Strange world

Published on Wednesday 23 July 2008 21:54

READ BEFORE YOU EAT

Thousands of people have been flocking to a restaurant in the northern part of Nigeria which claims to have meat on the menu inscribed with the names of Allah and the prophet Mohammed. The strange meat was discovered by a diner who was about to eat it when he noticed the inscription, written in Arabic in the gristle. A further search of the kitchen uncovered three more pieces with the names.

"When the writings were discovered there were some Islamic scholars who come and eat here and they all commented that it was a sign to show that Islam is the only true religion for mankind," claimed the restaurant owner.

Such miraculous discoveries are not new. In 2006, a pet shop owner in Waterfoot, Lancashire, found markings on one of his tropical fish that appeared to spell the word Allah, again in Arabic. An Asian customer spotted the markings on an Astronotus ocellatus and paid 10 for it. He also bought the most expensive tank in the shop to keep the fish, at a cost of 700.

And in 1999, hundreds flocked to a house in Girlington, West Yorkshire, to view a sliced tomato which was claimed to bear the name of Allah (in Arabic) on one half, and the message "There is no God but Allah" on the other half.