The Quran about prohibitions
In the name of God, the Gracious, the Merciful
Multiple types of prohibitions are widespread in human control systems. The established limitations help to maintain order in economic and material relations in society.
Religions of people also relate to such systems, because spiritual life needs to be regulated. The difference in prohibitions is only that there are Divine prohibitions reflected in the Prescription, and human ones, reflected in the tradition. To attention of the reader is offered a selection of divine prohibitions from the Quran.
Everyone who identifies himself with the Muslims knows the word “haram”, which means “forbidden.” A great number of books and pamphlets have been written on this subject. Sometimes the prescriptions given in them directly contradict both themselves and the Quran.
Let’s consider where this word applies to in the Quran:
- Expulsion of people from their homes:
…although their eviction was forbidden to you… (2:85)
2. Prohibitions in food:
He has only forbidden to you dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than God. But whoever is forced, neither desiring [it] nor transgressing [its limit], there is no sin upon him. Indeed, God is Forgiving and Merciful. (2:173)
Prohibited to you are dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than God, and [those animals] killed by strangling or by a violent blow or by a head-long fall or by the goring of horns, and those from which a wild animal has eaten, except what you [are able to] slaughter [before its death], and those which are sacrificed on stone altars, and [prohibited is] that you seek decision through divining arrows…(5:3)
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… (5:96)
And why should you not eat of that upon which the name of God has been mentioned while He has explained in detail to you what He has forbidden you, excepting that to which you are compelled. And indeed do many lead [others] astray through their [own] passions without knowledge. Indeed, your Lord – He is most knowing of the transgressors. (6:119)
Say, “I do not find within that which was suggested to me forbidden to one who would eat it unless it be a dead animal or blood spilled out or the flesh of swine or that dedicated to other than God – for indeed, it is abomination and apostasy! But whoever is forced, neither desiring nor transgressing, then indeed, your Lord is Forgiving and Merciful!” (6:145)
He has only forbidden to you dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than God. But whoever is forced, neither desiring [it] nor transgressing – then indeed, God is Forgiving and Merciful! (16:115)
3. Economic prohibitions:
…But God has permitted trade and has forbidden interest… (2:275)
4. Forbidden Marriages:
Prohibited to you for intimate relationships are your mothers, your daughters, your sisters, your father’s sisters, your mother’s sisters, your brother’s daughters, your sister’s daughters, your milk mothers who nursed you, your sisters through nursing, your wives’ mothers, and your step-daughters under your guardianship born of your wives unto whom you have gone in, but if you have not gone in unto them, there is no offence upon you if you have intimacy with them, and wives of your sons who are from your own loins. It is prohibited to gather together two sisters, except for what has already occurred.
Prohibited are women who are inaccessible without the covenant, except for those dependent on you, prescribed to you by God… (4:23-24)
Male fornicator has no right to have intimate relationships except with a female fornicator or the one who ascribe partners to God. Female fornicator has no right to have intimate relationships except with a male fornicator or the one who ascribe partners to God. That has been made unlawful to the believers! (24:3)
5. Prohibitions for Jews:
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)
For wrongdoing on the part of the Jews, We made unlawful for them pleasant things which had been lawful to them, and for their averting from the way of God many. (4:160)
God said, “Then indeed, it is forbidden to them for forty years [in which] they will wander throughout the land. So do not grieve over the apostates!” (5:26)
And to those who are Jews We prohibited every animal of uncloven hoof; and of the cattle and the sheep We prohibited to them their fat, except what adheres to their backs or the entrails or what is joined with bone… (6:146)
And to those who are Jews We have prohibited that which We related to you before. And We did not wrong them [thereby], but they were wronging themselves! (16:118)
6. The prohibition of polytheism:
Say, “Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited to you, that you not associate anything with Him! (6:151)
7. Prohibition on murder:
…And do not kill the personality which God has forbidden except by [legal] right. This is His testament for you that you may use reason.” (6:151)
And do not kill the personality which God has forbidden, except by right. And whoever is killed unjustly – We have given his heir the authority, but let him not exceed limits in taking the life. Indeed, he has been helped! (17:33)
8. Prohibition of excessiveness:
Say, “My Lord has only forbidden excessiveness… (7:33)
9. The prohibition of sins:
…what is apparent of them and what is concealed – and sin… (7:33)
10. Prohibition of enmity:
…and oppression without right… (7:33)
Everything that is not included in the list of forbidden by God, is a product of the human intellect, which has limited influence. Only divine settings are timeless and unchangeable prescriptions.