Transliteration:( Yaaa ayyuhan naasu kuloo mimmaa fil ardi halaalan taiyibanw wa laa tattabi'oo khutu waatish Shaitaan; innahoo lakum 'aduwwum mubeen )
357. This verse was revealed concerning those idol worshippers who regarded eating of those animals like the she-camel and she goat (Saibah) offered to the idols as unlawful. They are told that they should not regard these animals unlawful to eat i.e. they should eat these animals and accept Islam. Eat everything from the earth which is lawful and clean. From this discussion emerge a few issues:
1. Eating is accordance with Divine Command. He who starves himself to death is a sinner. Hence participating in a hunger strike or fasting unto death is totally unlawful.
2. One should eat from lawfully earned livelihood because anything obtained by unlawful means is forbidden. The Holy Prophet once told Hazrat Sa'd (on whom be peace) "Eat lawful food, it ii a means of acceptance of dua (Prayers)"
3.Saintliness and piety does not mean to make lawful things unlawful upon oneself, but true piety and saintliness will be achieved by abstaining from all types of unlawful and forbidden things.
4. Any animal reared in the name of a saint does not become unlawful as long as it is slaughtered by reciting Allah's name.
5. An infidel converted to Islam is entrusted with Laws of Shariah. Hence. Laws of Shariah cannot be enforced upon the infidels.
358. Anything which is not made unlawful by Allah and His Beloved Rasool is lawful. There is permissibility given for all basic things without any conditions or restraint. as these are mentioned as good and lawful.
The tafsir of Surah Baqarah verse 167 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Baqarah ayat 165 which provides the complete commentary from verse 165 through 167.
(2:168) O people! Eat of the lawful and pure things in the earth and follow not in the footsteps of Satan.[166] For surely he is your open enemy;
166. The demand made here is that they should violate all those taboos in matters of food and drink which have their basis in superstitious beliefs or irrational usages.
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