Arabiq Online - Arabic of the Qur'an

Sūra al-Mā’ida 5:88 and 100

طَيِّبٌ  is a lovely adjective which means 'pure, wholesome, good’ and which Allah uses to describe good fertile land, pure people of good character, good speech and good children. The opposite is the word خَبِيْث meaning filthy and impure.

In Sūra al-Mā’ida, Allah outlines many dietary laws about what is permissible and safe for us to consume and what is not. He includes laws of hunting, fishing, and slaughtering, and commands us:

وَكُلُوا مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ اللَّـهُ حَلَالًا طَيِّبًا ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ الَّذِي أَنتُم بِهِ مُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿٨٨﴾

Eat the lawful and pure things Allah has provided you,

and be wary of Allah in whom you have faith.

It’s important to remember that the requirement on us is not just to eat ‘Halal’ food but also طَيِّب  - that which is pure and wholesome, and generally good for us and good for the land that we live off - which in today’s terms may mean organic, sustainably sourced, cruelty-free, and free of pesticides and harmful chemicals. 

Not only that but Allah reiterates His point just a few verses later, warning us:

 لَّا يَسْتَوِي الْخَبِيثُ وَالطَّيِّبُ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَكَ كَثْرَةُ الْخَبِيثِ ۚ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ يَا أُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ﴿١٠٠﴾

Say, ‘The pure and the impure are not equal, though the abundance of the impure should amaze you.’ So be wary of Allah, O you who possess intellect, so that you may be felicitous!

The impure can often be more attractive simply because it’s widely available, within reach and abundant, but that’s precisely why Allah commands us to be mindful and eat good, wholesome and pure food.