The Creed of Compassion-Islamic Teachings & Answering Doctrinal Misconceptions

Issue No. 2259- The following fourteen parts of halal meat animals, are haram to eat, albeit as an obligatory precaution in some of them:1- Blood2- Male reproductive organs3- Female reproductive organs 4- Womb 5- Glands6- Testicles7- Pituitary gland [1]8- the spinal cord9- The two wide (yellow) nerves which are on both sides of the spinal cord10- Gall bladder11- Spleen12- Urinary bladder13- Pupils14- A part which is in the middle of the hoofs of the animal.The aforementioned body parts are found in large animals, but in small ones like sparrows, if some of these things are not distinguishable or separable, there is no harm in eating them.

Issue No. 2261- It is haram to eat dirt and mud. However, there is no harm in taking a small quantity (less than a pea) of the turbah of Imam al-Husayn (as) for the purpose of healing. It is also permissible to take Dāghestānī or Armenian clay as a medicine if there is no other alternative.

Issue No. 2262- It is haram to eat or drink anything which is significantly harmful to one’s health. Smoking cigarettes and other kinds of tobacco products especially narcotics is also haram whether it be in the form of injecting, smoking, taking or using it in any other way. Similarly, it is haram to produce, buy and sell them or help in the spread of such things. It is obligatory on people who are addicted to cigarettes or narcotics to try for addiction treatment.

Issue No. 2263- If a cow, sheep or camel is penetrated by a human being, aside from the meat becoming haram, its urine and excrement will also be najis as an obligatory precaution, and it is haram to drink its milk too. Such an animal should be slaughtered and its body burnt and he who has had penetrated the animal should pay its price to its owner.

Issue No. 2266- It is haram to sit and eat at a table which people are drinking alcoholic beverages if one is considered as one of them, though the food may be halal.

Issue No. 2268- There are certain recommended rules (with the intention of them hopefully having rewards in the eyes of almighty Allah [swt]) to be observed while having a meal:1- Washing both the hands before having a meal.2- Washing both the hands after having a meal and drying them with a towel.3- The host should begin eating first, and should also be the last to withdraw from the table.4- One should say “بسم الله” before starting to eat and recite “الحمد لله” at the end and in case there are a number of dishes, it is recommended to say “بسم الله” before eating from each of the dishes.5- One should eat with the right hand.6- If several persons are sitting together for their meals, they should partake of the food placed in front of him. 7- One should take small morsels of food.8- One should not eat in a hurry, should prolong the duration of taking a meal, and chew the food thoroughly.9- One should use a toothpick after having a meal to bring out the food particles between the teeth, and also wash the mouth.10- One should avoid throwing away the food which is scattered on the dining cloth. However, if one takes food in an open place, like a desert, etc., it is better to leave the food which has fallen aside for animals and birds to eat.11- One should have two meals a day, in the earlier part of the day and in the earlier part of the night.12- One should take some salt before and after the meal.13- One should wash all fruits before eating them.14- To try one’s best to always have a guest at the meal.

Issue No. 2269- The following acts are regarded as disliked while having a Meal:1- To eat when full.2- To overeat. It has been reported in a hadith that there is nothing worse than a stuffed stomach in the eyes of Allah (swt).3- To look at others’ while eating.4- To eat food while it is still hot.5- To blow on the food or drink which one is eating or drinking.6- To wait for something more after bread has been served on the dining cloth.7- To cut bread with a knife.8- To place a loaf of bread under the food pots or plates or any disrespect to it.9- To peel those fruits which are normally eaten with their skin.10- To throw away the fruit before one has eaten it fully.

Issue No. 2270- According to narrations there are certain acts which are mustaḥab while drinking water. They are as follows:1- Water should be drunk by sipping.2- During daytime, one should drink water while standing.3- One should say “بسم الله” before drinking water and “الحمد لله” after drinking it.4- One should drink water in three breaths, not one.5- One should drink water when one has the inclination.6- After drinking water, one should remember Imam al-Husayn (as) and his family, and curse his killers.

Issue No. 2271- According to narrations, there are a few acts which have been advised against while drinking water:1- To drink too much water.2- To drink water after eating fatty food.3- To drink water while standing during the night.4- To drink water with one’s left hand.5- To drink water from the side of the broken part of the pitcher, or from the side of its handle.

Issue No. 2272- Vow (nadhr) means making it obligatory upon oneself to do some good act or to refrain from doing an act which is better not to do for the sake of Allah.

Issue No. 2273- Vow is of two kinds: 1- A vow which is done in a conditional form, for example one says, “if my patient gets well, I will undertake to do such and such work for Allah”, this is called “Vow of gratitude”, or if I commit such and such a bad work, I will undertake to do a certain good act for Allah, and this is called “Vow for forbiddance”.2- An absolute vow, and that is a kind of vow in which a person, without any restriction or condition, says for example, "I vow to offer Night Prayers for the sake of Allah ". All of these vows are in order.

Issue No. 2275- A vow will be valid if the person making it is mature and sane, and makes the vow with free will and intention. In case, therefore, he has been forced to make a vow or if he makes it owing to anger or losing his control, his vow is not in valid.