They also say:

“A person finds within himself energy and strength for many acts of obedience when he obtains what he loves, even if it is reprehensible and unlawful. Without it, however, he finds no such energy and does not perform those acts. He also refrains from forbidden things when he is compensated with something he loves, even if it is reprehensible; otherwise, he does not refrain.”

Many people fall prey to this specious argument. The answer rests on three points:

The first is that prohibited things fall into two categories. The first category comprises things that are known with certainty never to have been permitted by divine law, whether out of necessity or otherwise: associating partners with Allah, shameful deeds, speaking about Allah without knowledge, and outright injustice. These are the four mentioned in the words of the Most High:

“Say, ‘My Lord has only forbidden shameful deeds, whether committed openly or secretly, sin, unjust aggression, associating with Allah that for which He has sent down no authority, and saying about Allah what you do not know.’”

These things are forbidden under every revealed law. Allah sent all the messengers to prohibit them, and He has never permitted any of them under any circumstances. That is why these prohibitions were revealed in this Meccan surah, and why other things were declared not to be prohibited. For what He prohibited subsequently—such as blood, carrion, and pork—He prohibited in some circumstances but not others; their prohibition is not absolute.