XXVI.—LAWFUL FOOD.
No animal is lawful food unless it be slaughtered according to the Muhammadan law, namely, by drawing the knife across the throat and cutting the windpipe, the carotid arteries, and the gullet, repeating at the same time the words "Bismillah Allaho Akbar," i. e. "In the name of the great God." A clean animal, so slaughtered, becomes lawful food for Muslims, whether slaughtered by Jews, Christians, or Muhammadans.
In the "Sharah Wagqaia" it is said that the following creatures are lawful (halál):—
1. Those animals that are cloven-footed and chew the cud, and are not beasts of prey.
2. Birds that do not seize their prey with their claws, or wound them with their bills, but pick up food with their bills.
3. Fish; but no other animals which move in the water.
4. Locusts.
Some commentators say that the horse is lawful; but it is generally held to be "makrúh."
Fish found dead in the water is unlawful; but if it be taken out and die afterwards it is lawful.
Alligators, turtles, crabs, snakes, frogs, etc., are unlawful. Wine is expressly forbidden in the Qurán; and, in the judgment of the learned, this prohibition extends to whatever has a tendency to intoxicate, such as opium, bhang, chars,[1] and tobacco. The Akhund of Swat[2] has issued several "fatwáhs," prohibiting the use of tobacco; but the chilam (or pipe), having become a national institution, no notice has been taken of the inhibition. The Wahhábis do not permit its use. In Trans-Indus territory, the hukka, or chilam, is never allowed in a mosque.
From what we have written, it will be seen that a Muslim can have no religious scruples to eat with a Christian, as long as the food eaten is of a lawful kind. Sayyid Ahmad Khán Bahadur, C.S.I., has written a treatise proving that Muhammadans can eat with the Ahl-i-Kitáb, namely, Jews or Christians. The Muhammadans of India, whilst they will eat food cooked by idolatrous Hindus, refuse to touch that cooked either by Native or European Christians; and they often refuse to allow Christians to draw water from the public wells, although Hindus are permitted to do so. Such objections arise solely from jealousy of race, and an unfriendly feeling towards the ruling power. In Afghanistan and Persia, no such objections exist; and no doubt much evil has been caused by Government allowing Hindustani Musulmans to create a religious custom which has no foundation whatever, except that of national hatred to their English conquerors.