The Teaching of Islam Meant to Protects Our Health

The Ease of Islam

In the previous article, it is already explained about the urgency to consume only lawful foods and dwell into legal business, together with the harms of unlawful foods and business, and what-to-dos regarding the realization of Islamic concepts over foods and business.

Similar to concepts in other matters, Islam has established clear principles in an easy and complete manner, which are aimed to protect the health of one’s soul, body, and mind. Islam legalizes all things that bring goodness and benefits toward human’s soul, body, and mind, and forbids all harmful things to them. As Allah -may He be Exalted and Glorified- declared:

“O people! Eat of the lawful and pure things in the earth and follow not in the footsteps of Satan. For surely he is your open enemy.” (2:168)

“Believers! Eat of the pure things wherewith We have provided you for sustenance and give thanks to Allah if it is Him that you serve.” (2:172)

Allah -may He be Exalted and Glorified- also has revealed in the Torah and Gospel about the characteristic of His messenger -may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him- that is, he legalizes all things that is good and forbids all bad things, as He decreed:

“(Today this Mercy is for) those who follow the ummi Prophet, whom they find mentioned in the Torah and the Gospel that they have. He enjoins upon them what is good and forbids them what is evil. He makes the clean things lawful to them and prohibits all corrupt things and removes from them their burdens and the shackles that were upon them.” (7:157)

Likewise, Islam prohibits all foods and beverages that could harm one’s body and mind, or even kill him, such as any poisonous things and illegal drugs, and this prohibition exits in Allah’s decree:

“and do not kill yourselves. Surely Allah is ever Compassionate to you. And whoever does this by way of transgression and injustice We shall surely cast him into the Fire; that indeed is quite easy for Allah.” (4:29-30)

All harmful things are forbidden to be consumed, including the dirts, such as carcass and the like. These guidances indeed show the ease of Islamic teaching and it’s huge concerns over men’s welfare.

Do not be extreme!

However, the limitation of consuming something good depends upon necessity, without over taking it, or under taking it (being tights-fist). Hence, we are not allowed to forbid the lawful things in shari’a, or to legalize the unlawful matters. Because establishing the rules of lawful or unlawful is the privilege of Allah and His messengers, and not of all man. Allah decreed:

“Say (O Muhammad): “Who has forbidden the adornment which Allah has brought forth for His creatures or the good things from among the means of sustenance?” Say: “These are for the enjoyment of the believers in this world, and shall be exclusively theirs on the Day of Resurrection.” Thus do We clearly expound Our revelations for those who have knowledge. “ (7:32)

and in His verse:

“Did you consider that the sustenance which Allah had sent down for you of your own accord you have declared some of it as unlawful and some as lawful?” Ask them: “Did Allah bestow upon you any authority for this or do you forge lies against Allah?” Think how those who invent lies against Him will be treated on the Day of Judgement? Allah is bountiful to people yet most of them do not give thanks.” (10:59-60)

Thus, Allah has declared in The Qur’an:

“Believers! Do not hold as unlawful the good things which Allah has made lawful to you, and do not exceed the bounds of right. Allah does not love those who transgress the bounds of right. And partake of the lawful, good things which Allah has provided you as sustenance, and refrain from disobeying Allah in Whom you believe.” (5:87-88)

Allah disgraces someone who legalize the unlawful things, and vice versa

The trespassing of Allah’ command in this matter, if it comes to the level of legalizing the unlawful and forbidding the lawful, is a very censured matter. Look how Allah disgraced the Jews and the Christians who obey their rabbis and their monks, in legalizing the unlawful and forbidding the lawful, as He revealed in His book:

“They take their rabbis and their monks for their lords apart from Allah, and also the Messiah, son of Mary, whereas they were commanded to worship none but the One True God. There is no god but He. Exalted be He above those whom they associate with Him in His Divinity.” (9:31)

And likewise, He disgraced the pagans who legalized the carcass which has been forbidden for them and forbade for themselves several cattle of which He has legalized, due to their fanaticism to their ancestors and their haste in following their lust. Allah has explained this in His verse:

“Allah has neither appointed (cattle consecrated to idols such as) Bahirah, Sa’ibah Wasilah nor Ham; but those who disbelieve forge lies against Allah and of them most have no understanding (and therefore succumb to such superstitions). When they are asked: “Come to what Allah has revealed, and come to the Messenger,” they reply: “The way of our forefathers suffices us.” (Will they continue to follow their forefathers) even though their forefathers might have known nothing, and might have been on the wrong way?” (5:103-103)

Thus, we shall obey all of Allah’s commands and avoid all of His prohibitions so that we will be safe from His humiliations and punishments.

Be grateful for these graces!

All the ease, graces, and sustenance bestowed upon us are granted so that we’ll be grateful to Him. Allah decreed:

“Believers! Eat of the pure things wherewith We have provided you for sustenance and give thanks to Allah if it is Him that you serve.” (2:172)

Being grateful, includes the testimony by one’s heart that all the goods come from Allah only, and he shows his grateful by words, and uses it as means to reach Allah’s please. By the completion of these three pillars of grateful, the gratitude will be perfect. And Allah will lavish double fold of His provisions, or even more, thus they become his way to gain happiness and joys in this world and in the Hereafter. But if one could not have it, then the provisions will be the cause of his dooms and destruction, as Allah has told us:

“Also call to mind when your Lord proclaimed: “If you give thanks, I will certainly grant you more; but if you are ungrateful for My favours, My chastisement is terrible.” (14:7)

And His verse:

“Do they fancy that Our continuing to give them wealth and children (means) that We are busy lavishing on them all kinds of good? Nay, they do not perceive the reality of the matter.” (23:55-56)

Hopefully, by recognizing these will make us to be grateful upon all of His graces.

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Author: Ustadz Kholid Syamhudi, Lc.

Article of www.whatisquran.com

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