Shaykhs-Pir Sahib
17-08-2004, 03:26 PM
as salamu alaykum
i wondered what the forum members thought of organic foods and natural methods of farming. I am quite interested in this topic and the possible harmful effects of GM foods to mankind and the environment. I would recommend the brothers and sisters of the forum to listen to lectures by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf on this topic, specifically one entitled 'Food for Thought'. As well as that, here is a summary of an islamic viewpoint on GM foods, modern farming and environmental damage compiled by someone i know. Essentially, the short essay summarises issues from the sources given at the end of it.
Islam, the Environment and GM Food
The issue of Genetically Modified (GM) Food is one of the most important issues of our age. Our physical and spiritual well-being is being compromised for the sake of big business. These engineered crops are already being grown over millions of acres worldwide and can cross-pollinate with normal varieties. The environment is being mistaken for an experimental playground, a mistake that is creating irreversible damage to the web of life.
We are told that GM is just a precise extension of natural breeding and that these manipulated 'foods' can help solve the world hunger problem. We are told that these 'foods' can help solve nutritional deficiencies, and anyone who gets in the way is accused of scare-mongering, of being 'anti-science' and of condemning millions to starvation...
If we look at the facts, however, we find something quite interesting. The scientific facts tell us that genetic modification disrupts the normal expression of genes, resulting in potentially toxic effects. The facts tell us that many eminent scientists are actually against the release of GM foods into the environment and into the food-chain. The facts tell us that this technology is not being used to solve world hunger, but to increase dependency on multinationals. The facts tell us that the claims pushed forward to justify GM foods are designed to act as a global smoke-screen whilst the technology is used to satisfy an insatiable desire for wealth and power, created out of a lack of identification with higher values.
Importance of Purity of Food in Islam
There are several verses of the Qur’an which state the importance of eating lawful and pure food.
“…Eat and drink of that which Allah has provided, and do not make mischief on the Earth.” [TMQ 2:60]
“O mankind! Eat of that which is lawful and good in the earth, and follow not the footsteps of the Devil, for he is indeed a declared enemy to you.” [TMQ 2:168]
Ibn Kathir wrote with regards to this verse, “He has allowed them to eat any of the pure lawful things on the earth that do not cause harm to the body or the mind”.
“O you who believe! Eat of the good things which We have provided for you, and be grateful to Allah, if it is He whom you worship.” [TMQ 2:172]
Again, Ibn Kathir said in his tafsir of the above verse, “Allah commands His believing servants to eat from the pure things that He has created for them and to thank Him for it, if they are truly His servants. Eating from pure sources is a cause for the acceptance of supplications and acts of worship, just as eating from impure sources prevents the acceptance of supplications and acts of worship”.
The Arabic word used in this verse is ‘tayyibat’, which is the plural of ‘tayyib’. This has many meanings including pure, good, delicious, healthy, fragrant, lawful and esteemed.
“So eat of the lawful and good things which Allah has provided for you and thank Allah for His favours, if it is He whom you worship.” [TMQ 16:114]
“O messengers! Eat of the good things, and act with righteousness. I know of what you are doing.” [TMQ 23:51]
Abu Hurayrah said that Allah's Messenger said “O people! Allah is Tayyib and only accepts that which is Tayyib. Allah has indeed commanded the believers with what He has commanded the Messengers…” [Muslim, Tirmidhi, Ahmad]
In relation to food, whenever the Qur’an mentions the word halal, which indicates what is permissible, it mentions tayyib immediately after it. What is meant by permissible (halal) and pure (tayyib) is that the food is not simply good to eat but it is a morally sound food, its source was ethically sound.
Until recently, the majority of food was pure at its most primary level by nature because there was very little that people could do to food to contaminate it. With the resources available today, people change the chemical structures of food, and even the genetic makeup.
Respecting the Environment
“The sun and the moon are made to a reckoning. The plants and the trees bow down. And the sky He has uplifted; and He has set the balance. That you do not upset the balance.” [TMQ 55:5-9]
Man has clearly upset the balance, with the problems of pollution, destruction of forests, soil erosion, floods and other ecological catastrophes.
Islam and changing creation
“ ‘And I [the Devil] will surely lead them astray, and arouse desires in them, and command them and they will cut the cattle’s ears, and I will surely command them and they will change Allah’s creation.’…” [TMQ 4:119]
This verse generally refers to changing the creation of Allah from its natural ways, or mutilating them. On the contrary, we are commanded to be kind to animals. This is a far cry from the conditions of modern-day farms and abattoirs. Furthermore, isn’t modern day genetic engineering and manipulation also changing creation?
“…There is no altering Allah’s creation…” [TMQ 30:30]
Ibn Kathir said of this verse, “Some said that this means, ‘do not change the creation of Allah, for if you do, you will divert the people away from the Fitrah with which He created them.’ “.
Sources
http://www.ifees.org/
http://www.islamicgmfocus.org/
‘The Sunnah and Health’ by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf http://www.guidancemedia.com/mpoetry.html?ID=32
i wondered what the forum members thought of organic foods and natural methods of farming. I am quite interested in this topic and the possible harmful effects of GM foods to mankind and the environment. I would recommend the brothers and sisters of the forum to listen to lectures by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf on this topic, specifically one entitled 'Food for Thought'. As well as that, here is a summary of an islamic viewpoint on GM foods, modern farming and environmental damage compiled by someone i know. Essentially, the short essay summarises issues from the sources given at the end of it.
Islam, the Environment and GM Food
The issue of Genetically Modified (GM) Food is one of the most important issues of our age. Our physical and spiritual well-being is being compromised for the sake of big business. These engineered crops are already being grown over millions of acres worldwide and can cross-pollinate with normal varieties. The environment is being mistaken for an experimental playground, a mistake that is creating irreversible damage to the web of life.
We are told that GM is just a precise extension of natural breeding and that these manipulated 'foods' can help solve the world hunger problem. We are told that these 'foods' can help solve nutritional deficiencies, and anyone who gets in the way is accused of scare-mongering, of being 'anti-science' and of condemning millions to starvation...
If we look at the facts, however, we find something quite interesting. The scientific facts tell us that genetic modification disrupts the normal expression of genes, resulting in potentially toxic effects. The facts tell us that many eminent scientists are actually against the release of GM foods into the environment and into the food-chain. The facts tell us that this technology is not being used to solve world hunger, but to increase dependency on multinationals. The facts tell us that the claims pushed forward to justify GM foods are designed to act as a global smoke-screen whilst the technology is used to satisfy an insatiable desire for wealth and power, created out of a lack of identification with higher values.
Importance of Purity of Food in Islam
There are several verses of the Qur’an which state the importance of eating lawful and pure food.
“…Eat and drink of that which Allah has provided, and do not make mischief on the Earth.” [TMQ 2:60]
“O mankind! Eat of that which is lawful and good in the earth, and follow not the footsteps of the Devil, for he is indeed a declared enemy to you.” [TMQ 2:168]
Ibn Kathir wrote with regards to this verse, “He has allowed them to eat any of the pure lawful things on the earth that do not cause harm to the body or the mind”.
“O you who believe! Eat of the good things which We have provided for you, and be grateful to Allah, if it is He whom you worship.” [TMQ 2:172]
Again, Ibn Kathir said in his tafsir of the above verse, “Allah commands His believing servants to eat from the pure things that He has created for them and to thank Him for it, if they are truly His servants. Eating from pure sources is a cause for the acceptance of supplications and acts of worship, just as eating from impure sources prevents the acceptance of supplications and acts of worship”.
The Arabic word used in this verse is ‘tayyibat’, which is the plural of ‘tayyib’. This has many meanings including pure, good, delicious, healthy, fragrant, lawful and esteemed.
“So eat of the lawful and good things which Allah has provided for you and thank Allah for His favours, if it is He whom you worship.” [TMQ 16:114]
“O messengers! Eat of the good things, and act with righteousness. I know of what you are doing.” [TMQ 23:51]
Abu Hurayrah said that Allah's Messenger said “O people! Allah is Tayyib and only accepts that which is Tayyib. Allah has indeed commanded the believers with what He has commanded the Messengers…” [Muslim, Tirmidhi, Ahmad]
In relation to food, whenever the Qur’an mentions the word halal, which indicates what is permissible, it mentions tayyib immediately after it. What is meant by permissible (halal) and pure (tayyib) is that the food is not simply good to eat but it is a morally sound food, its source was ethically sound.
Until recently, the majority of food was pure at its most primary level by nature because there was very little that people could do to food to contaminate it. With the resources available today, people change the chemical structures of food, and even the genetic makeup.
Respecting the Environment
“The sun and the moon are made to a reckoning. The plants and the trees bow down. And the sky He has uplifted; and He has set the balance. That you do not upset the balance.” [TMQ 55:5-9]
Man has clearly upset the balance, with the problems of pollution, destruction of forests, soil erosion, floods and other ecological catastrophes.
Islam and changing creation
“ ‘And I [the Devil] will surely lead them astray, and arouse desires in them, and command them and they will cut the cattle’s ears, and I will surely command them and they will change Allah’s creation.’…” [TMQ 4:119]
This verse generally refers to changing the creation of Allah from its natural ways, or mutilating them. On the contrary, we are commanded to be kind to animals. This is a far cry from the conditions of modern-day farms and abattoirs. Furthermore, isn’t modern day genetic engineering and manipulation also changing creation?
“…There is no altering Allah’s creation…” [TMQ 30:30]
Ibn Kathir said of this verse, “Some said that this means, ‘do not change the creation of Allah, for if you do, you will divert the people away from the Fitrah with which He created them.’ “.
Sources
http://www.ifees.org/
http://www.islamicgmfocus.org/
‘The Sunnah and Health’ by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf http://www.guidancemedia.com/mpoetry.html?ID=32