It is related that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said to Malik: “Malik, why are you not speaking?” Malik replied, “Rather, speak, and I will listen to you.”

“Or were you witnesses”—that is, present—“when Allah enjoined this upon you? Who, then, is more unjust than one who invents a lie about Allah in order to lead people astray without knowledge?” It was said that this refers to Amr ibn Luhayy and those who followed his way after him. “Surely Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.”

He then explained that declaring things lawful or unlawful is determined by revelation and divine sending-down. Thus He said: “Say, ‘In what has been revealed to me, I find nothing forbidden…’” It is related that they said, “Then what is forbidden?” Thereupon it was revealed: “Say,” O Muhammad, “In what has been revealed to me, I find nothing forbidden”—that is, anything prohibited—“for anyone who wishes to eat it,” that is, for an eater who eats it, “except that it be carrion.”

Ibn Amir and Abu Jafar recited “that it be” with the feminine form, and “carrion” in the nominative: that is, “except that carrion occur.” Ibn Kathir and Hamzah recited “that it be” with the feminine form, and “carrion” in the accusative, on the basis of an implied feminine noun: that is, “except that the creature,” or “the carcass, be dead.” The remaining reciters read “that it be” with the masculine form, and “carrion” in the accusative; meaning, “except that the food be carrion.” (1)

“Or blood poured forth,” meaning, blood that is shed and flowing. Ibn Abbas said: This means what comes out of an animal while it is alive, and what flows from the veins and the jugular veins at slaughter. It does not include the liver or spleen, because both are solid; the Sacred Law has declared them lawful. Nor does it include blood mixed with meat, because it is not flowing.

Imran ibn Hudayr said: “I asked Abu Mijlaz about blood that becomes mixed with meat, and about a cooking pot in which the redness of blood can be seen. He replied, ‘There is no harm in it. The prohibition concerns only blood that is poured forth.’”

Ibrahim said: “There is no harm in blood remaining in a vein or in the brain, except blood that has been deliberately shed.” Ikrimah said: “Were it not for this verse, the Muslims would have removed from the veins what the Jews remove.”

“Or the flesh of swine—for it is impure—or an act of disobedience: that which has been dedicated to other than Allah.” This is whatever has been slaughtered while invoking a name other than that of Allah, exalted is He. Some scholars held that prohibition is confined to these things. This view is related from Aishah and Ibn Abbas. They said: Included under carrion are the strangled animal, the animal killed by a blow, and those mentioned at the beginning of Surah al-Ma'idah. (2)

Most scholars hold that prohibition is not confined to these things. What is prohibited by the explicit text of the Book is what has been mentioned here. (3)