inward to demonstrate that prohibitions—both outward and inward—are forbidden, and that those who lean toward them, God Almighty will recompense them for what they used to commit. Then He—Glory be to Him—forbade "eating" that upon which the name of God is not mentioned, which refers to the belief in the outward sciences (Al-'Ulum al-Zahira) that God Almighty sent the Messengers and Prophets for the sake of the people of disbelief and misguidance.

How excellent is Muhammad ibn al-Amir Mu‘izz al-Dawla, who provided benefit by conveying the meaning of "eating" in his Egyptian Epistle (Al-Risala al-Misriyya), saying: "Eating here is knowledge," due to the saying of the Almighty: {So eat of that upon which the name of Allah has been mentioned, if you are believers in His verses... and do not eat of that upon which the name of Allah has not been mentioned, for indeed, it is grave disobedience} (Al-An‘am: 118-121).

For if it were [literal] food that, if a person ate it and forgot to mention [God's] name upon it, it became forbidden, then a punishment would be mandated for that exactly as it is mandated for the use of forbidden things; but "food" is knowledge.

Regarding this, the Messenger—peace be upon him—says: "Whoever licks his fingers, the angels pray for him."