The Lord's Favorite Odor in the Three Religions


by Prof.dr. Ibrahim Khalil - Date: 2007-04-12 - Word Count: 2527 Share This!

The Bible says that the odor of a burnt ram on the altar is an aroma pleasing to the Lord. The odor of the burnt Fat ram, the fat tail, the fat around the inner parts, the covering of the liver, both kidneys with the fat on them, and the right thigh. Notice that the burnt "thigh" should be the right one not the left thigh. If a member of the community sins, he should sacrifices an offering, the priest shall remove all the fat, burn it on the altar as an aroma pleasing to the Lord. In this way the priest will make atonement for him, and he will be forgiven. Also, the odor of burnt fine flour and oil, together with all the incense on the grain offering, is an aroma pleasing to the Lord.

On the other hand, the Quran says that neither the meat nor the blood of the sacrificed animal reach Allah. It is the devotion from you to Allah that reaches Him. Allah is not looking for meat or blood or the odor of burnt fat or any similar materials.

Allah is only interested of what is inside your heart (faith, willing to do good deeds, etc.)

Literal linguistic definitions of Aroma, Fragrance and Odor:

Aroma is defined as an odor arising from spices, plants, cooking, etc., e.g. an agreeable odor; fragrance. Another definition is a smell that can be perceived by the olfactory nerve e.g., the aroma of garlic and onions. Aroma is also a pleasant characteristic odor, as of a plant, spice, food or roses.

Fragrance is defined as the quality of being fragrant; a sweet or pleasing scent e.g., Perfume, cologne, toilet water, or the like.

Odor is defined as the property of a substance that activates the sense of smell and/or a sensation perceived by the sense of smell; scent.

Scientific definition:

Odor is a chemical suspended in air, usually at a very low concentration, which we recognize by the sense of olfaction. Odors are also called smells, which can refer to both pleasant and unpleasant odors. The terms fragrance, scent, or aroma are used primarily by the food and cosmetic industry to describe a pleasant odor, and is sometimes used to refer to perfumes.

The perception of an odor effect is a two step process; they are physiological and psychological. The physiological part is the sense of the stimulus by receptors in the nose. After that the psychological part follows. The stimuli are processed by our brain which is responsible for smelling. The perception of an odor is an objective process; that is why analytical measure of odor is impossible. While odor feelings are very personal perceptions, individual reactions are related to gender, age, state of health and private affectations. External or uncommon odors such as flavorists and perfumers are usually noticeable to most individuals.

It has been said: tell me what your favorite odor is I will tell you who are you.

The Lord's Favorite Odor in the Bible:

Upon reading 18 different English translations of the Bible I noticed great diverse in translation the "pleasing odor". The different translations are:

New International Version, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, The Message, Amplified Bible, New Living Translation, English Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, New King James Version, 21st Century King James Version, American Standard Version, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Translation, New Life Version, Holman Christian Standard Bible, New International Reader's Version, New International Version - UK and Today's New International Version.

An example of translation of "pleasing odor":

Exodus 29:18, in King James Version.

And thou shalt burn the whole ram upon the altar: it is a burnt offering unto the LORD: it is a sweet savour, an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

Exodus 29:18 in New International Version

Then burn the entire ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the LORD, a pleasing aroma, an offering made to the LORD by fire.

The other 16 versions of the Bible translate "pleasing odor" to:

Soothing aroma, Sweet fragrance, The aroma of the sacrifice, The smell of the burning offering pleased God, Soothing aroma, Sweet savor, Sweet odor, Pleasing smell and Their smell was pleasant to the Lord

However, the most correct translation is that of "Amplified Bible" and it is: Pleasing odor; a scent of satisfaction to His heart.

What is the Lord's "pleasing odor"?

The odor of a burnt ram on the altar is an aroma pleasing to the Lord.

The odor of the burnt Fat ram, the fat tail, the fat around the inner parts, the covering of the liver, both kidneys with the fat on them, and the right thigh. Notice that the burnt "thigh" should be the right one not the left thigh. If a member of the community sins, he should sacrifices an offering, the priest shall remove all the fat, burn it on the altar as an aroma pleasing to the Lord. In this way the priest will make atonement for him, and he will be forgiven. Also, the odor of burnt fine flour and oil, together with all the incense on the grain offering, is an aroma pleasing to the Lord.

Genesis 8:21

The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: "Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.

Exodus 29:18

Then burn the entire ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the LORD, a pleasing aroma, an offering made to the LORD by fire.

Exodus 29:25

Then take them (Take from this ram the fat, the fat tail, the fat around the inner parts, the covering of the liver, both kidneys with the fat on them, and the right thigh) from their hands and burn them on the altar along with the burnt offering for a pleasing aroma to the LORD, an offering made to the LORD by fire.

Leviticus 1:9

He is to wash the inner parts and the legs with water, and the priest is to burn all of it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD.

Leviticus 1:13

He is to wash the inner parts and the legs with water, and the priest is to bring all of it and burn it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD.

Leviticus 1:17

He shall tear it open by the wings, not severing it completely, and then the priest shall burn it on the wood that is on the fire on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD.

Leviticus 2:2

and take it to Aaron's sons the priests. The priest shall take a handful of the fine flour and oil, together with all the incense, and burn this as a memorial portion on the altar, an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD.

Leviticus 2:9

He shall take out the memorial portion from the grain offering and burn it on the altar as an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD.

Leviticus 3:5

Then Aaron's sons are to burn it on the altar on top of the burnt offering that is on the burning wood, as an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD.

Leviticus 3:16

The priest shall burn them on the altar as food, an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma. All the fat is the Lord's.

Leviticus 4:27-31

27- If a member of the community sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord's commands, he is guilty

31- He shall remove all the fat, just as the fat is removed from the fellowship offering, and the priest shall burn it on the altar as an aroma pleasing to the LORD. In this way the priest will make atonement for him, and he will be forgiven.

Leviticus 6:15

The priest is to take a handful of fine flour and oil, together with all the incense on the grain offering, and burn the memorial portion on the altar as an aroma pleasing to the LORD.

Leviticus 6:21

Prepare it with oil on a griddle; bring it well-mixed and present the grain offering broken in pieces as an aroma pleasing to the LORD.

Leviticus 8:21

He washed the inner parts and the legs with water and burned the whole ram on the altar as a burnt offering, a pleasing aroma, an offering made to the LORD by fire, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Leviticus 8:28

Then Moses took them from their hands and burned them on the altar on top of the burnt offering as an ordination offering, a pleasing aroma, an offering made to the LORD by fire.

Leviticus 17:6

The priest is to sprinkle the blood against the altar of the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and burn the fat as an aroma pleasing to the LORD.

Leviticus 23:13

together with its grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil-an offering made to the LORD by fire, a pleasing aroma-and its drink offering of a quarter of a hin of wine.

Leviticus 23:18

Present with this bread seven male lambs, each a year old and without defect, one young bull and two rams. They will be a burnt offering to the LORD, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings-an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD.

Leviticus 26:31

I will turn your cities into ruins and lay waste your sanctuaries, and I will take no delight in the pleasing aroma of your offerings.

Numbers 15:3

and you present to the LORD offerings made by fire, from the herd or the flock, as an aroma pleasing to the LORD -whether burnt offerings or sacrifices, for special vows or freewill offerings or festival offerings-

Numbers 15:7

and a third of a hin of wine as a drink offering. Offer it as an aroma pleasing to the LORD.

Numbers 15:10

Also bring half a hin of wine as a drink offering. It will be an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD.

Numbers 15:13

" 'Everyone who is native-born must do these things in this way when he brings an offering made by fire as an aroma pleasing to the LORD.

Numbers 15:14

For the generations to come, whenever an alien or anyone else living among you presents an offering made by fire as an aroma pleasing to the LORD, he must do exactly as you do.

Numbers 15:24

and if this is done unintentionally without the community being aware of it, then the whole community is to offer a young bull for a burnt offering as an aroma pleasing to the LORD, along with its prescribed grain offering and drink offering, and a male goat for a sin offering.

Numbers 18:17

"But you must not redeem the firstborn of an ox, a sheep or a goat; they are holy. Sprinkle their blood on the altar and burn their fat as an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD.

Numbers 28:2

"Give this command to the Israelites and say to them: 'See that you present to me at the appointed time the food for my offerings made by fire, as an aroma pleasing to me.'

Numbers 28:6

This is the regular burnt offering instituted at Mount Sinai as a pleasing aroma, an offering made to the LORD by fire.

Numbers 28:8

Prepare the second lamb at twilight, along with the same kind of grain offering and drink offering that you prepare in the morning. This is an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD.

Numbers 28:13

and with each lamb, a grain offering of a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil. This is for a burnt offering, a pleasing aroma, an offering made to the LORD by fire.

Numbers 28:24

In this way prepare the food for the offering made by fire every day for seven days as an aroma pleasing to the LORD; it is to be prepared in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.

Numbers 28:27

Present a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram and seven male lambs a year old as an aroma pleasing to the LORD.

Numbers 29:2

As an aroma pleasing to the LORD, prepare a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect.

Numbers 29:6

These are in addition to the monthly and daily burnt offerings with their grain offerings and drink offerings as specified. They are offerings made to the LORD by fire-a pleasing aroma.

Numbers 29:8

Present as an aroma pleasing to the LORD a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect.

Numbers 29:13

Present an offering made by fire as an aroma pleasing to the LORD, a burnt offering of thirteen young bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect.

Numbers 29:36

Present an offering made by fire as an aroma pleasing to the LORD, a burnt offering of one bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect.

The Lord's Favorite Odor in the Quran:

The verse 37 in Surah 22 talks about the sacrificed animals.

Muslims sacrifice sheep, cows, camels etc to Allah.

Neither the meat nor the blood of these animal reach Allah.

It is the devotion from you that reaches Allah.

Allah is not looking for meat or blood or the odor of burnt fat or any similar materials.

Allah is only interested of what is inside your heart (faith, willing to do good deeds, etc.).

The verse ended up by: "give good news to those who do good".

This good news is for their fate in the Afterlife.

Surah 22:37:

SHAKIR: there does not reach Allah their flesh nor their blood, but to him is acceptable the guarding (against evil) on your part; thus has he made them subservient to you, that you may magnify Allah because he has guided you aright; and give good news to those who do good (to others)

PICKTHAL: their flesh and their food reach not Allah, but the devotion from you reacheth him. thus Have We made them subject unto you that ye may magnify Allah that he hath guided you. And give good tidings (o Muhammad) to the good.



YUSUFALI: it is not their meat nor their blood, that reaches Allah: it is your piety that reaches him: he has thus made them subject to you, that ye may glorify Allah for his guidance to you and proclaim the good news to all who do right.

Again, It should be emphasized that Islam consider saying that the Lord has Favorite Odor which is the burnt fat, meat, oil, incense etc, as a big unforgiving offense in respect to the Lord the Almighty Creator.

Anyone who believes that the Lord the Almighty Creator has Favorite Odor which is the burnt fat, meat, oil, incense etc put himself in the category of unbeliever and he is responsible for himself at the Day of Judgment when the Lord the Almighty Creator asks him:" Have I Favorite Odor? What is my Favorite Odor?

Prepare your answer for that big day.

Back to the main topic of my series of articles (1-43); this is my question to you smart readers: "Is the Quran quoted from the Bible "?


Related Tags: fat, bible, odor, aroma, perfume, cologne, spices, fragrance, afterlife, lord, roses, allah, quran, day of judgment, unbeliever, toilet water, burnt ram

Professor Dr. Ibrahim Khalil
Prof. of Clinical and Chemical Pathology,
Head of Clinical Microbiology and Infection Control Unit,
Ain-Shams University. Cairo, Egypt.
And, President of The Egyptian Society of Inventors.
Member of the Egyptian union of Writers

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