Surah 1-2 - YasSarNal QuR'aN

Al-Baqarah (The Cow) | SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHTIn establishing the above restrictions, however, Islam takes account of thecircumstances under which they would apply. Necessities could arise which wouldentail a measured lifting or relaxation of those restrictions. These are dictated strictlyby the need at the time, and on condition that consumption of forbidden meat is not,in any way, permitted for reasons of self-indulgence or in defiance of God’sinstructions.“But he who is driven by necessity, not intending to transgress nor exceeding his need,incurs no sin. God is much-Forgiving, Merciful.” (Verse 173) This is a general Islamicprinciple in all matters of this kind, and can be extended to situations of a similarnature. Any life-threatening situation creates a necessity which would allow a personto eat or drink forbidden things if alternatives cannot be found, within the conditionsmentioned above.Scholars differ in their definition of what constitutes necessity. Are the situationsin which necessity exists only those specifically cited by God, or could other, similarcircumstances be included? Nor is there any consensus of opinion among scholars onwhat constitutes relieving the necessity: is it confined to the smallest of measures, oris it a full meal or drink? However, we are happy to confine our discussion here topointing out the general principles that are of relevance in these matters, withoutdiscussing these differences in detail.Suppression of God’s RevelationsThe Jews created considerable controversy around the Qur’ānic pronouncementson permissible and forbidden food and drink. Elsewhere, the Qur’ān informs us ofother types of meat that had been forbidden to the Jews but which Muslims wereallowed to eat: “To those who followed the Jewish faith did We forbid all animals that haveclaws; and We forbade them the fat of both oxen and sheep, except that which is in their backsand entrails or what is mixed with their bones.” (6: 146) All these are lawful to Muslims.The Jews might have disputed this relaxation of the earlier prohibition. They evenargued about other forbidden things, although these were forbidden them in theirown Scriptures. Their aim, of which they never lost sight, was to create doubts aboutQur’ānic commandments and undermine the fact that they were revealed by God.This explains the strong denunciation of those who suppress what they know to heGod’s revelation. “Those who suppress any part of the Scriptures God has revealed, andbarter it away for a paltry price, eat nothing but fire in their bellies. God will not speak tothem on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them. A grievous suffering awaits them.It is they who barter guidance for error and forgiveness for suffering. How great is theirendurance of the Fire! That is because God has revealed the Book with the truth. Those whoare at variance with the Book are most deeply in the wrong.” (Verses 174-176)185