Monday, July 6, 2009

The Table Spread


In the Quran Allah(swt) tell us how the disciples of Isa(pbuh) asked for a table spread of food as a sign of Isa(pbuh) truthfulness and Allah(swt) granted him this favor and sent food from the heavens. This is just another example of how food plays a role in warming the hearts and of anything they could have asked for it was just a basic need. And [remember] when I inspired to the disciples, "Believe in Me and in My messenger Jesus." They said, "We have believed, so bear witness that indeed we are Muslims [in submission to Allah ]." [And remember] when the disciples said, "O Jesus, Son of Mary, can your Lord send down to us a table [spread with food] from the heaven? [Jesus] said," Fear Allah , if you should be believers."They said, "We wish to eat from it and let our hearts be reassured and know that you have been truthful to us and be among its witnesses." Said Jesus, the son of Mary, "O Allah , our Lord, send down to us a table [spread with food] from the heaven to be for us a festival for the first of us and the last of us and a sign from You. And provide for us, and You are the best of providers."Allah said, "Indeed, I will sent it down to you, but whoever disbelieves afterwards from among you - then indeed will I punish him with a punishment by which I have not punished anyone among the worlds." (5.112-115)
I haven't been able to find any hadith yet about what the dicples ate but some biblical scripture state roasted fish and bread, sometimes Muslims are confused about whether fish is halal, in surah 5 verse 96 Allah(swt) says: "Lawful to you is game from the sea and its food as provision for you and the travelers, but forbidden to you is game from the land as long as you are in the state of iْram. And fear Allah to whom you will be gathered"
There is also a hadith where the messenger (pbuh) says,
"The water of the sea is pure, and its dead creatures are halal."

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