Book of Foodstuffs
Introduction
The singular form is ṭaʿām (food). Linguistically it is a “plural of paucity,” yet once the definite article is attached it conveys universality, referring to everything that is eaten or drunk.

Allah the Exalted says, “Indeed, Allah will test you with a river: whoever drinks from it is not of me, and whoever does not taste it is indeed of me.” (al-Baqarah 2:249). Al-Qurṭubī remarked, “This demonstrates that water is considered food.”

In Taysīr al-ʿAllām we read: “The default ruling for food, drink, and clothing is permissibility; nothing from these is unlawful except what Allah and His Messenger have declared forbidden, for they fall under the general sphere of customs that begin as permissible. What has been prohibited is limited and specifically enumerated, which proves that whatever is left unmentioned remains upon its original state—pardon and allowance.”

The foundation of this principle is the Prophet’s—peace and blessings be upon him—description of his law: “He makes lawful for them the wholesome things and forbids them the impure.” (al-Aʿrāf 7:157). This statement covers everything to be eaten or drunk: anything not deemed impure is wholesome and lawful. Hence it includes every variety of grain and fruit—the most expansive lawful category—together with all sea creatures, the eight classes of livestock, horses, birds, chickens, peacocks, and the like among animals and fowl, except whatever is impure.

Impurity is identified through several indicators: