Islam Its Belief and Practices - Radical Truth

138 ISLAM ITS BELIEFS AND PRACTICES MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS 139
Food And Drink.
AIl quadrupeds that seize their prey with their teeth.
and all birds which seize with their talons. are unlawful.
Rooks are mubiil} (indifferent): but carrion crows and ravens
are unlawful. The flesh of horse is makruh (disliked).
Dogs. swine. and dead animals are unlawful. No aquatic
animal is lawful except fish. Fishes which. dying themselves.
float upon the surface of the water. are
abominated. Fermented liquor is unlawful; unfermented
liquor (nam4l!) is lawful.
The Use of Gold And Silver Vessels.
It is not allowable. either to men or women. to use a
vessel of gold or silver in eating drinking. or in keeping
perfume. Mul;tammad said: "He who drinks out of a
vessel of silver or gold. the fire of hell shall enter into his
belly." Similarly the use of a golden or silver spoon is
abominable. as also the use of a silver or golden bodkin for
drawing antimony along the eyelids. or of boxes for
holding antimony. or any other thing made of these
metals.
The use of vessels of lead. glass. crystal. and agate. is
permitted. Similarly it is allowable to drink out of a
wooden vessel ornamented with silver. provided the
particular part to which the lip is applied be void of it.
In the same manner. also. it is permitted to ride'upon a
saddle intervowen with silver. provided the space
alloted for the seat be plain; and this rule likewise holds
with respect to a couch or sofa.
Dress.
A dress of silk is not lawfu' for men; but women are
permitted to wear it. A small quantity of silk. such as
three or four fingers breadth. used as a fringe or border to
. a garment. or applied to any such purpose. is allowable.
Ornaments.
Men are prohibited from the use of ornaments of
gold or silver such as rings. An exception, however, is
made with respect to signet-rings. girdles or swords; the
use of silver in ornamenting these being approved.
Clothing An Infant.
It is abominable in any person to clothe his infant
child in a dress of silk, with ornaments of gold.
Vain Superfluities.
Vain superfluities are not allowable. The custom of
keeping handkerchiefs, as is frequently practised. is abominable.
Many. however. hold that it is allowable, if done
from motives of necessity.
In Dealing With Women.
It is not permitted to look at strange women, except
in the face. and palm of the hands. which is allowable.
If. however. a man be not secure from the impulse of
lust, it is not allowed to look even at the face of a woman,
except in cases of absolute necessity.
It is not lawful for a man to touch the hand of a
strange woman, notwithstanding he have a control over
his lust. Mul;tammad said: 'Whosoever toucheth a
strange woman. shall be scorched in the hand with hot
cinders on the day of judgment."
A Qa