93 Preface ۞ كُلُّ الطَّعامِ كانَ حِلًّا لِبَني إِسرائيلَ إِلّا ما حَرَّمَ إِسرائيلُ عَلىٰ نَفسِهِ مِن قَبلِ أَن تُنَزَّلَ التَّوراةُ ۗ قُل فَأتوا بِالتَّوراةِ فَاتلوها إِن كُنتُم صادِقينَYusuf AliAll food was lawful to the Children of Israel, except what Israel1 Made unlawful for itself, before the Law (of Moses) was revealed. Say: “Bring ye the Law and study it, if ye be men of truth.”The Arabs ate the flesh of the camel, which is lawful in Islam, but it was prohibited by the Jewish Law of Moses (Leviticus 11:4). But that Law was very strict because of the “hardness of heart” of Israel, because of Israel’s insolence and iniquity (6:146). Before it was promulgated Israel was free to choose its own food. I take “Israel” here to stand for the people of Israel.