Definition & Principle

**1. Definition:** At'imah (أطعمة) is the plural of ta'ām (طعام) - what a person eats and is nourished by, from staple foods and others, or drinks. --- **2. The Principle:** The Sharia principle regarding what is halal and haram in foods comes from Allah's saying: "Say: I do not find in what has been revealed to me anything forbidden to one who wishes to eat it except that it be carrion, blood poured forth, swine flesh - for that is impure - or sinful [sacrifice] dedicated to other than Allah" [Al-An'am: 145]. And His saying: "And He makes lawful for them the good things and prohibits for them the evil things" [Al-A'raf: 157]. And: "Say: Who has forbidden the adornment of Allah which He has produced for His servants and the good things of provision?" [Al-A'raf: 32]. **"Good things" (tayyibat)** means: what the soul finds pleasant and desires, because food nourishes a person and its effect reflects on his character. Good food has a good effect, and bad food has the opposite. Hence Allah permitted what is good and forbade what is bad. **The default for foods is permissibility** - except what the Legislator has specifically forbidden. Allah says: "And He has detailed for you what He has forbidden you, except that which you are compelled to" [Al-An'am: 119]. --- **This detailing comes in three categories:** 1. What is explicitly stated as permissible 2. What is explicitly stated as forbidden 3. What the Legislator remained silent about **Evidence:** The Prophet ﷺ said: "Allah has made obligatory duties, so do not neglect them; He set limits, so do not transgress them; He forbade things, so do not violate them; and He remained silent about things - as a mercy to you, not out of forgetfulness - so do not search them out" [Daraqutni - hasan].