of grains, fruits, and other things. Nothing impure is lawful, such as carrion and blood; nor is anything harmful, such as poison and the like, ........
His statement, “of grains,” clarifies his statement, “every pure thing.” Grains include wheat, rice, barley, lentils, beans, and the like.
His statement, “fruits and other things,” includes dates, figs, grapes, oranges, and the like. Enumerating the various kinds may be difficult, and we cannot encompass them all; but we have the general principle: “Everything pure that contains no harm.”
His statement, “Nothing impure is lawful, such as carrion and blood”: We may add a third category: swine, for Allah, Exalted is He, says:
“Say: I do not find in what has been revealed to me anything forbidden to one who eats it, unless it be carrion, spilled blood, or the flesh of swine—for indeed it is impure.”
Citing this verse as evidence is more appropriate than citing the verse mentioned by the author of al-Rawd (1), namely His saying, “Forbidden to you are carrion and blood ...” to the end of the verse, because that verse does not explicitly state that these things are impure.
His statement, “nor is anything harmful”: The evidence for the prohibition of whatever causes harm is found in the Quran and the sunnah.
From the Quran is the saying of Allah, Exalted is He: “And do not throw yourselves into destruction with your own hands” [al-Baqarah 2:195]. And He says: “And do not kill yourselves” [al-Nisa 4:29]. The prohibition against killing oneself also entails a prohibition of its causes. Thus, everything that leads to harm is forbidden. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “There should be neither harm nor reciprocating harm” (2). It may also be supported by the saying of Allah, Exalted is He: “And if you are