In the above illustration the circle shows all possible activities, foods, items etc. Each color indicates a category that a deed or item may fall into according to its nature.
In Quran [7:157], we read the following:
Who follow the messenger, the gentile Prophet, described in the Torah and the Gospel, who bids things noble and forbids things vile, makes Halal what is clean, and makes Haram what is foul, who relieves them of their burdens, and the yoke that lies upon them. Those who believe and honor and help him, and follow the light sent with him, are those who will attain their goal.Q[7:157], describes what the Prophet does:
- Bids/commands things noble/good (يَأْمُرُهُم بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ)
- Forbids things vile (يَنْهَىٰهُمْ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ)
- Makes Halal what is clean/pure (يُحِلُّ لَهُمُ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ)
- Makes Haram what is foul/wicked/deceitful (يُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْخَبَـٰٓئِثَ)
- Relives of the burdens (عَنْهُمْ إِصْرَهُمْ وَٱلْأَغْلَـٰلَ ٱلَّتِى كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ)
Since Prophet is obligated to follow the Quran, I will briefly explain 4 of them using Quran below:
1 - Bids things noble/goodGod bids/commands what is good:
Verily God has enjoined justice, the doing of good, and the giving of gifts to your relatives; and forbidden indecency, impropriety and oppression. He warns you so that you may remember. Q[16:90]God also bids/commands what is both good and bad, But only for the good aspects of it:
And fight those (who fight you) wheresoever you find them, and expel them from the place they had turned you out from. Oppression is worse than killing. Do not fight them by the Holy Mosque unless they fight you there. If they do, then slay them: Such is the requital for unbelievers. Q[2:191]
I've failed to find a good example of something which is neutral (neither good nor bad), and enjoined by God, and of course, God does not bid/command what is bad and harmful.
2 - Forbids things vileGod forbids what is bad:
Verily God has enjoined justice, the doing of good, and the giving of gifts to your relatives; and forbidden indecency, impropriety and oppression. He warns you so that you may remember. Q[16:90]O you who believe, avoid most suspicions: Some suspicions are indeed sins. So do not pry into others' secrets and do not backbite. Would any of you like to eat a dead brother's flesh? You would surely be revolted by it Then fear God. He is certainly forgiving and kind. Q[49:12]God forbids what is both good and bad, but only for the bad aspects of it:
They ask you of intoxicants and gambling. Tell them: "There is great enervation though profit in them for men; but their enervation is greater than benefit. And they ask you what they should give. Tell them: "The utmost you can spare." So does God reveal His signs: You may haply reflect. Q[2:219] O believers, this intoxicants and gambling, these idols, and these arrows you use for divination, are all acts of Satan; so keep away from them. You may haply prosper. Q[5:90]I've failed to find a good example of something which is neutral (neither good nor bad).
3 - Makes Halal what is clean/pureIn order to make something Halal, first, it must be haram, or there must be a group of people that already made that thing Haram and not practicing it, otherwise there would be no sense to make something halal while people are, without any doubt, considering it as something which is not Haram and practicing it; unless for confirmation or clearing doubts about it. Also it must be something pure/clean/good.
O you who believe, fulfill your obligations. Made Halal (as food) for you are animals except those mentioned (here); but Haram during Pilgrimage is game. God ordains whatsoever He wills. Q[5:1]
They ask you what is lawful for them. Say: "All things are Halal for you that are clean, and what the trained hunting animals take for you as you have trained then, in the light of God's teachings, but read over them the name of God, and fear (straying from the path of) God, for God is swift in the reckoning." Q[5:4]Q[5:1] and Q[5:4] are either confirmatory or making something Halal which has already been Haram. (We can expect that people practiced eating meat of those animals, clean foods and hunting before Quran)
I (have come to) confirm the truth of the Torah which was sent down before me, and make certain things Halal which have been Haram until now; and I come to you with a sign from your Lord; so be fearful of God and follow me. Q[3:50]Q[3:50], making things Halal which have been Haram, therefore nothing confirmatory.
4 - Makes Haram what is foul/wicked/deceitfulWhether something is already considered Haram or Halal, there have to be a clear explicit statement from God for that certain action or item to be labeled Haram, see Q[6:150,144].
As I've shown in the illustration, Haram can include, Good and clean things, bad and wrong things, neutral things, and that which may have both good and bad aspects.
Haram to you are carrion and blood, and the flesh of the swine, and whatsoever has been killed in the name of some other than God, and whatever has been strangled, or killed by a blow or a fall, or by goring, or that which has been mauled by wild beasts unless slaughtered while still alive; and that which has been slaughtered at altars, and also dividing the meat by casting lots with arrows. All this is sinful. Today the unbelievers have lost every hope of (despoiling) your creed; so do not fear them, fear Me. Today I have perfected your system of belief and bestowed My favours upon you in full, and have chosen submission as the creed for you. If one of you is driven by hunger without the evil intent of sinning, then God is forgiving and kind. Q[5:3]From Q[5:3],
- Carrion, blood may fall into the category of "Bad/Wrong/Harmful/nonsensical" in the illustration and overlapped by the "red" shape.
- The Flesh of the swine, and whatsoever has been killed in the name of some other than God may fall in to the category of "Good/Right/Beneficial", because by mentioning name of false god(s) does not make the food physically impure, and because made Haram by God, therefore overlapped by the red shape.
- Animals which has been strangled, or killed by a blow or a fall, or by goring my fall under the category of "neutral" or "mix" or even "Bad, and overlapped by the red shape for being Haram.
In Q[4:23], Marrying with Foster Sister may fall under the category of either "neutral" or "Good/Right/Beneficial", overlapped by the red shape in the illustration.
In Q[6:151], All falls under category of "Bad/Wrong/Harmful/nonsensical, overlapped by the red shape in the illustration"
For wrongdoing on the part of the Jews, We made unlawful for them [certain] good foods which had been lawful to them, and for their averting from the way of God many [people], Q[4:160]Q[4:160], clearly states that God can make
good things Haram if He wills.
As I've proven by use of Quranic verses that, Haram less thing to do with Bad and Good, more with God's will and command. Therefore, Haram in my view, is a set of deeds and/or items which God makes it Forbidden for a certain group of people, differs from one Prophet to another, and they don't have to have any [rational/scientific] reason(s) behind them. Marrying Animals and consuming alcohol are in the category of "al-munkar" and not Haram, that is why Quran uses the word(s)/term "faijtaniboo" (=stay away) which does the second duty {=2 - Forbids things vile (يَنْهَىٰهُمْ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ)} instead of "Hurrimat AAalaykum" (=made Haram for you) which would be the fourth one {=4 - Makes Haram what is foul/wicked/deceitful (يُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْخَبَـٰٓئِثَ)}.
The above paragraph and the illustration, show my "strange" concepts regarding Halal/Haram.
I'm always open to change my view, in the light of good coherent arguments or a better understanding than what I've provided above.
I apologize for the length of my post. Thanks.
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