Prohibitions Regarding Food, Drink, and Clothing

[1] Islam forbids wine and all types of addictive drugs, whether they are ingested, inhaled or injected. Allah (SWT) says:

 O you who believe! Intoxicants (all kinds of alcoholic drinks), gambling, stone altars on which the polytheists slaughtered to their idols, arrows for seeking luck or decision are an abomination of Satan’s handiwork; so avoid (strictly all) that (abomination) in order that you may be successful. * Satan wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants (alcoholic drinks, etc.) and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah and from the Prayer. So, will you not then abstain? [5:90-1]

 In order to prevent those who seek to profit through its sale or aid in its spread, the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

 “Allah has cursed wine, the one who pours it, the one who drinks it, the one who squeezes it, the one who it was squeezed for, the one who carries it, the one it is carried to, the one who sells it, the one who buys it, and the one who profits from it.” [Abu Dawood]

 With this, Islam preserves the mind and other senses from anything which would harm or damage them. It also seeks to safeguard mankind from falling to the level of creation which has no awareness. As is well-known, those who drink alcohol or take drugs would become addicted to them. Therefore, he would try to appease this urge by acquiring money by any means; even if it means stealing and killing. One must keep in mind, the atrocious crimes people commit against other’s honor and chastity on account of these substances. For this reason, Islam refers to it being the ‘mother’ of all great sins. [2] Islam has forbidden the consumption of carrion, pigs, and all other things mentioned in Allah’s (SWT) Words:

 Forbidden to you (for food) are: al-maytah (dead animals – cattle-beast not slaughtered) blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which Allah’s Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering [the meat of which has been slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allah, or has been slaughtered for idols, etc.], 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 (before its death) and that which is sacrificed (slaughtered) on stone altars. (Forbidden) also is to use arrows seeking decision, (all) that is disobedience of Allah and sin. [5:3]

 It is not lawful to eat things which were slaughtered, and over which the Name of Allah was not mentioned, or intentionally left aside. Allah (SWT) 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), for sure it is a sin and disobedience of Allah.) [6:121]

It has forbidden the meat of animals which have canine teeth; such as lions, leopards, wolves and the like. It has also forbidden birds that have talons such as eagles, falcons, hawks and other birds of prey. It has forbidden all types of food or drink which are harmful to one’s body, such as cigarettes and similar things. Allah (SWT) says:

And do not kill yourselves (nor kill one another). Surely, Allah is Most Merciful to you.  [4:29]

[3] It has forbidden men from wearing silk, gold, and silver, but has deemed them permissible for women. The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“Indeed Allah made the wearing of silk and gold permissible for the women of my Ummah, but forbidden for its men.” [Nasaai]

It is not allowed for both males and females, though, to eat or drink from utensils made from either gold or silver, for the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

 “Do not drink from gold or silver utensils and do not eat from its plate for indeed it is for them the disbelievers in this life and for us in the next.” [al-Bukhari]