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 Begins under the commentary on 5:5

 
At-Ta'am according to philology refers to all that is eaten and taken as nourishment.  But it is said that it is used to wheat and other such grains only.  Lisanu 'l-Arab says: "When the people of Hijaz use the word at-ta'am without any restriction or association, they mean wheat exclusively."  He further says: "Al-Khalil has said, 'In high Arab language at-ta'am is wheat in particular."  The same meaning has been given by Ibnu 'l-Athir in an-Nihayah.  It is for this reason that in most of ahadith narrated from the Imams of Ahlu 'l Bayt (a.s.) it has been declared that at-ta'am in this verse means wheat and other grains, although a few traditions give another meaning; and we shall talk about it under "Traditions".

In any case, this permission does not cover those animals whose meat is forbidden and slaughtering them can make no difference like pig, nor does it cover those lawful animals, which have not been slaughtered properly like the one over which the name of Allah has not been recited and which has not been slaughtered according to Islamic rules.  Allah has counted the above-mentioned unlawful items in the verses of prohibition (that is, the four verses in the chapters of "The Cow", "The Table", "Cattle" and "The Bee") describing them as uncleanness, transgression, and sin, as we have explained earlier.  Far be it from Allah to allow what He has called uncleanness, transgression, and sin and then to mention it as a favour to the believers.

Moreover, these forbidden things have been enumerated in this very chapter a few lines before this verse.  And nobody can claim abrogation in such cases and especially in the chapter of "The Table" about which the traditions say that it is an abrogating chapter, not abrogated....

 Continued under the category "Traditions"...

Al-?Ayyashi narrates from Hisham ibn Salim from Abu Abdillah (a.s.) that he said explaining the Divine words: and the food of those who have been given the Book is lawful for you.  It refers to lentils, grains, and similar things of the People of the Book. (at-Tafsir al-?Ayyashi).

The author says: Ash-Shaykh has narrated it in at-Tahdhib from the same Imam and the wording there is, "lentils, chickpeas, etc."

There are traditions from ?Ammar ibn Marwan and Sama'ah from Abu ?Abdillah (a.s.) explaining what is lawful from the food of the People of the Book.  The Imam said, "Grains." (al-Kafi; at-Tahdhib).

Al-Kulayni narrates through his chain from Ibn Mskan from Qutaybah al-A'sha that he said, "A man asked Abu Abdillah (a.s.), and I was present there.  He said to the Imam, ?A Jew or a Christian releases (a dog) on goats or sheep and it attacks it, then it is slaughtered.  Should his dhabihah (slaughtered animal) be eaten?  Abu ?Abdillah (a.s.) said, ?Do not enter its price in your property and don't eat it because it is the (Divine) name (which is important) and no one can be trusted in this matter except a Muslim.'  That man said to the Imam (a.s.), ?Allah has said: This day have been made lawful for you (all) good things and the food of those who have been given the Book is lawful for you.' ?Abu Abdillah (a.s.) said, ?My father used to say that it refers to grains and similar things.'" (al-Kafi).

The author says: This tradition has been narrated by ash-Shaykh in at-Tahdhib and by al-?Ayyashi in his at-Tafsir from Qutaybah al-A'sha from the Imam (a.s.).