Halal vs. Haram: What does the Quran really say?
We’ve all been there....
Someone shares a video saying: “Music is haram.”
A friend insists: “You have to grow a beard, it’s obligatory.”
At a family gathering, someone whispers: “That candy isn’t halal-certified… you really shouldn’t eat it.”
It happens in WhatsApp groups.
At dinner tables.
In casual conversations, online and off.
And just like that, something is labeled haram, without anyone stopping to ask:
Did Allah actually say that?
Is this in the Quran? Or is it just someone’s opinion being passed on as law?
It’s easy to accept what we hear, especially when it comes from people we trust.
But the Quran reminds us again and again to think, question, and reflect.
Do they not reflect on the Quran?
Quran 4:82
Follow what was sent down to you from your Lord, and do not follow besides Him any supporters. Little do you remember!
Quran 7:3
So let’s do just that.
Let’s go back to the Quran and ask:
What has Allah truly made haram? What is really halal?
And just as importantly, who has the right to decide?

What does Halal and Haram actually mean?
Before we can talk about what’s labeled halal or haram today, we need to understand what these words mean.
Halal (حَلَال)
The word halāl comes from the root ḥā-lām-lām (ح-ل-ل). According to Lane’s Lexicon, it means:
It became lawful, legally allowed, permitted… released from a knot, or obligation.
In other words, halal implies:
- Something open and permitted
- Something that has been freed from restriction or prohibition
- Something lawful, clean, or unbound
Interestingly, the same root can also describe:
- A knot being untied
- A state of ease or accessibility
So in Quranic terms, when something is halal, it’s not just “allowed” it’s something that is cleared of objection, released from restriction, and accessible.
Haram (حَرَام)
Haram comes from the root ḥā-rā-mīm (ح-ر-م). Lane’s Lexicon defines it as:
It was, or became, forbidden… inviolable, sacred, protected… not to be approached.
So when something is haram it may mean:
- It is prohibited by divine order
- Or it is inviolable, a boundary not to be crossed
By understanding these words at the root level, we begin to see just how weighty these labels are.
They are not slang. They’re not slogans. They are part of a deeply structured legal and moral vocabulary in the Quran.
In the next section, we’ll look at how often these words appear in the Quran and what that tells us.

Want to know what’s halal or haram?
If only there were a simple way to know what Allah made halal and haram…
Well - there is.... Just look where the Quran uses these very words.
Halal ح-ل-ل (ḥ-l-l) ~43 verses
Haram ح-ر-م (ḥ-r-m) ~71 verses
These numbers include variations like:
aḥalla (أَحَلَّ) = “He made lawful”
ḥarrama (حَرَّمَ) = “He made unlawful”
muḥarram (مُحَرَّم) = “Forbidden”
So rather than guess, assume, or copy viral claims, we can go directly to the Quran to see where these words are used and what they’re referring to.
HARAM and HALAL
Here are the things the Quran explicitly calls ḥarām or halal. Grouped by theme; food, behavior, hajj These are not guesses or interpretations, but direct uses of the word and its forms. If you think something's missing from the list, it’s probably because the Quran never actually called it ḥarām.
VERSE | HARAM |
---|---|
FOOD / DIETARY | |
2:173 | He has only made unlawful to you carrion, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that dedicated to other than God. But whoso is forced, neither desiring nor transgressing, no sin is upon him; God is forgiving and merciful. |
5:3 | Forbidden to you is carrion, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that dedicated to other than God, and the strangled, and the beaten, and the fallen, and the gored, and that eaten by the beast of prey save what you slaughter, and that sacrificed upon the altar, and that you seek apportionment by divining arrows — that is perfidy — (this day have those who ignore warning despaired of your system so fear them not, but fear Me; this day have I perfected for you your system and completed My favour upon you, and approved for you submission as system but whoso is compelled by hunger, without inclination to sin— God is forgiving and merciful. |
6:145 | Say thou: “I find not in what has been revealed to me what is unlawful to one who would eat it save it be carrion, or blood poured forth, or the flesh of swine — and it is an abomination — or perfidy dedicated to other than God”; but whoso is forced, neither desiring nor transgressing: thy Lord is forgiving and merciful. |
16:115 | He has but made unlawful to you carrion, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that dedicated to other than God; but whoso is forced, neither desiring nor transgressing: God is forgiving and merciful. |
FINANCIAL | |
2:275 | Those who consume usury do not rise except as one being influenced by the touch of the devil. That is because they have said: “Trade is the same as usury.” While God has made trade permissible, and He has made usury forbidden. Whoever has received understanding from his Lord and ceases, then he will be forgiven for what was before this and his case will be with God. But whoever returns, then they are the people of the Fire, in it they will abide. |
RELATIONSHIP | |
4:23 | Forbidden for you are your mothers, and your daughters, and your sisters, and the sisters of your father, and the sisters of your mother, and the daughters of your brother, and the daughters of your sister, and your foster mothers who suckled you, and your sisters from suckling, and the mothers of your women, and your step-daughters who are in your lodgings from your women with whom you have already consummated the marriage; if you have not consummated the marriage then there is no sin upon you; and those who were in wedlock with your sons who are from your seed, and that you join between two sisters except what has already been done. God is Forgiving, Merciful. |
24:3 | The adulterer will only marry an adulteress or she who is a polytheist. And the adulteress, she will only be married to an adulterer or he who is a polytheist. And such has been made forbidden for the believers. |
2:228 | And those divorced shall wait for three readings; and it is not permissible for them to conceal what God has created in their wombs, if they believe in God and the Last Day. And their husbands have a greater right to return them in this, if they wish to reconcile. And for them are rights similar to those owed by them. And the men will have a degree over them. And God is Noble, Wise. |
2:229 | The divorce may occur twice. So, either they remain together equitably, or part ways with goodness. And it is not permissible for you to take back anything you have given them unless you fear that they will not uphold the boundaries of God. So if you fear that they will not uphold the boundaries of God, then there is no sin upon them for what is given back. These are the boundaries of God so do not transgress them. And whoever shall transgress the boundaries of God, then these are the wicked. |
2:230 | If he then divorces her, she will not be permissible for him until after she has married a different husband. If he were to divorce her; then there is no sin that they come back together if they think they will uphold the boundaries of God. These are the boundaries of God, He clarifies them for a people who know. |
4:19 | O you who believe, it is not permissible for you to inherit from the women by force. And do not make difficulty for them so that you may take away some of what you have given them, unless they commit a clear immorality. And live with them in kindness. If you dislike them, then perhaps you dislike something while God makes in it much good. |
HAJJ | |
5:1 | O you who believe, fulfill the contracts. Permitted for you are the subjugated livestock, except that which is recited to you—while maintaining the ban on hunting while you are under restriction. God decrees as He pleases. |
5:95 | O you who believe, do not kill any game while you are under restriction; and whoever of you kills it deliberately, then the recompense is to value what was killed against that from the livestock, which shall be judged by two equitable persons from you, and to make it as a donation to reach the Ka’bah. Or, its expiation shall be in using it to feed the needy ones, while he abstains from it; that is to suffer the results of his deed; God forgives what has passed. And whoever returns, then God will seek vengeance on him. God is Noble, capable of vengeance. |
5:96 | Permitted for you is the catch of the sea, to eat it as enjoyment for you and for those who travel; and forbidden for you is the catch of the land as long as you are under restriction; and be aware of God to whom you will be gathered |
MORAL / ETHICAL BEHAVIOR | |
6:151 | Say: “Come let me recite what your Lord has forbidden for you: that you should not set up anything with Him; and do good to your parents; and do not kill your children due to poverty—We provide for you, as well as for them—and do not come near immorality, what is public of it and private; and do not kill the life that God has made forbidden, except through justice. That is what He enjoined you that you may comprehend.” |
7:33 | Say: “My Lord has made forbidden immorality; what is public of it and private; and sin, and aggression without cause, and that you set up partners with God that which He has never authorized, and that you say about God what you do not know |
17:33 | And do not kill the life that God has made forbidden, except through justice. And whoever is killed unjustly, then We give his heir authority, so let him not overindulge in the taking of a life, he shall be given victory. |
Verse | HALAL |
---|---|
FOOD / DIETARY | |
2:168 | O people, eat from what is on the earth as good and permissible, and do not follow in the footsteps of the devil. He is to you a clear enemy. |
5:1 | O you who believe, fulfill the contracts. Permitted for you are the subjugated livestock, except that which is recited to you—while maintaining the ban on hunting while you are under restriction. God decrees as He pleases. |
5:4 | They ask you what was made permissible to them, say: “All the good things have been made permissible for you, and what the birds of prey and trained dogs catch, you teach them from what God teaches you.” So eat from what they have captured for you and mention the name of God upon it, and be aware of God. God is swift in reckoning. |
5:96 | Permitted for you is the catch of the sea, to eat it as enjoyment for you and for those who travel; and forbidden for you is the catch of the land as long as you are under restriction; and be aware of God to whom you will be gathered. |
22:30 | Thus, and whoever honors the prohibitions of God, then it is better for him with his Lord. And permitted for you are the livestock; except what is being recited to you; so avoid the foulness of idols and avoid saying false statements. |
FASTING | |
2:187 | It is made lawful for you on the night of the fast to go in unto your women. They are a covering for you, and you are a covering for them. God knows that you deceived yourselves, so He turned towards you and pardoned you; so now lie with them and seek what God has prescribed for you. And eat and drink until clear to you be the white thread from the black thread of the dawn.Then complete the fast until night. And lie with them not when you remain in the places of worship. Those are the limits of God, so approach them not. Thus does God make plain His proofs to men, that they might be in prudent fear. |
FINANCIAL | |
2:275 | Those who consume usury do not rise except as one being influenced by the touch of the devil. That is because they have said: “Trade is the same as usury.” While God has made trade permissible, and He has made usury forbidden. Whoever has received understanding from his Lord and ceases, then he will be forgiven for what was before this and his case will be with God. But whoever returns, then they are the people of the Fire, in it they will abide. |
RELATIONSHIP | |
4:24 | And the chaste women—except those who are in the care of your oaths—is God’s decree over you. And it is permitted for you to seek beyond this category that you employ your wealth, desiring chastity, not unlawful sexual intercourse. So, for those of them you find pleasing, then you shall give them their due compensation as an obligation; and there is no sin upon you for what you agree on after the obligation. God is Knowledgeable, Wise. |
5:5 | This day are good things made lawful for you; and the food of those given the Writ is lawful for you, and your food is lawful for them, as are chaste women among the believing women and chaste women among those given the Writ before you, when you have given them their dowries, being chaste and not fornicators, nor taking secret friends. And whoso denies the faith: his work has been in vain, and he in the Hereafter is among the losers. |
If a verse says something is ḥarām, it’s forbidden.
If a verse says something is ḥalāl, it’s permitted.
No guesswork. No additions. No “but the scholar said…”

🚫 What the Quran doesn't prohibit (despite popular claims):
Let’s be clear, these are not mentioned as haram in the Quran:
🎵 Music
🧔 Not having a beard
📸 Photography or videos
👖 Pants above the ankles
💍 Wearing gold or silk (for men)
🥚 Non-zabiha meat
🧼 Using non-halal-certified shampoo
💅 Nail polish
🏋️♀️ Gym workouts with music
🎭 Watching movies
🎮 Playing games
🎂 Birthdays
🤝 Shaking hands (opposite gender)
🍴 Using fork/spoon
👔 Wearing neckties
♟️ Chess
✂️ plucking eyebrows
🧻 Toilet paper
🐕 Pet dogs
🖐️ Eating with left hand
🩳 Shorts
💐 Perfume with alcohol
🧍 Eating while standing
💇 Women cutting hair short
🎉 Saying "Happy New Year"
Now ask:
If Allah didn’t forbid it, why are we?

Only Allah has the right to forbid or permit
In the Quran, Allah repeatedly warns us not to make up rules in His name. Yet today, we often hear people confidently declare something haram or halal, without a single verse to back it up.
But the right to legislate what is permissible or forbidden belongs only to Allah. No scholar, sheikh, or community can override that.
Clear warnings in the Quran
And do not say, as to what your tongues falsely describe: “This is permissible, and that is forbidden;” that you seek to invent lies about God. Those who invent lies about God will not succeed
Quran 16:116
Say: “Have you seen what God has sent down to you from provisions, then you have made some of it forbidden and some permissible?” Say: “Did God authorize you, or do you invent lies about God?”
Quran 10:59
Say: “Bring forth your witnesses who bear witness that God has made this forbidden.” If they bear witness, then do not bear witness with them, nor follow the desires of those who deny Our revelations, and those who do not believe in the Hereafter; and they make equals with their Lord!
Quran 6:150
Or do they have partners who decree for them a system which has not been authorized by God? And if it were not for the word already given, they would have been judged immediately. Indeed, the transgressors will have a painful retribution.
Quran 42:21
They have set-up their Priests and Monks to be lords instead of God; and the Messiah, son of Mary; while they were only commanded to serve One god, there is no god except He, be He glorified against what they set up
Quran 9:31
And why should you not eat that on which the name of God has been mentioned, when He has fully detailed to you what has been made forbidden; except what you are forced to? Many misguide by their desires without knowledge; your Lord is fully aware of the transgressors.
Quran 6:119
O you who believe! Do not prohibit the good things which Allah has made lawful for you, and do not transgress. Verily, Allah does not love the transgressors.”
Quran 5:87
Those who kill their children foolishly, without knowledge, and forbid what Allah has provided for them, lying against Allah. They have gone astray and were not guided.”
Quran 6:140
Those who are polytheists will say: “If God wished, we would not have set up partners, nor would have our fathers, nor would we have made anything forbidden.” Those before them lied in the same way, until they tasted Our might. Say: “Do you have any knowledge to bring out to us? You only follow conjecture, you only guess.”
Quran 6:148
And those who were polytheists said: “If God had wished, we would not have served a thing other than Him; neither us nor our fathers; nor would we have made forbidden anything other than from Him.” Those before them did exactly the same thing; so are the messengers required to do anything except deliver with clarity
Quran 16:35
Even the Prophet couldn't issue a ruling
The Quran gives us a powerful reminder - even the Prophet himself was not allowed to forbid something without divine instruction. He was corrected by Allah when he tried to do so:
“O Prophet! Why do you forbid what Allah has made lawful for you, seeking to please your wives? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.”
Quran 66:1
If even the Prophet couldn’t declare something forbidden, then what about us? What about scholars, speakers, or online figures today?
This brings us to a word we often hear: fatwa - a religious ruling.
People issue fatwas about what to wear, what to eat, how to invest, and more. But where should fatwas really come from?
According to the Quran, a fatwa is not just a scholar’s opinion - it is a ruling that must come from Allah. When people asked the Prophet for rulings, he was instructed to respond not with his own judgment, but with revelation:
“They ask you for a fatwa concerning women. Say: Allah gives you a fatwa concerning them...”
Quran 4:127
“They seek your ruling. Say: Allah gives you a ruling concerning inheritance…”
Quran 4:176
These verses show clearly that the right to legislate belongs to Allah alone. Not to scholars. Not to institutions. Not even to the Prophet himself.
So when someone confidently declares something haram or halal, we should ask:
Is this truly from Allah’s words or just someone’s interpretation?

Return to the Source
We live in a time when “haram” is declared as quickly as it’s typed. But Islam doesn’t work that way.
Declaring something halal or haram isn’t a trend. It’s a responsibility.
And that responsibility belongs to Allah alone.
So before we repeat what we hear
Before we pass fatwas in comment sections
Before we forbid something for ourselves or others
Let’s pause.
Let’s ask:
“Where is the proof from the Quran?”
Because the moment we speak without knowledge, we risk speaking on Allah’s behalf and the Quran warns us sternly against that.
And do not uphold what you have no knowledge of; for the hearing, and eyesight, and mind, all these you are responsible for.”
Quran 17:36
“They have no knowledge of it. They only follow assumption and indeed, assumption is no substitute for the truth.”
Quran 53:28
So instead of adding to the noise...
Let’s return to the Truth.
Let’s go back to the Book.
Let’s honor the trust of this deen by verifying what we claim, and staying silent where Allah was silent.
Because true piety isn’t in making things harder - it’s in following what Allah actually revealed.