Halal For Everyone
Islam permits what is wholesome. As it is written in the holy Qur’an Surah Al Baqarah Chapter 168, Allah addressed all human being by saying
O, mankind, eat from whatever is on earth lawful (Halal) and good (Thoyiban), and do not follow the footstep of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.
To be more specific, Allah emphasize these orders for those believers by saying as it is said in Surah Al Baqarah chapter 172-173.
O you who believe! Eat of the good things that We have provided for you, and be thankful to Allah if it is, He alone whom you worship. Indeed, what He has forbidden to you is the flesh of dead animals and blood and the flesh of swine, and that which has been sacrificed to anyone other than Allah. But if on is compelled by necessity, neither craving (it) nor transgressing, there is no sin on him; indeed, Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
The criteria of what is halal and what is haram were to be based. As it is summarized by Yusuf Qordhawi, the confuse to regard the criteria for making lawful or prohibiting things and actions are based on principles.
1. The Basic Principle (Al-Ashl) refers to the Permissibility of Things
The things that Allah has created, and the benefits derive from them are essentially for humankind’s use and hence permissible. Nothing is haram, instead of what is prohibited in two main sources of Islam (Qur’an and Hadith). If the case found is not sound and referred to them or if it is not clearly stating to prohibit (weak hadith), the original principle of permissibility (Halal) applies.
2. To Make Lawful and to Prohibit Is the Right of Allah Alone
Neither rabbis, priest, king, or sultans authorize to decree Halal or Haram. The right to legislate the halal and haram belong to Allah SWT alone. If someone does this, he has certainly exceeded his limits.
3. Prohibiting the Halal and Permitting the Haram Is Similar to Committing Shirk
Prohibiting something which is halal is similar to committing shirk, and this is why the Qur’an censures the idolaters of Arabia for their polytheism, their idols, and for prohibiting to themselves, without any authority from Allah.
4. The Prohibition of Things Is Due to Their Impurity and Harmfulness
Allah SWT is not arbitrary in what He commands. He will not condemn anything for no reason. Because he is merciful to His servants. He makes things halal and haram based on purity and impurity. He has neither permitted anything except what is wholesome, nor has He prohibited anything except what is dirt.
5. What is Halal Is Sufficient, While What is Haram Is Superfluous
Allah has no desire to make people live difficult, narrow, and circumscribed. On the contrary, He desires ease, goodness, guidance, and mercy for them. For that, Allah limits the choice of His servants in relation to some things. However, Allah provide them with a still wider range of more wholesome alternatives, in relation to other things in similar kind. Islam has prohibited only such things are unnecessary and dispersible, while providing alternative which are better, and give greater ease and comfort to human beings.
6. Whatever Is Conducive to the Haram Is Itself Haram
Islamic principle is that if something is prohibited, anything which leads to it is likewise prohibited. By this means Islam intends to block all avenues leading to what is haram.
7. Falsely Representing the Haram as Halal Is Prohibited
Islam has prohibited whatever leads toward the haram. it has also prohibited everything related to technical legalities to do what is haram, by devious means and excuses inspired by Satan.
8. Good Intentions Do Not Make the Haram Acceptable
The permissible action of believer is accompanied by a good intention, his action becomes an act of worship. But the case of the haram is entirely different, it remains haram no matter how good the intention, how honorable the purpose, or how lofty the aim may be.
9. Doubtful Things Are to be Avoided
The halal is clear, and the haram is clear. Between the two there are doubtful matters. Concerning which people do not know whether it is halal or haram, those who avoid them in term of protection his religion and his honor is safe, while if someone engages in a part of them he may be doing something haram.
10. The Haram Is Prohibited to Everyone Alike
The haram or halal is universally applicable. There’re no such thing rules are permitted to an Arab, will be prohibited to non-Arab. Muslims do not have any privilege to make something haram for others while it is lawful for themselves
11. Necessity Dictate Exceptions
Islam is not oblivious to the emergencies of life, to their magnitude, nor to human weakness and capacity to face them. It permits the Muslim, under the compulsion of necessity to eat a prohibited food in quantities sufficient to remove the necessity and save himself from death.(Tetra)
Halal for everyone by understanding the criteria of halal