The Qur‘an: an Encyclopedia
‘O you people, eat of what is on earth lawful and good, and do not follow the footsteps of Satan, for he is to you an avowed enemy’ (12.168). This immediately suggests that the issue of food is an important one from a religious point of view: ‘O you who believe, eat of the good things that We have provided for you, and be grateful to God, if it is him you worship’ (12.172). The world has been provided by God with a variety of tasty things to eat, and we need to acknowledge the source of the food when we eat it.
By contrast with other religions, such as Judaism, the rules of acceptable food are simple, and in circumstances of necessity may be relaxed even further. This reflects the merciful nature of God. The underlying message about food is that the 
allows food that is good in itself, and forbids things that are harmful (5.4–5; 7.157). In the case of the Jews, they were punished by having more severe restrictions placed on their diet (3.93; 4.160–161; 6.146), but some of the restrictions about food are similar. The name of God needs to be said over the animal as it is slaughtered and Muslims can eat the food of the People of the Book. The suggestion that the strenuous nature of the laws of kashrut is a means of punishing the Jews for their obduracy is interesting, and the 
does argue that the rules of food to be followed by Muslims, in contrast to those for Jews, are simple, clear and rational.
See also: halal; haram
OLIVER LEAMAN
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