kh-n-q

Description

The Arabic root خنق (kh-n-q) carries the core meaning of strangling, choking, or constricting the throat to cut off breath. In its Quranic occurrence, it appears in the form al-munkhaniqah (the strangled one) in verse 5:3, referring to an animal that has died by strangulation or suffocation, which is prohibited for Muslims to consume. This prohibition emphasizes the importance of proper slaughter methods that allow blood to drain from the animal and ensure the meat is lawful (halal), distinguishing Islamic dietary laws from consuming carrion or improperly killed animals.