Lawful and Prohibited Foods. Despite their vast geographic, social, and chronological diversity, Muslims share the concepts of halal (permitted) and haram (forbidden) foods. The verse of the Qur'an outlining these prohibitions says, "He has only forbidden you dead meat and blood and the flesh of swine and any (food) over which the name of other than Allah has been invoked. But if one is forced by necessity without willful disobedience nor transgressing due limits then Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful." (16: 115). The verse thus forbids four categories of flesh but allows for their consumption in cases of desperate hunger. The Qur'an also requires special rites for slaughtering animals: "To every people did We appoint rites (of sacrifice) that they might celebrate the name of Allah over the sustenance He gave them from animals (fit for food) but your Allah is one Allah: submit...