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alcohol, for instance, we are not completely conscious of what we are doing and we may fall into
greater sins.
It is related that there was a man who was a pious man. He swore he would never drink,
kill or be dishonest. People told him never to swear such a thing because nobody knows the
future and he might be tempted one day. One day arrived for him when he was tested. He fell in
love with a bad woman. The bad woman made him drink alcohol. At first he refused but, pressed
by his beloved, he accepted just to put his lips on the rim of the glass. Having the flavor of the
wine in his nostrils, he felt it smelled good contrary to what he had thought before. He then took
a sip of alcohol in his mouth, and soon another sip, and another one. There was no moment he
did not think he was perfectly conscious. He thought he had just drink a little bit when his glass
was filled in again and again, till he did not know what was going on around him. He could see
only his desire. So, he became dishonest to the wife’s husband by touching his wife. At this
moment, the husband came back unexpectedly. Our man killed the husband for fear of the
husband, and escaped, leaving everything behind him. When he woke up the day after, he
realized how wrong he had been to say he would never commit any major sin. He became more
humble and paid his debt to the community by giving himself away.
As Muslims, there are several items in our diet that we must avoid; these items are called
haram, which means “forbidden” by Allah Ta’alah. Which are they? Do you remember the verses
of the Qur’an that talk about them?
1 – _________________________________________________________________________
2 – _________________________________________________________________________
3 – _________________________________________________________________________
4 – _________________________________________________________________________
These items are not only forbidden because we are Muslims; everybody should avoid
their consumption.
Do you know what these foods and drinks do to your body?
If you do not know, read the articles below:
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Pork: see article PORK IS SIN AND SICKNESS, at:
" Forbidden to you for (food) are: dead meat, blood and the flesh of the swine and that which hath
been invoked the name other than Allah. "
[Qur'an 5:4]
" Let him find out which is the best food ( to be had ) Eat of the best foods We have provided for
you . "
[Qur'an 18:19;7:160]
Alcohol: read its side effects, at:
:O ye who believe! Intoxicants and Gambling, (Dedication of) stones, And (divination by)
arrows, Are an Abomination Of Satan’s handiwork; Eschew such (abomination), That ye may
prosper.
[Qur’an 5:90]
Allah Ta’alah knows that when we give way to a first temptation, other temptations soon
follow, and we become polluted by our actions or thoughts. Actually, a person who disobeys
Allah Ta’alah feels right away sad and uneasy; this person feels polluted. The same way when
we trash things instead of recycling them. The first time we may feel guilty, but when we see
nobody really cares, we are tempted to trash as much as anybody. But Muslims should feel
different and act differently because we are mindful and responsible. When we do not care, it
falls back on ourselves, and if we make the earth dirty, we become dirty too. When what we eat,
drink, do or think is clean, we feel clean and healthy and happy, this is why we have to keep our
environment clean as well. It is a question of happiness and safety. Pollution of the mind is
closely related to the pollution of the physical environment; it would be wrong to forget that!
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