The Spiritual & Physical Effects of Consuming Haram Foods

All Muslims desire to attain closeness to Allah, deepen their spiritual bond and achieve complete taqwa (God-consciousness). The Muslim's spiritual life develops under many changing dynamics, and the level of spirituality or attainment of taqwa of a Muslim depends heavily upon various lifestyle factors. One unexplored factor is how the consumption of haram foods or unbeneficial food can adversely affect our spiritual growth and progress. 

What if you were told that what you consume, and how it was attained, was a direct contributor to your connection with your Creator? Not only is this true, but it is one of the most prominent ways by which one is brought near to or made to be distant from the grace and mercy of Allah.

The Prophet ﷺ mentioned the case of a man who was constantly on expeditions for the sake of Allah; he had dishevelled hair and a dusty appearance (due to performing acts of obedience such as Hajj, Umrah, seeking knowledge etc.). He raises his hands in supplication, begging from Allah, “Oh my Lord, Oh my Lord.”

“But his food is Haram, his drink is Haram, his dress is Haram, and he is nourished with Haram. How then is his supplication (du’a) to be accepted?” (Muslim)

How can one expect to be spiritually sound if one's supplications go unanswered? The body, mind, and spirit are all interconnected. Anything that affects the body, in turn, affects the mind and consequently affects the spirit. Thus, whatever negatively affects the mind is prohibited in Islam. This is one of the pearls of wisdom behind the prohibition of specific foods and drinks, e.g., alcohol, drugs, blood, swine, carrion, etc. 

Mindless consumption can lead to internal harm. And when one consumes haram, our connection to Allah is severed. We are no longer able to see Him for what He truly is, and our state of remembrance is hampered.

Consuming haram eliminates our inhibitions and shifts our focus away from the remembrance and obedience of Allah, which is the very purpose of our existence. 

Allah enlightens us further in the following verse of the Qur'an as to the dangers of consuming not just food, but also intoxicants.

“The Shaytan only desires to stir up enmity and hatred between you by means of intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah and the prayer. So will you be of those who abstain?” (Al-Qur’an 5:91) [ii]

When we do not abstain from haram consumables, we allow ourselves to be influenced by the Shaytan which creates harm within our societies. [iii] The Prophet ﷺ is reported to have said:

“A person who consumes an intoxicant, their worship is not accepted for 40 days” (Jami 'at-Tirmidhi)

Here, the term ‘Acceptance’ refers to reward. Thus, the Muslim in this case has fulfilled his duty of prayer, but he is not granted any reward for it. A severe recompense indeed.

Consuming haram, however, is not exclusive to eating or drinking, rather it encompasses any type of benefit that one can derive from a prohibited source. For instance, using wealth that was acquired unlawfully whether it be through stealing, force, usurious gain ( riba ), taxes on trade or the wealth of orphans are all matters that are considered as haram consumption.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Do you know who the bankrupt is?" They said: "O Messenger of Allah! The bankrupt among us is the one who has no Dirham nor property." The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: "The bankrupt in my Ummah is the one who comes with Salat and fasting and Zakat on the Day of Judgement, but he comes having abused this one, falsely accusing that one, WRONGFULLY CONSUMING THE WEALTH of this one, spilling the blood of that one, and beating this one. So, he is seated, and this one is requited from his rewards. If his rewards are exhausted before the sins that he committed are requited, then some of their sins will be taken and cast upon him, then he will be cast into the Fire." – (Jami 'at-Tirmidhi)

Unlawful gains are harmful both in this life and the next, as our prophet ﷺ said:

“There is no flesh raised that sprouts from the unlawful except that Hellfire is more appropriate for it.” – (Jami 'at-Tirmidhi)

From a worldly perspective, the act is devoid of blessing (barakah), and from the spiritual perspective, it hinders the acceptance of other acts of worship.

Throughout our lives, we encounter matters of halal and haram on almost a daily basis. When these moments arise, we should strive to partake in only that which we have certainty of its permissibility. We should leave that which we know is wrong, and that which we have doubt in, we should refrain from until such a time that we are able to ascertain its religious judgement.

We ask Allah to accept and bless this small effort in benefiting the nation of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. May Allah keep us steadfast and protect us from all that is Haram, and Allah ﷻ knows best.