He, the Exalted, also says, “So eat of what Allah has provided for you—lawful and wholesome—and give thanks for the blessing of Allah, if it is Him that you worship” (Sūrah al-Naḥl 114).

He says, “O mankind, eat of what is on the earth that is lawful and wholesome” (Sūrah al-Baqarah 168), and He says, “O you who believe, eat of the good things We have provided for you and give thanks to Allah, if it is Him that you worship” (Sūrah al-Baqarah 172).

Thus, He has commanded all people in general to eat what is lawful and wholesome, and He has specifically instructed the believers to partake of the good things He has provided for them and to thank Him for His favour. This shows how much attention must be paid to one’s food: a person should be careful about what nourishes his body and must avoid the forbidden.

An authentic ḥadīth further teaches that eating what is forbidden prevents a supplication from being answered. In the ḥadīth of the traveller, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “A man, dishevelled and dust-covered, stretches out his hands toward the sky, crying, ‘My Lord, my Lord,’ while his food is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, his clothing is unlawful, and he has been nourished with what is unlawful—so how can his prayer be answered?” This is an issue of the utmost importance.

Question: I have found a ḥadīth of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) which states: “Pray twelve rakʿahs, whether by night or by day, reciting the tashahhud after every two rakʿahs. When you pronounce the tashahhud in the final sitting, praise Allah, send blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), then—while in prostration—recite Sūrat al-Fātiḥah seven times, the Throne Verse (Āyat al-Kursī) seven times, and say Lā ilāha illā-Allāh waḥdahu lā sharīka lahu, lahu al-mulku wa-huwa ʿalā kulli shayʾin qadīr (There is no deity but Allah alone; He has no partner. His is the dominion, and He is Able to do all things) ten times. Then say: Allāhumma innī …”