قُل لَّآ أَجِدُ فِى مَآ أُوحِىَ إِلَىَّ مُحَرَّمًا عَلَىٰ طَاعِمٍ يَطْعَمُهُۥٓ إِلَّآ أَن يَكُونَ مَيْتَةً أَوْ دَمًا مَّسْفُوحًا أَوْ لَحْمَ خِنزِيرٍ فَإِنَّهُۥ رِجْسٌ أَوْ فِسْقًا أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ ٱللَّهِ بِهِۦ ۚ فَمَنِ ٱضْطُرَّ غَيْرَ بَاغٍ وَلَا عَادٍ فَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ 145
Translations
Say, "I do not find within that which was revealed to me [anything] forbidden to one who would eat it unless it be a dead animal or blood spilled out or the flesh of swine - for indeed, it is impure - or it be [that slaughtered in] disobedience, dedicated to other than Allāh. But whoever is forced [by necessity], neither desiring [it] nor transgressing [its limit], then indeed, your Lord is Forgiving and Merciful."
Transliteration
Qul lā ajidu fī mā uhiya ilayya muharramam alā ṭāʿim yaṭʿamuh illā an yakūna maytah aw daman masfūḥan aw laḥm khanzīr fa-innahu rijsun aw fisqan uhilla li-ghayri-llāh bih; fa-man iḍṭurra ghayra bāghin wa lā ʿādin fa-inna rabbaka ghafūr raḥīm.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah enumerates the four categories of forbidden food in Islam as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad: carrion, spilled blood, pork (which is explicitly called filth), and meat slaughtered in the name of other than Allah. The verse emphasizes that these prohibitions come from Divine revelation, and Ibn Kathir notes this verse represents the complete Islamic dietary law. However, the verse concludes with divine mercy, permitting consumption of these prohibited items only in cases of genuine necessity (ḍarūrah), provided one does not transgress or deliberately seek such situations.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan period and addresses pagan Arab objections to Islamic dietary laws. The broader context of Surah Al-An'am (revealed in Mecca) discusses monotheism and refuting polytheistic practices; this verse specifically counters the pagan practice of dedicating animals to their false gods and their confusion about Islamic dietary restrictions. It is part of the surah's emphasis on following only Allah's clear commands rather than human innovations.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Verily Allah has forbidden you the disobedience of mothers, the withholding of what is due, and demanding what is not due. And He dislikes for you idle talk, excessive questioning, and wasting wealth' (Sahih Bukhari 2408), illustrating the principle of clear prohibition. Additionally, Aisha reported that the Prophet said regarding eating from meat of an animal not slaughtered properly: 'Do not eat thereof' (Sunan Ibn Majah), reinforcing the dietary laws mentioned here.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that Islamic prohibitions are not arbitrary restrictions but divinely ordained for spiritual and physical well-being, while simultaneously demonstrating Allah's infinite mercy through allowances in cases of genuine necessity. For modern believers, it emphasizes the importance of understanding the wisdom behind religious commandments and maintaining integrity in both faith and practice.
Related Ayahs
أَفَغَيْرَ ٱللَّهِ أَبْتَغِى حَكَمًا وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ إِلَيْكُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ مُفَصَّلًا ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ يَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُۥ مُنَزَّلٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۖ فَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْمُمْتَرِينَ
[Say], "Then is it other than Allāh I should seek as judge while it is He who has revealed to you the Book [i.e., the Qur’ān] explained in detail?" And those to whom We [previously] gave the Scripture know that it is sent down from your Lord in truth, so never be among the doubters.
ٱتَّبِعْ مَآ أُوحِىَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ ۖ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ
Follow, [O Muḥammad], what has been revealed to you from your Lord - there is no deity except Him - and turn away from those who associate others with Allāh.
فَلَمَّا جَنَّ عَلَيْهِ ٱلَّيْلُ رَءَا كَوْكَبًا ۖ قَالَ هَـٰذَا رَبِّى ۖ فَلَمَّآ أَفَلَ قَالَ لَآ أُحِبُّ ٱلْـَٔافِلِينَ
So when the night covered him [with darkness], he saw a star. He said, "This is my lord." But when it set, he said, "I like not those that set [i.e., disappear]."
وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أُمَمٍ مِّن قَبْلِكَ فَأَخَذْنَـٰهُم بِٱلْبَأْسَآءِ وَٱلضَّرَّآءِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَضَرَّعُونَ
And We have already sent [messengers] to nations before you, [O Muḥammad]; then We seized them with poverty and hardship that perhaps they might humble themselves [to Us].