Surah 6 · Verse 121

[6:121] We should commemorate God's name while slaughtering animals and eating their product. We are not asked to monitor or even investigate whether the person who slaughtered it commemorated God's name or not. However, if we know that the animal was slaughtered according to the rules of a religion falsely attributed to God, then we should not consume it since it would legitimize that blasphemy. This verse is a commonly misunderstood one, and it creates problems for muslims who live in foreign countries. If we evaluate this verse under the light of 6:145 and similar verses, its meaning gains clarity. This verse does not prohibit eating the animal food slaughtered by non-muslims or atheists. This verse asks muslims to protest the mushriks who did not eat the meat of the animals over which they mentioned God's name when they slaughtered; they let it go to waste for the sake of God. In order to make the animal clean for consumption, when they slaughter them, they deliberately and specifically did not mention God's name. This tradition was based on the fabricated rules of their religion and it was thus, for other than God. Verse 6:119 refers to this tradition. In brief, if we read 6:119-121,145 and 22:37 carefully, we will learn that the prohibition in this verse is about the animals sacrificed by mushriks (polytheists) who deliberately did not mention God's name, because of false religious teachings and traditions. The Quran requires offering of domesticated animals only during the Haj (pilgrim) as a penalty for violation of the conference rules (2:196; 5:2,95-97; 48:25), and it has practical purposes: to regulate the conference in peaceful manner and feed participants of the annual international conference where hunting is prohibited to protect the wild life and environment. The Old Testament requires offerings for many different reasons and contains complicated instructions, which were partially adopted by Sunni and Shiite mushriks through hadith, sunna, and sharia (Genesis 8:20; 12:7; 13:4,18; 15:9-11; 22:1-18; Ex 12:3-27; Leviticus 23:5-8; Nu 9:2-14). Torrey's index lists the following verses under the title, "Offerings": To be made to God alone (Ex 22:20; Jg 13:16); Its origin (Genesis 4:3-4). DIFFERENT KINDS OF; Burnt (Leviticus 1:3-17; Ps 66:15); Sin (Leviticus 4:3-35; 6:25; 10:17); Trespass (Leviticus 5:16-19; 6:6; 7:1); Peace (Leviticus 3:1-17; 7:11); Heave (Ex 29:27; 7:14; Nu 15:19); Wave (Ex 29:26; Leviticus 7:30); Meat (Leviticus 2:1-16; Nu 15:4); Drink (Genesis 35:14; Ex 29:40; Nu 15:5); Thank (Leviticus 7:12; 22:29; Ps 50:14); Free-will (Leviticus 23:38; De 16:10; 23:23); Incense (Ex 30:8; Mal 1:11; Lu 1:9); First-fruits (Ex 22:29; De 18:4); Tithe (Leviticus 27:30; Nu 18:21; De 14:22); Gifts (Ex 35:22; Nu 7:2-88); Jealousy (Nu 5:15); Personal, for redemption (Ex 30:13,15); Declared to be most holy (Nu 18:9), REQUIRED TO BE Perfect (Leviticus 22:21); The best of their kind (Mal 1:14); Offered willingly (Leviticus 22:19); Offered in righteousness (Mal 3:3); Offered in love and charity (Mt 5:23-24); Brought in a clean vessel (Isa 66:20); Brought to the place appointed of God (De 12:6; Ps 27:6; Heb 9:9); Laid before the altar (Mt 5:23-24); Presented by the priest (Heb 5:1); Brought without delay (Ex 22:29-30) Unacceptable, without gratitude (Ps 50:8,14 (Could not make the offerer perfect (Heb 9:9); THINGS FORBIDDEN AS; The price of fornication (De 23:18); The price of a dog (De 23:18); Whatever was blemished (Leviticus 22:20); Whatever was imperfect (Leviticus 22:24); Whatever was unclean (Leviticus 27:11,27); Laid up in the temple (2Ch 31:12; Ne 10:37); Hezekiah prepared chambers for (2Ch 31:11); THE JEWS OFTEN Slow in presenting (Ne 13:10-12); Defrauded God of (Mal 3:8) Gave the worst they had as (Mal 1:8,13); Rejected in, because of sin (Isa 1:13; Mal 1:10); Abhorred, on account of the sins of the priests (1 Samuel 2:17); Presented to idols (Eze 20:28).