Opus 2011-107, Koran Klarifications: Dietary Laws of Islam

You may have heard about the way the Muslim inmates of Guantanamo are eating.  They have meals specially prepared for them that reflect the dietary laws of Islam.  You may be aware of the well known restrictions:  No alcohol and no pork.  You may be aware of other religions that have dietary laws.  Jews are not to eat pork.  Mormons avoid coffee.  Some Seventh Day Adventists are vegetarians. 

What you may not be aware of is that the dietary needs of Muslims are totally flexible.  There is not real need to make sure that Muslim captives are fed according to the Koran.  Let me quote the book itself:

“But that which dieth of itself, and blood, and swine's flesh, and that over which any other name than that of God hath been invoked, is forbidden you. But he who shall partake of them by constraint, without lust or wilfulness, no sin shall be upon him. Verily God is Indulgent, Merciful.”  Sura 2, “The Cow”, verse 173

So you can see that a Muslim is under no compulsion to eat a certain way if circumstances make it impossible.  Any noise made over this issue is just an attempt to manipulate people.  As with so much that you hear about Islam, it is not true.  Ignore it.  Save your sympathy for someone that needs and deserves it.

As in any quoting of the Koran, I would encourage you to get a copy and read it yourself.  Read the entire book.  Read everything in context.  If you are a Christian, that is the way you should read your Bible.  Be cautious about proof texting by anyone.  At times it is necessary, but only as a way of giving you a chance to check it out for yourself. 

Truth will out.

All Koran quotes are from the translation by Rev. J.M. Rodwell, M.A. provided by the Gutenberg Project.

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