A Comprehensive List of All Prohibitions as per Quran

What is Halal and What is Haram as per Quran?

In order to establish Halal and Haram as per Quran, there are two words which are extremely important in order to understand the Quranic commandments (1) Tayyibaat and (2) Zayyin.

What is Tayyibaat and Zayyin/Zynat as per Quran?

• Tayyibaat: TAYYIBAN (طَيِّبًا) TAYYIBAAT (طَيِّبَاتِ) normally translated as good – the word is much broader in its meanings in three broader categories of definitions. (1) It means something that one like, is the best and ones’ most favorite. (2) It means something that is pleasant to all our senses as well as our soul – nafs. And (3) something that is lawful, as per the laws of the land, legally acquired. When Allah uses the phrase “Kulu Halalan and Tayyiban” in Quran for instance in the ayahs 2:168, 5:88, 8:69, 16:114, it is used as a combination of all such things, which are pleasant to someone, in terms of all our senses; the most favorite and valuable to someone and legally acquired and legally allowed as per the laws of the land and the laws of the Deen.

 

• Zeenat: ZAYYIN/ ZUYYINA (زُيِّنَ) normally translated as beautification or adornment, jewellery, ornaments, etc. In Quran it is used in the meanings of anything which is enjoyment of this worldly life, which is in addition to our needs or requirements, and which attracts us or anything that looks beautiful or attractive to us aesthetically or as per our fitrat. The ayah 3:14 describes the word Zayyain while at the same time it is highlighting all the areas which are Zayyin to us as humans – as part of our nature or fitrat, [Quran 3:14] “Zayyin/Zaynat for people is the love of that which they desire – of women and sons, heaped-up sums of gold and silver, fine branded horses and cattle and tilled land. That is the enjoyment of worldly life, but Allah has with Him the best return.” Therefore, as per this ayah the word Zayyin/Zaynat means anything which people love, desire and it is there for their enjoyment of this worldly life.

In light of the meanings and the concept of the above two most important words Tayyibaat and Zayyin, when Allah says in the Ayah:

[Quran 7:32] Say, “Who has forbidden the Zyynat of Allah which Allah has produced for Allah’s Aabid and the Tayyibaat from Rizq?” Say, “They are for those who have Emaan during the worldly life and exclusively for them on the Day of Resurrection.” Thus, do WE detail the Ayaat for a people who know. 

This ayah clearly shows that the Zayyin/Zeenat are also provided by Allah as Rizq – that is ways and means of our personality and character development and is provided to Allah’s Ibaad (those who do Abd of Allah – who follow laws of Allah) as enjoyment of this worldly life and hence cannot be prohibited and considered Haram. Additionally, these would be exclusively for Allah’s Aabid on the day of Resurrection.  Also no one can prohibit what Allah has not prohibited. All of Allah’s creations and bounties are there as Rizq during the worldly life, all these which we are attracted to and looks good to us as per our nature, as per Tayyibaat, are allowed and are in fact these are the ways and means of our personality and character development.

 

Role of Hadith in Matters of Deen:

First and foremost, all the rules the commandments of Allah are mentioned in Quran and constitute the DEEN. Since Allah is the only Hikm, the only lawmaker, the only judge in matters of Deen, whatever Allah has ordained for us, is mentioned in Quran. Thus, if anything is mentioned & followed as a law, has to be as per Quran.  Secondly, we need to realize that Allah’s Rasool would never go against Quran. Any hadith, that contradicts the Quran, cannot and must not be relied upon or believed to be authentic. Any hadith that falsely attributed to the Nabi Muhammad PBUH, anything that contradicts Quran cannot be authentic. A Nabi or a Rasool would always be living example of the Quran itself and can never say anything which contradicts the Divine guidance.

 

List of All Prohibitions as per Quran:

Following are the List of All Prohibitions which are mentioned in Quran, since we cannot take any new ruling outside of Quran, therefore If something is not mentioned in the list below must not be considered as prohibited by Allah in DEEN:

1. To do Shirk with Allah in anything – Reference Ayah # 6:151 , 7:33
2. To follow the laws/path other than Allah’s – Reference Ayah # 6:153
3. To say About Allah what you do not know – Reference Ayah # 7:33
4. Not to do Ahsan with Parents – Reference Ayah # 6:151
5. To Qatal your Children – Reference Ayah # 6:151 , 6:137 , 6:140
6. To Qatal any Nafs, except with Haqq – Reference Ayah # 6:151
7. To come near the property & wealth of the Yateem, except with Ahsan – Reference Ayah # 6:152
8. To Marry Mushrikeen – Reference Ayah # 2:221
9. To Marry Certain Relations – Reference Ayah # 4:23 to 4:24
10. To go near Fahasha, whether outward or inward (openly or in private): Reference Ayah # 6:151 , 7:33 , 16:90
11. To do or engage in any form of Is’m – Reference Ayah # 7:33
12. Baghy in any form – Reference Ayah # 7:33 , 16:90
13. To go against/without Haqq – Absolute Truth, opposite to Baatil, Absolute justice & Duties – Reference Ayah # 7:33
14. Munkir is Haram i.e., Opposite of Ma’roof, Deception of others, selfishness, Denier of Haqq – Reference Ayah # 16:90
15. Riba is prohibited while Ba’iya is allowed – Reference Ayah # 2:275 to 276
16. Maitata (Mayyat) The Dead – Reference Ayah # 5:03 , 6:145 , 16:115 , 2:173
17. Blood – Reference Ayah # 5:03 , 6:145 , 16:115 , 2:173
18. Meat/Flesh of Pigs – Reference Ayah # 5:03 , 6:145 , 16:115 , 2:173
19. What has been dedicated to other than Allah – Reference Ayah # 5:03 , 6:145 , 16:115 , 2:173
20. Something Strangled/suffocated to death – Reference Ayah # 5:03 , 6:145 , 16:115
21. To Hit Fatally or Killed Violently – Reference Ayah # 5:03 , 6:145 , 16:115
22. Killing to death by horns, or gored by horns or gored to death – Reference Ayah # 5:03 , 6:145 , 16:115
23. What sacrificed on Altars and Divining arrows – Reference Ayah # 5:03 , 6:145 , 16:115

 

What about something we assume but not mentioned in the list?

Anything else which is not mentioned in Quran as prohibited, we cannot consider it Haram, since it is not deemed Haram by Allah. In the same scenario anything which is not mentioned as Prohibited in Quran then it is permitted/Halal. Outside the list of prohibitions mentioned in Quran, no human being, including the Nabi Mohammad (PBUH) himself, can make or declare anything as Haram.

Also we need to keep in mind that the above list of prohibitions has been described in details time and time again in Quran through multiple Ayaat and this list is extremely comprehensive. Since Allah has detailed each and every prohibition as per Deen in the Quran it is not possible that anything could be missed, ignored or left to mention. Each and every Allah’s commandment has been mentioned in detail and nothing is ignored or left out from the Quran. Even if twice the quantity of the water of the whole of this earth would have been ink, the ink would have been exhausted, but Allah’s word would not. This means that Allah did not run out of his words. Refer the ayahs below.

[Quran 31:27] “And if whatever trees upon the earth were pens and the sea, replenished thereafter by seven seas, the words of Allah would not be exhausted. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise”

[Quran 6:38] …..We have not neglected/missed/ignored anything in the book. ……

As per the general rule of exclusion that everything else is included, therefore, anything outside the list of prohibitions as mentioned in Quran is allowed as long as they remain within the parameter and boundaries of Deen. No transgression is allowed, even if anything is deemed allowed by Quran. Furthermore, such things can be allowed or disallowed, permitted or prevented, and made legal or illegal by the laws of the land for any jurisdiction by any authority. For instance, multiple marriages may be allowed as per the Deen i.e., laws of Islam, but if not allowed as per the laws of the land, for example in North America, would be illegal to go against the law of the land as per Quran as well, and thus not allowed.

Additionally, every permitted/Halal thing needs to be organized and controlled by the people as every society could have different rules and regulations for their people, culture, custom, and tradition. For example, driving a car is permitted/legal/Halal but it must be organized & controlled by the different traffic laws and personnel as enacted in every jurisdiction/country, and so on.

A comprehensive and details explanation over the above list of prohibitions as per Quran which are deemed Haram as per explicit Ayahs and instructions would be discussed in the subsequent articles and are divided in five broad sections as

1. All prohibitions related to Allah;
2. All prohibitions related to Inter-personal Relations & our Dealings with other human beings;
3. All prohibitions related to Moral, Ethical and Decency Guidelines;
4. All prohibitions related to Ribaa and Trade/Commerce and;
5. All prohibitions related to Food & Consumption of any kind.

P.S None, of the aspects as normally considered Haram by Muslims and as illustrated in this, is mentioned as haram/prohibited by Quran