Islamic Knowledge

What can a Muslim not eat

Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Forbidden for you (for food) are: al-maytatah (dead animals – cattle-beast not slaughtered), blood, the flesh of swine, and the meat of that which has been slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allaah, or has been slaughtered for idols, etc., or on which Allaah’s Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering, and that which has been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by the goring of horns – and that which has been (partly) eaten by a wild animal – unless you are able to slaughter it (before its death)…” [al-Maa’idah 5:3].

1 A Muslim can not eat nor drink anything that causes intoxication in any amounts. What intoxicates in large amounts is unlawful in small amounts. In fact a Muslim is not even allowed to sit in a table were alcohol is being served 

a. So Alcohol and products containing or made from Alcohol are Haram (even if all the alcohol has evaporated).

Thus Spirit Vinegar is Haram ( but if Vinegar was produced without using Alcohol then it is lawful)

Vanilla Extract is made  by macerating and percolating vanilla beans in a solution of ethyl alcohol and water and therefore it and products containing it would not be lawful.

b. Narcotics, Heroin, cocaine, marijuana and any other substances which causes intoxication are also forbidden

c. Nutmeg also causes intoxication is also Haram

2 Pig and any products containing pig is Haram

3 All carnivores which have fangs such as lions, tigers, wolves , dogs, cats etc are Haram

4 All birds which have talons such as  hawks, falcons, vultures, eagles etc are haram

It was narrated from Ibn Abbaas that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade all carnivorous animals which have fangs and all birds which have talons. 
(Narrated by Muslim, 1934)

Narrated by Abu Dawood (5267) and Ibn Majaah (3224) from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade killing four kinds of animals: ants, bees, hoopoes and sparrow-hawks. Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood

5 Domesticated donkeys are haram

Ali (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) forbade mutah (temporary marriage) in the year of Khaybar and he forbade the meat of domesticated donkeys." 
(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5203; Muslim, 1407)

6Animals which we are commanded to kill such as mice, scorpions, snakes are haram

7 Animals that are sacrificed  to anyone other than Allah is haram

8. Any animal that has died (except fish and sea creatures) before being slaughtered in the Islamic manner. (will be described below)

9 Eating or drinking blood is haram.

9 Frogs are haram to eat

Abd al-Rahmaan ibn ‘Uthmaan (may Allaah be pleased with him), according to which a doctor asked the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) about using frogs in medicine, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade killing them. 

Narrated by Abu Dawood (5269), classed as saheeh by al-Nawawi in al-Majmoo’ (9/34). 

9. Ibn ‘Umar  said The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) forbade eating jallaalah or (drinking) its milk. Narrated by Ahmad, Abu Dawood and at-Tirmidhi who said: (it is) hasan ghareeb. It was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Irwaa’, 2503 (see below for details)

10 Narrated Ibn umar:"Allah's Messenger prohibited eating or drinking the milk of the animal which feeds on filth (Al-Arba'a except An-Nasa'i reported it. At-Tirmidhi graded it hasan)."