Page 249 - An Index to the Qur'an

her. He said, ‘Maryam, how did you come by day.’ They said, ‘Your Lord knows best how long
this?’ She said, ‘It is from Allah. Allah provides for you have been here. Send one of your number
whoever He wills without any reckoning.’ (3:37) into the city with this silver you have, so he can
All food was lawful for the tribe of Israel except see which food is purest and bring you some of it
what Israel made unlawful for himself before the to eat. But he should go about with caution so
Torah was sent down. Say, ‘Bring the Torah and that no one is aware of you.’ (18:19)
read it out if you are telling the truth.’ (3:93) So they went on until they reached the inhabi-
Today all good things have been made lawful for tants of a town. They asked them for food but
you. And the food of those given the Book is also they refused them hospitality. They found there a
lawful for you and your food is lawful for them. wall about to fall down and he built it up. Musa
So are chaste women from among the believers said, ‘If you had wanted, you could have taken a
and chaste women of those given the Book be- wage for doing that.’ (18:77)
fore you, once you have given them their We did not give them bodies which did not eat
dowries in marriage, not in fornication or taking food, nor were they immortal. (21:8)
them as lovers. But as for anyone who rejects They say, ‘What is the matter with this
faith, his actions will come to nothing and in the Messenger, that he eats food and walks in the
hereafter he will be among the losers. (5:5) market-place? Why has an angel not been sent
The Messiah, the son of Maryam, was only a down to him so that it can be a warner along
Messenger, before whom other Messengers came with him? Why has treasure not been showered
and went. His mother was a woman of truth. down on him? Why does he not have a garden to
Both of them ate food. See how We make the give him food?’ The wrongdoers say, ‘You are
Signs clear to them! Then see how they are per- merely following a man who is bewitched.’
verted! (5:75) (25:7-8)
Anything you catch in the sea is lawful for you, We never sent any Messengers before you who
and all food from it, for your enjoyment and that did not eat food and walk in the market-place.
of travellers, but land game is forbidden for you But We have made some of you a trial for others
while you are in the state of pilgrimage. So have to see if you will be steadfast. Your Lord sees
fear of Allah, Him to Whom you will be gath- everything. (25:20)
ered. (5:96) You who believe! Do not go into the Prophet’s
Say: ‘I do not find, in what has been revealed to rooms except when you are invited to come and
me, any food it is forbidden to eat except for car- eat. Do not wait there while the food is being
rion, flowing blood, and pork–for that is un- cooked. However, when you are called, go in,
clean–or some deviance consecrated to other and when you have eaten, disperse, not remain-
than Allah. But if anyone is forced to eat it, with- ing there to chat with one another. Doing that
out desiring to or going to excess in it, your Lord causes annoyance to the Prophet though he is
is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’ (6:145) too reticent to tell you so. But Allah is not reticent
Then when they (Yusuf's brothers) opened up with the truth. When you ask his wives for some-
their saddlebags and found their merchandise re- thing, ask them from behind a screen. That is
turned to them, they said, ‘Our father! What purer for your hearts and their hearts. It is not
more could we ask! Here is our merchandise re- right for you to cause annoyance to the
turned to us. We can provide our families with Messenger of Allah or ever to marry his wives
food, and guard our brother and get an extra after him. To do that would be a dreadful thing in
load. That is an easy measure to obtain.’ (12:65) Allah’s sight. (33:53)
That was the situation when we woke them up so The Tree of az-Zaqqum is the food of the wicked.
they could question one another. One of them (44:43-44)
asked, ‘How long have you been here?’ They ‘Therefore here today he has no friend nor any
replied, ‘We have been here for a day or part of a food except exuding pus which no one will eat
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