The Qur’an and the Source of Food

Our Lord, the All-Wise, has emphasized upon various knowledges, insights and understandings that are as easy to perceive as the naked eye is able to see the light of the sun in broad daylight.

In the Qur’an, Allah has made it clear that this sacred book is the source of knowledge, instruction and guidance that contains the “Absolute Truth” (Al Haqqul Yaqin) – thus any version of the truth that is being disputed by His Creation will be judged by none other than the Qur’an alone for those who think and for those who believe.

In the Qur’an, Allah has emphasized that this Sacred Book has the function and role of “distinguishing or separating” (Al Furqan) between what is good and what is bad, between what is right and what is wrong, between what is black and what is white, which is very clear and plain for those who think and for those who believe in it.

In the Qur’an, Allah has also emphasized that this Sacred Book has a function and role that can ‘explain everything’ (Tibiyanan Likulli sha’in), explaining everything in the life of the human world along with its universe. Therefore, the source of knowledge and insight that is able to explain the understanding of the absolute truth of the various intellectual-rational knowledges and insights that we have obtained during the process of our educational journey, of course, is none other than the Qur’an alone for those who think and for those who believe in it.

Based on the methodologies above, we therefore try to offer our opinion on the Qur’an and the Source of Human Food today.

When it comes to the subject of the type of food that should be consumed, the Qur’an often stresses on two terms and conditions, that is, it must be halal and good (thayyib). Below are some of the verses that highlight these two characteristics, among others:

Surah Al-Baqarah verse 168

يٰٓاَيُّهَا النَّاسُ كُلُوۡا مِمَّا فِى الۡاَرۡضِ حَلٰلًا طَيِّبًا وَّلَا تَتَّبِعُوۡا خُطُوٰتِ الشَّيۡطٰنِؕ اِنَّهٗ لَـكُمۡ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِيۡنٌ‏ ١٦٨

“O mankind, eat from whatever is on earth [that is] lawful and good and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.”

Surah Al-Maidah verse 88

وَكُلُوۡا مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ اللّٰهُ حَلٰلًا طَيِّبًا وَّ اتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ الَّذِىۡۤ اَنۡـتُمۡ بِهٖ مُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ‏ ٨٨

“And eat of what Allāh has provided for you [which is] lawful and good. And fear Allāh, in whom you are believers.”

Surah An-Nahl ayat 114

فَكُلُوۡا مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ اللّٰهُ حَلٰلًا طَيِّبًا وَّاشۡكُرُوۡا نِعۡمَتَ اللّٰهِ اِنۡ كُنۡـتُمۡ اِيَّاهُ تَعۡبُدُوۡنَ‏ ١١٤

“Then eat of what Allāh has provided for you [which is] lawful and good. And be grateful for the favor of Allāh, if it is [indeed] Him that you worship.“

The terms and conditions of halalan thoyyiban in our food sources indicate that the food that should be consumed by humans must meet the requirements of both. Something is not called halal if it is not good (thoyyib), on the other hand, something is not called good (thoyyib) if it is obtained from something that is not halal, so halal and thoyyib are two multiparallel characteristics that cannot be separated from one another. With the fulfillment of these halal and thoyyib requirements, it will certainly bring goodness, blessings and Allah’s grace to the food consumed by man. Farmers and traders (entrepreneurs) who are engaged in the provision, management and processing of food sources wherever they are today, should be critical, vigilant and cautious in carrying out their activities. Because if not, the impact and disastrous consequences will greet them tomorrow, whether they like it or not, whether they are ready or not, whether they accept it or not, sooner or later.

Imam al-Ghazali (may Allah have mercy on him) likened the source of food in Islam to the foundation of a building. According to him, when the foundation is strong and sturdy, the building will stand tall and firm. Similarly, if the foundation is weak and fragile, the building will also be weak, fragile, crumble and collapse in the end.

The implementation of Halal and Thoyyib in the world of food has disappeared in the world of modern agriculture. So that the health of the human body, morals, mentality, faith and genetics become unssutainable (weak, fragile, crumble and collapse). “We are what we eat,” (our reality is made up of what we eat) is not an empty saying. And sadly, the Qur’an, which was revealed around 1446 years ago, has provided insight into this matter.

Causes of non-thoyyib food sources

There are two things of the main causes of food sources become non-halal and thoyyib that is circulating and being consumed by humans on a daily basis today. The causes and effects or fitrah that absolutely c when men have defied the laws and rules of their God.

1. Corruption and Exploitation of the Natural World. The method of managing and processing food source raw materials conducted by conventional and modern agriculture and its industry players today, is filled with corruption and exploitation of nature that leads to damage to the natural ecosystems created by God. The use of technology that damages the environment, the massive use of synthetic chemical fertilizers, pesticides; herbicides; insecticides on a massive scale, which ultimately destroys the nature of the balance and equity of the ecosystem of life on this earth, which has been created in the highest form by Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Gracious.
2. The forgotten spiritualism. Worldly lust (invisible shirk). The intention or vision and mission in the world of agriculture, plantations, livestock, forestry and natural resource management today is no longer aimed at the common good among fellow mankind, the common good between man and other living creatures, and the common good between man and the surrounding nature. The existence of God Almighty in all their life activities has been ignored and the existence of materialism, hedonism, egoism, power and all forms of illusory beauty of the world have become new gods for them. In such a way social justice, respect, love and compassion, slowly but surely, have left the sphere of their hearts.

If we are not concerned or have not the slightest empathy for the causes of this non-halal and thoyyib food sources, then look with our own physical eyes and the eyes of our heart at the impacts and consequences that have occurred because of it.

Impacts and Consequences

The non-thoyyib food sources consumed by humans will have a significant and very destructive impact. Because not only the loss we will get in this world’s short life, but the biggest and worst loss is on the eternal Hereafter or on the day of our judgment.

1. In terms of human body health (physical). Food sources that are not thoyyib reduce and even eliminate the function and role of food itself as a source of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals for the human immune system. So that the development of the body and the immune system will be weakened and even damaged so that various diseases will bombard our body both natural and man-made diseases.
2. In terms of human mentality and morality. In addition to damaging the human body (physically) albeit indirectly (instantly), non-toyyib food sources can also cause genetic changes in human nature that ultimately affect human orientation in terms of mentality and morality. For example, abnormalities in sexual orientation (same-sex relationships), gender orientation, etc.
3. In terms of human faith (spirituality). Food sources that are not thoyyib not only cause damage to humans, but actually from the beginning of its cultivation, sadly, have damaged on a permanent scale the balance of natural ecosystems created by Allah. So the term “extinction” was born within the balance of the ecosystem. Such food sources when consumed, of course, will no longer bring grace and blessings from Allah. In such a way, the heart in the chest, which has been blessed by Allah with sight and hearing to understand oneself, the world and God, no longer functions as it should. So the faith and spirituality of humans will slowly but surely diminish and even disappear from human civilization itself.

The LGBTQ+++ movement that is spreading throughout the world today is only a trigger of what is visible to the naked eye. Triggering the awakening of the existence of those who have experienced genetic, mental and moral abnormalities because for so long they have consumed food that is not halal and thayyib. This culture of sodom and gomorrah is not born by chance, there is a cause and effect behind the pitch-black night.

In the world of health, various strange and miraculous diseases have emerged. Where never in the history of human civilization has experienced similar diseases, especially cancer, diabetes, alzheimer’s, autism, global spread of viruses, and other diseases both natural and man-made. All of these diseases will only affect or attack those who have consumed food that is not halal and thayyib for so long that their immune system becomes weak and fragile.

While in the context of faith (spiritual belief) of a human being, the most damaged by the non-halal and non-thoyyib of our food sources is none other than the heart which has been endowed by Allah with the ability to hear, see and understand, no longer functioning properly and correctly. And the worst thing is that the heart becomes blind, deaf, dumb and no longer able to understand at all.

صُمٌّۢ بُكۡمٌ عُمۡـىٌ فَهُمۡ لَا يَعۡقِلُوۡنَ‏ ١٧١…

“…(Their hearts) are deaf, dumb and blind, so that they can no longer understand (the truth).”

Al Qur’an Surah Al Baqarah verse 171.

Solutions & Enlightenment

Fundamentally, the motivation of farming, gardening, raising livestock and cultivating nature is solely for the dedication and sacrifice of ourselves as humans to Allah, the All-Wise, who has given us the duty and responsibility to be the best of His creations that can bring God’s mercy and blessings to the universe. Khalifah fil Ard. The Khalifah on the face of the earth.

Conventional and modern agricultural systems or mechanisms no longer involve spiritualism in all forms of its intentions and activities in such a way that all aspects involved in it eventually lose the sense of equilibrium and equity which are the main pillar in the continuation or sustainability of the universe in which we stand. The continuation and sustainability of the world of agriculture that provides halal and thayyib food sources eventually experienced a drastic decline and even disappeared from the modern human civilization. So that the welfare of the farmers’ community is getting worse and therefore of course results in the regeneration of farmers (the interest of the younger generation) in the world of agriculture is shrinking and diminishing. The impact and consequences of performing all things that violate the provisions of God’s nature (Sunnatullah).

The simple solution that we can do at this time is through the development of education and application (implementation) which is implemented in a harmonious, synchronized and complementary manner between one another. Through the development of non-formal and non-commercial educational facilities in the form of a Quranic School of Agriculture in a sunnatullah-based agroforesty area which is addressed to the orphans, the needy and dropout (sons) at least 10 years old. Through the method of enlightenment in expanding the frontiers of knowledge of the next generation which we call “Majma’ul Bahrain” or the Two Oceans Encounter. That is, the sea of knowledge (insight) achieved externally (intellectual-rational) and can be received properly and correctly through the sea of knowledge (insight) achieved from the internal wisdom (spiritual wisdom) of humans. The reason behind why we decided to focus on orphans and the needy first will be described in a specific article on this subject.

Insha Allah…

With Love,

Awaluddin Pappaseng Ribitttara