely, Allaah is Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful

[al-Maa’idah 5:3]

It so happened that in Chechnia some of the Mujahideen (Muslim fighters) ran out of food and could not find any food. Some of them died of hunger but one Mujahid managed to spot a wild pig and he killed it.  He ate just enough to survive. Had he not eaten it, he would have also  died like his comrades of starvation. So in this extreme case it was permitted for him to eat the wild pig.

Some Muslim misunderstand this verse and believe that if they are in a city were there is no halal meat then they can eat haram meat. Haram meat is only allowed in a situation were there is absolutely no food at all. One doesn't need meat or fish to survive.

Once a group of new recruits of the Pakistani army were sent on patrol in a deserted area. Their communication equipment failed and they were stranded in that area for 2 weeks. One of them said there was no people and  no animals ( nor were there any fish) but they had lots of fruit there. But even the fruit was raw at that time of the year. He said we grabbed fruits and took a bite and threw it say this is raw. As time went by and we got extremely hungry we picked the raw fruit and said this is fine.  So they survived on that raw fruit for two weeks until the Pakistani Army was able to rescue them.

So there is no excuse for someone eating haram meat if he can find something such as fruits, vegetables or fish to eat. There are people who even live their whole life eating vegetables.

Going to the Masjid whilst eating certain halal foods

Onions and garlic are Halal food and thus we can eat them but as they give a bad oder we should not go to the Masjid after eating them


 Narrated from Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever eats onions, garlic or leeks, let him not approach our mosque, for the angels are annoyed by the same things that annoy the sons of Adam.” Muslim (564)

also ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “O people, you eat two plants which I think are nothing but bad: this onion and garlic. I saw the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), if he noticed their smell on a man in the mosque, ordering that he be taken out to al-Baqee’. Whoever eats them, let him cook them to death.” Muslim (567)

 

Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “It is the duty of every Muslim to do ghusl on Friday, and to use the siwaak and put on perfume, if his family has any.” Ahmad (16445) This hadeeth was classed as saheeh by Shu’ayb al-Arna’oot in his commentary on al-Musnad.


Utensil

Silver and gold cups, plates, utensils, trays, boxes etc cannot be used to eat from or with.

Umm Salamah reported that Prophet said: “The one who eats or drinks from a vessel of gold or silver is putting fire from Hell into his stomach.” (Reported by Muslim, 3/1634).


Utensil of non Muslims

;Although food of the people of the book i.e christians and Jews can be eaten if they mean the condistions mentioned above it should be noted that if their vessels are used for haram  things such as cooking pork or drinking  alcohol then you should avoid using those vessels and if you cannot find anything else then you should wash them with water ,making sure the impurities do not remain in them. As the following hadiths will explain.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was invited to eat some barley bread and other food by a Jewish boy. Narrated by Ahmad, classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Irwa’ al-Ghaleel, 1/71.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and his companions did wudoo’ from the leather water skin of a mushrik woman. Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 337; Muslim, 682

 

Abu Tha’labah al-Khushani   said: I said, “O Prophet of Allaah, I live in a land where there are some of the People of the Book; can we eat from their vessels?” He said: “As for what you said about the People of the Book, if you can find anything else, do not eat from their vessels, but if you cannot find anything else then wash them and eat from them.”  al-Bukhaari (5478) and Muslim (3567)

report from Abu Dawood (3839): “We live next to some of the People of the Book who cook pork in their vessels and drink wine in their vessels.” The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “If you can find anything else, eat from them and drink from them, but if you cannot find anything else, then wash them with water and eat and drink.” Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.


 

Going to a place were Alcohol is served

 

 

 

 

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References

Ahmad (15022), Abu Dawood (2785) and Ibn Maajah (3121) narrated that Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) sacrificed two rams on the day of Eid. When he turned them to face towards the qiblah he said: “Verily, I have turned my face towards Him Who has created the heavens and the earth Haneefa (Islamic Monotheism, i.e. worshipping none but Allaah Alone), and I am not of Al-Mushrikoon .Verily, my Salaah (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allaah, the Lord of the ‘Aalameen (mankind, jinn and all that exists). He has no partner. And of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims’ [cf. al-An’aam 6:79, 162-163]. O Allaah, from You and to You, on behalf of Muhammad and his ummah. In the name of Allah and Allah is most great.” Then he slaughtered them.

The isnaad of this hadeeth may reach the level of hasan as Shu’ayb al-Arna’oot said in Tahqeeq al-Musnad.

It says in al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah (21/196), explaining the etiquette of slaughtering:

The slaughterer should face towards the qiblah and the animal’s neck should be turned to face the qiblah, because Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) disliked eating the meat of any animal that had been slaughtered facing any direction other than the qiblah, and no one among the Sahaabah disagreed with him. That is narrated in some reports from Ibn Sireen and Jaabir ibn Zayd. End quote.

  
It was narrated from Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that he said: On the day of Khaybar, the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade eating the flesh of domestic donkeys, but he granted a concession with regard to horses. Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3982; Muslim, 1941.


It was narrated that Asma’ bint Abi Bakr (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: At the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) we slaughtered a horse and ate it. Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5191; Muslim, 1942.


It was narrated that Jaabir (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: We travelled with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and we used to eat the flesh of horses and drink their milk. Narrated by al-Daaraqutni and al-Bayhaqi. Al-Nawawi said: with a saheeh isnaad

narrated from Khaalid ibn al-Waalid, that he said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade the flesh of horses, mules and donkeys, and every wild animal that has fangs.” Narrated by Abu Dawood, al-Nasaa’i and Ibn Maajah.
This hadeeth is da’eef (weak), and was classed as such by al-Albaani in Da’eef Abi Dawood.


Al-Haafiz Moosa ibn Haroon said: This is a weak hadeeth. Al-Bukhaari said: This hadeeth is subject to further investigation.


Al-Bayhaqi said: This is a mudtarab (faulty) isnaad, and in addition to that it contradicts the ahaadeeth of trustworthy narrators, which say that the meat of horses is permitted. Al-Khattaabi said: There is something wrong with its isnaad. Abu Dawood said: This hadeeth is mansookh (abrogated). Al-Nasaa’i said: The hadeeth which says that it is permissible is more sound. It is more likely, if this is saheeh, that it has been abrogated, because of what it says in the saheeh hadeeth, “

Allah says
He has forbidden you only the Maytatah (dead animals), and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that which is slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allah (or has been slaughtered for idols, etc., on which Allah's Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering). But if one is forced by necessity without wilful disobedience nor transgressing due limits, then there is no sin on him. Truly, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Quran 2.173)

Allah says
Say (O Muhammad ): "I find not in that which has been inspired to me anything forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it, unless it be Maytatah (a dead animal) or blood poured forth (by slaughtering or the like), or the flesh of swine (pork, etc.) for that surely is impure, or impious (unlawful) meat (of an animal) which is slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allah (or has been slaughtered for idols, etc., or on which Allah's Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering). But whosoever is forced by necessity without wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits, (for him) certainly, your Lord is Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful." (Quran 6.145)

Allah says
They ask you (O Muhammad ) what is lawful for them (as food ). Say: "Lawful unto you are At-Tayyibat [all kind of Halal (lawful-good) foods which Allah has made lawful (meat of slaughtered eatable animals, milk products, fats, vegetables and fruits, etc.)]. And those beasts and birds of prey which you have trained as hounds, training and teaching them (to catch) in the manner as directed to you by Allah; so eat of what they catch for you, but pronounce the Name of Allah over it, and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Swift in reckoning."
Made lawful to you this day are At-Tayyibat [all kinds of Halal (lawful) foods, which Allah has made lawful (meat of slaughtered eatable animals, etc., milk products, fats, vegetables and fruits, etc.). The food (slaughtered cattle, eatable animals, etc.) of the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) is lawful to you and yours is lawful to them. (Lawful to you in marriage) are chaste women from the believers and chaste women from those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians) before your time, when you have given their due Mahr (bridal money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage), desiring chastity (i.e. taking them in legal wedlock) not committing illegal sexual intercourse, nor taking them as girl-friends. And whosoever disbelieves in the Oneness of Allah and in all the other Articles of Faith [i.e. His (Allah's), Angels, His Holy Books, His Messengers, the Day of Resurrection and Al-Qadar (Divine Preordainments)], then fruitless is his work, and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers.
O you who believe! When you intend to offer As-Salat (the prayer), wash your faces and your hands (forearms) up to the elbows, rub (by passing wet hands over) your heads, and (wash) your feet up to ankles . If you are in a state of Janaba (i.e. had a sexual discharge), purify yourself (bathe your whole body). But if you are ill or on a journey or any of you comes from answering the call of nature, or you have been in contact with women (i.e. sexual intercourse) and you find no water, then perform Tayammum with clean earth and rub therewith your faces and hands. Allah does not want to place you in difficulty, but He wants to purify you, and to complete His Favour on you that you may be thankful.
And remember Allah's Favour upon you and His Covenant with which He bound you when you said: "We hear and we obey." And fear Allah. Verily, Allah is All-Knower of the secrets of (your) breasts. (Quran 4-7)
 

Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah has prescribed proficiency in all things, so if you kill, kill well, and if you slaughter, slaughter well. Let one of you sharpen his blade and spare suffering to the animal.” Narrated by Muslim, 1955.