God's Command: Eat What Is Halal and Wholesome, Do Not Follow Satan's Footsteps

The Quran explicitly commands humanity to consume only food that is halal (permissible) and thayib (wholesome), whilst prohibiting the following of Satan’s footsteps. This directive is enshrined in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 168, which affirms that Satan is a manifest enemy of mankind and frequently leads people astray through rules devised without any basis in divine revelation.

Through this verse, God Almighty reminds humanity not to establish religious rulings based on personal desire or hereditary traditions. Declaring what is permissible and what is forbidden is the exclusive prerogative of God, whilst following Satan’s footsteps constitutes a deviation from His established decrees.

God Almighty declares:

“O mankind, eat from whatever is on earth that is lawful and wholesome, and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.” (QS Al-Baqarah, verse 168)

Ibn Abbas stated that this verse was revealed concerning several tribes, including Bani Saqif, Bani Amir bin Sa’sa’ah, Khuza’ah, and Bani Mudlij. These tribes had arbitrarily forbidden themselves from eating certain types of livestock, such as the bahirah — a female camel that had given birth five times, with the fifth offspring being male, whereupon its ear would be slit. They also prohibited the wasilah — a ewe that bore twins, one male and one female, where the male lamb was not to be eaten and had to be offered to their idols.