Chance to Remember God: Mention God’s Name Before You Eat
[6:119] Why should you not eat from that upon which GOD’s name has been mentioned? He has detailed for you what is prohibited for you, unless you are forced. Indeed, many people mislead others with their personal opinions, without knowledge. Your Lord is fully aware of the transgressors.
[6:120] You shall avoid obvious sins, as well as the hidden ones. Those who have earned sins will surely pay for their transgressions.
[6:121] Do not eat from that upon which the name of GOD has not been mentioned, for it is an abomination. The devils inspire their allies to argue with you; if you obey them, you will be idol worshipers.*
*6:121 Dietary prohibitions instituted by other than God represent idolatry.
Does the changing of the dietary prohibitions limit to idol worship as in 6:121?
If God gives us a commandment and we choose to follow commandments of someone else that contradicts God’s commandment then by definition we are putting a source beside God and this is idol worship. So since God tells us that we need to mention God’s name before we eat or what is specifically prohibited and if we were to choose to do otherwise then we are committing idol worship.
Does this mean that if someone else’s name is mentioned on that food does it make it an abomination or not?
The act of not saying God’s name is an abomination. The act of saying someone else’s name is an abomination. This does not mean that the food is prohibited.
[6:122] Is one who was dead and we granted him life, and provided him with light that enables him to move among the people, equal to one in total darkness from which he can never exit? The works of the disbelievers are thus adorned in their eyes.
[6:123] We allow the leading criminals of every community to plot and scheme. But they only plot and scheme against their own souls, without perceiving.
6:122 shows that when we questioned God’s absolute authority we were put to death and God granted us life.
Two Deaths and Two Lives for the Disbelievers*
[2:28] How can you disbelieve in GOD when you were dead and He gave you life, then He puts you to death, then He brings you back to life, then to Him you ultimately return?
How is it that we were nothing and God created death?
[19:9] He said, “Thus said your Lord: `It is easy for Me to do. I created you before that, and you were nothing.’ “
[19:67] Did the human being forget that we created him already, and he was nothing?
[76:1] Is it not a fact that there was a time when the human being was nothing to be mentioned?
The nothing may have to do with the physical body not the soul.
There must have been a time that God created the souls that ultimately became the human being and prior to that we were nothing.
We Are Born With Instinctive Knowledge About God*
[7:172] Recall that your Lord summoned all the descendants of Adam, and had them bear witness for themselves: “Am I not your Lord?” They all said, “Yes. We bear witness.” Thus, you cannot say on the Day of Resurrection, “We were not aware of this.”
The communities that become unappreciative are represented by their leaders:
Prohibiting Lawful Food Brings Deprivation
[16:112] GOD cites the example of a community that used to be secure and prosperous, with provisions coming to it from everywhere. But then, it turned unappreciative of GOD’s blessings. Consequently, GOD caused them to taste the hardships of starvation and insecurity. Such is the requital for what they did.
Quran Talk Blog 