The Quran about permissions
In the name of God, the Gracious, the Merciful
The systems of human control begin to overgrow with additional types of prohibitions. By enslaving a man, the prohibitions put insurmountable obstacles on the way of creative development of the individual. One of the sides of the mission of the prophets was the message to people about the divine provisions, freeing them from the “fetters” of some dogmas, allowing once forbidden things.
All Muslims know the word “halal”, which means “allowed, permitted”.
A great number of books and pamphlets are written on this subject, the provisions of which directly contradict both to themselves and to the Quran.
Consider when this word is used in the Quran.
And I will confirm what was before me of the Torah and to make lawful for you some of what was forbidden to you. And I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, so beware God and obey me! (3:50)
…who commands them what is approved and detain them from what is disapproved and makes lawful for them the good things and prohibits for them the evil and relieves them of their burden and the shackles which were upon them… (7:157)
We see the main tasks set by the Creator for Muhammad. These passages clearly show that the messenger is called upon to help people cleanse themselves from “slagging” of the traditions of “righteous predecessors”, which are contrary to the laws of the Creator. Such an “inheritance” forms a person’s worldview, his attitude to the world around him and reflects on the rules of permissibility and prohibitions.
In particular, one of the persistent problems is the permissibility and prohibition of a certain type of food. However, the Prescription of God puts everything in its place.
O you who have believed! Do not prohibit the good things which God has made lawful to you and do not transgress. Indeed, God does not like transgressors! And eat of what God has provided for you [which is] lawful and good. And beware of God, in whom you are believers! (5:87-88)
Say, “Have you seen what God has sent down to you of provision of which you have made [some] lawful and [some] unlawful?”
Say, “Has God permitted you [to do so], or do you invent lie about God?” (10:59)
Then eat of what God has provided for you [which is] lawful and good. And be grateful for the favor of God, if it is [indeed] Him that you serve! (16:114)
Eat from the good things with which We have provided you and do not transgress therein, lest My discontentment should descend upon you. And he upon whom My discontentment descends has certainly fallen!” (20:81)
Invented in the name of the Lord, prohibitions concern not only food, but also the rules of conduct, as well as the rituals of religion. However, the Prescription of God strictly warns about the consequences of such behavior.
Indeed, the postponing is an increase in closed nature by which those who have closed themselves are led [further] astray. They make it lawful one year and unlawful another year to correspond to the number made unlawful by God and [thus] make lawful what God has made unlawful. Made pleasing to them is the evil of their deeds; and God does not guide the closed people. (9:37)
And do not say about what your tongues assert of untruth, “This is lawful and this is unlawful,” to invent falsehood about God. Indeed, those who invent falsehood about God will not succeed. (16:116)
Being weak, people sometimes “bend” before their human inclinations. This was not avoided even by Muhammad, whom the Lord immediately warned.
O prophet, why do you prohibit what God has made lawful for you, seeking the contentment of your wives? And God is Forgiving and Merciful!
God has already ordained for you the dissolution of your oaths. And God is your Patron! He is the Knowing, the Wise! (66:1-2)
Any thoughtful person sees that there are no indulgences for anyone, including prophets.
Consider what is permitted by God in the Quran.
- In relationship with spouses:
It has been made permissible for you the night preceding fasting to go to your wives for intimacy. They are clothing for you and you are clothing for them (2:187)
This day you are allowed: all good foods, the food of those who were given the Prescription is lawful for you and your food is lawful for them, and women unapproachable without the covenant from among the believers and women unapproachable without the covenant from among those who were given the Prescription before you, when you have given them their due compensation, being unapproachable without the covenant, not depraved and not taking lovers. And whoever closes himself from the faith – his work has become worthless, and he, in the hereafter, will be among the losers. (5:5)
O prophet, indeed We have made lawful to you your wives to whom you have given their due compensation and those dependent on you from what God has returned to you of captives and the daughters of your paternal uncles and the daughters of your paternal aunts and the daughters of your maternal uncles and the daughters of your maternal aunts who emigrated with you and a believing woman if she gives herself to the prophet, if the prophet wishes to have intimate relationships with her, only for you, excluding the believers…(33:50)
2. In the economy:
…But God has permitted trade and has forbidden interest… (2:275)
3. In the consumption of food:
All food was lawful to the children of Israel except what Israel had made unlawful to himself before the Torah was revealed.
Say, “So bring the Torah and recite it, if you should be truthful!” (3:93)
O you who have believed! Fulfill agreements. Lawful for you are the animals of grazing livestock except for that which is recited to you – hunting not being permitted when it is forbidden… (5:1)
They ask you what has been made lawful for them.
Say, “Lawful for you are [all] good foods and what you have trained of hunting animals which you train as God has taught you. So eat of what they catch for you, and mention the name of God upon it, and fear God.” Indeed, God is swift in account! (5:4)
Lawful to you is game from the sea and its food as provision for you and the travelers, but forbidden to you is game from the land as long as you are banned. And beware of God to whom you will be gathered! (5:96)
That [has been commanded], and whoever honors the prohibitions of God – it is best for him in the sight of his Lord.
And permitted to you are the grazing livestock, except what is recited to you. So avoid the abomination of idols and avoid false statement! (22:30)
The word “halal” is also used in the opposite sense, meaning what is not allowed, not permitted.
- In relationship with spouses:
Divorced women remain in waiting for three menstrual periods, and it is not lawful for them to conceal what God has created in their wombs if they believe God and the last day. (2:228)
… And it is not lawful for you to take anything of what you have given them unless both fear that they will not be able to keep within the limits of God… (2:229)
And if he has divorced her for the third time, then she is not lawful to him afterward until she has intimate relationships with a husband other than him. And if the latter husband divorces her, there is no offence upon the woman and her former husband for returning to each other if they think that they can keep within the limits of God. These are the limits of God, which He makes clear to a people who know. (2:230)
O you who have believed! It is not lawful for you to inherit women by compulsion. And do not make difficulties for them in order to take [back] part of what you gave them unless they commit a clear excessiveness. And live with them with the approval. For if you dislike them – perhaps you dislike a thing and God makes therein much good. (4:19)
Not lawful to you are women after [this], nor [is it] for you to exchange them for [other] wives, even if their beauty were to please you, except dependent on you. And ever is God, over all things, an Observer! (33:52)
O you who have believed! When the believing women come to you as emigrants, examine them. God is most knowing as to their faith. And if you know them to be believers, then do not return them to the closed ones; they are not lawful for them, nor are they lawful for them… (60:10)
2. In the pilgrimage:
O you who have believed, seeking bounty from their Lord and [His] contentment! Do not violate the rites of God: the month forbidden for battles or the sacrificial animals and garlanding or secure house forbidden for battles… (5:2)
Everything that is not on the list of God’s permissions is only a product of the human intellect. Only divine prescriptions are timeless, unchangeable and true.