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What is this verse (5:1) precisely in Arabic? Different translations say "four footed animals" rather than grazing livestock. My husband, who is a newer Muslim than I, asked me why are we not allowed to eat carnivores, and I went straight to this verse, but my translation said "four footed animals" instead of "grazing livestock", and I had to scramble to find another translation. (I have a few, but my books are still not organized after moving house in August.) Also, is there another verse or a reliable hadith which explains the reason for not eating carnivores or omnivores? We aren't going to rush out and get a lion to snack on, we're obedient folks. I just want to be able to answer a question if the answer is out there. I mean, everyone around my house knows that I know everything. I have a reputation to maintain.

My name is Carol, and I belong to a Christian family. I've always disliked the way the Christians taught about God, and became an Atheist about a year and a half ago. But I've always been drawn to Islam, and my lover has given me the little push I needed to start learning about it. He can't answer all my questions, as we live half a world apart right now, so I'm looking for others who can teach me what I need to know before officially becoming Muslim. I can learn most things by myself, but I need some suggestions on what to research and learn about before making my decision. Thanks in advance.

Salam everyone I have a bit of an odd question. I've sometimes heard people comment that they're attracted to (blank) ethnicity or want to marry someone of (blank) ethnicity, even when they're not terribly familiar with said ethnicities. That makes me curious. What makes people develop a particular attraction to people of a specific ethnicity (that is not their own) which they have no significant connection to? I understand having an affinity for a community that one has interacted with and has had a positive experience with, such as a person who grew up near a particular community having an affinity for people of that culture on account of familiarity and common interests. Having a scholarly interest in a culture and therefore, its people is also quite pretty reasonable. What I don't understand is what makes people idealize a particular ethnicity if they have no connection to it and/or don't regularly interact with people of said ethnicity. For instance, I've heard some of my brother's friends, who have never been to Turkey and frankly, probably couldn't even find it on a map, say that they have a thing for Turkish girls and intend on marrying one. Also, at uni, I had Pakistani friend who seems to have a particular attraction to Iranian guys yet has never been to Iran, doesn't speak Farsi, and doesn't really seem all that interested in Iranian culture. Frankly, I don't get it (in either case). I'll be quite honest, I've always thought that when people have such a specific preference, it's probably based on appearance and likely superficial. I'd like to think that people aren't really THAT superficial, especially when looking for a spouse though. What do you guys think?