An Nahl V.114-128

Majority Blessings

He has only forbidden to you dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allāh. But whoever is forced [by necessity], neither desiring [it] nor transgressing [its limit] – then indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful. [An Nahl:115]
Throughout the whole surah I noticed that Allah (swt) was reminding us of the blessings to which we are usually blind. Shaitan usually makes us think that there are so many things that Allah (swt) has made unlawful for us but from learning this surah I was able to see that this verse shows there are only a numbered amount of things we can not have. Allah (swt) has given us so much and instead of looking at that we stay on what we have been stopped from.

Flesh Of Swine

The flesh of swine has been made unlawful but has anyone ever thought why? Below are some facts regarding the meat of pigs:

• It will eat anything including urine, excrement, dirt, decaying animal flesh, maggots, or decaying vegetables. They will even eat the cancerous growths off other pigs or animals.
• The meat and fat of a pig absorbs toxins like a sponge. Their meat can be 30 times more toxic than beef or venison.
• Pigs and swine are so poisonous that you can hardly kill them with strychnine or other poisons.
• When a pig is butchered, worms and insects take to its flesh sooner and faster than to other animal’s flesh. In a few days the swine flesh is full of worms.
• The pig is so poisonous and filthy, that nature had to prepare him a sewer line or canal running down each leg with an outlet in the bottom of the foot. Out of this hole oozes pus and filth his body cannot pass into its system fast enough. Some of this pus gets into the meat of the pig.

Stating Haram

And do not say about what your tongues assert of untruth, “This is lawful and this is unlawful,” to invent falsehood about Allāh. Indeed, those who invent falsehood about Allāh will not succeed. [An Nahl:116]
We always fall into the trap of telling someone “Do not eat such and such it is haram” but this verse really made me realize that we as humans have no right to say what is halal or haram. Not even the prophet(saw) was able to change the lawful to unlawful so what makes us think we can? Never say something is halal or haram without having sound proof for it.

Important Advice

And be patient, [O Muúammad], and your patience is not but through Allāh. And do not grieve over them and do not be in distress over what they conspire. [An Nahl:127]
When talking to people about Islam we sometimes face difficulties which cause us to give up. However, in passing on the message you will always meet people who are not as willing to listen to you. For this Allah (swt) has given us the best advice which is to be patient and to not grieve. Always remember that we are the ones who convey but Allah (swt) is the one who puts the acceptance in their hearts and that is something we can never make anyone do.

An Nahl V.94-113

Abusing Forgiveness

Then, indeed your Lord, to those who emigrated after they had been compelled [to renounce their religion] and thereafter fought [for the cause of Allāh] and were patient – indeed, your Lord, after that, is Forgiving and Merciful [An Nahl:110]
Anytime that we do something which is against the bounds of Islam we always say that Allah (swt) is merciful so it is okay if we do cross the limits. For example we are hungry and there is no where that sells halal food so instead we eat haram but say Allah will forgive. However, from this verse we learn that you must struggle in the way of Allah (swt) and be patient. Allahs mercy is for those who struggle and not those who abuse His forgiveness.

An Nahl V.77-93

Untwisted Thread

And do not be like she who untwisted her spun thread after it was strong [by] taking your oaths as [means of] deceit between you because one community is more plentiful [in number or wealth] than another community. Allāh only tries you thereby. And He will surely make clear to you on the Day of Resurrection that over which you used to differ. [An Nahl: 92]
Allah (swt) knows us so well that he knows we will use the fact that we are higher than someone else in number or more in wealth to break promises with them. Allah (swt) gives the example of one who breaks their oaths like the one who untwists their spun thread after all that work of spinning it. This example made me think about how silly it is to break oaths, only a crazy person would untwist their thread so what is our state when we go against our promise?