Can An Apple Be Carrion?

Some argue that because the word animal is not explicitly mentioned in this prohibition, this indicates that this prohibition constitutes all foods beyond what we eat from slaughtering an animal. But the problem with this argument is that such an understanding fails to recognize that the entire verse is clearly in regard to animals as a whole.

This is obvious because if we look at the other three prohibitions, despite never mentioning livestock or animals verbatim, the context is clearly only about animals. This is because only an animal can be carrion, "maytatan" ( مَيْتَةً ), and only an animal can produce blood poured forth "daman masfūḥan" ( دَمًا مَسْفُوحًا ). Therefore, it makes no sense to constitute non-animal products like apples and oranges in either of these categories, despite the word animal never occurring for these prohibitions. This is also why God specifies that concerning the whole pig, only the meat of the pig is prohibited. Additionally, this is why "uhilla" only constitutes animals and not other foods.

This also settles the matter of whether it is only the meat of animals that were sacrificed to other than God is prohibited or the whole animal. We start with the premise that the verse is in the context of the whole animal, and unless the verse states something different, then we know this is what is prohibited. So, for instance, the whole animal that is carrion is prohibited, the running blood from a whole animal is prohibited, only the meat of the whole pig is prohibited, and the whole animal dedicated at the time of slaughter to other than God is prohibited.

Additionally, the exclusivity of such prohibition is further reinforced by another word used in the verse, which is the word "ūḥiya" ( أُوحِيَ ), which in the English translation is where we get the word “revelation”. Wahi is a form of revelation that constitutes not just kitab / scripture but any divine inspiration given to the messenger. So this verse informs us that out of all the divine communication the messenger received, what is stated in 6:145 are the only dietary prohibitions. Furthermore, the verse also states “any food for any eater”. This means that out of any food that a person can eat or taste "ṭāʿimin" ( طَاعِمٍ ) the only dietary prohibitions are strictly these four items.

[6:145] Say, “I do not find in the revelations given to me any food that is prohibited for any eater except: (1) carrion, (2) running blood, (3) the meat of pigs, for it is contaminated, and (4) the meat of animals blasphemously dedicated to other than GOD.” If one is forced (to eat these), without being deliberate or malicious, then your Lord is Forgiver, Most Merciful.

قُلْ لَا أَجِدُ فِي مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيَّ مُحَرَّمًا عَلَىٰ طَاعِمٍ يَطْعَمُهُ إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ مَيْتَةً أَوْ دَمًا مَسْفُوحًا أَوْ لَحْمَ خِنْزِيرٍ فَإِنَّهُ رِجْسٌ أَوْ فِسْقًا أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ بِهِ فَمَنِ اضْطُرَّ غَيْرَ بَاغٍ وَلَا عَادٍ فَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ