Some others believe it to mean that when one sits at the table to eat...

Some others believe it to mean that when one sits at the table to eat, one must look carefully at the foods to see how they are prepared; (1) The term /fal-yanzur/ may originally mean that 'if Man is in doubt of his Creator and the Resurrection, then let him look to his food'. whether they are permitted or forbidden, lawful or unlawful and, thus, one may consider the moral and religious aspects in eating.

In some narrations from the sinless Imams, the term /ta'am/ 'food', here, means 'knowledge', the sustenance of Man's soul, then, one should be careful and 'look' at Whom he has taken it from. Among these is a narration from Imam Mohammad Baqir (p.b.u.h.) for the commentary of the above verse which says: Be careful from where and from whom you get your information. Another narration, similar to this, has been quoted from Imam Sadiq (p.b.u.h.) .

Undoubtedly, the apparent meaning of the verse is about the bodily foods which are described in later verses, but the soul's sustenance can analogically be understood from it, since Man is a combination of soul and body; as his body needs bodily food so his soul requires spiritual sustenance, as well.

When Man should be careful about his bodily nourishment, and knows of its origin which, according to the next verses, is life-giving rain, he should also be careful about his spiritual nourishment, the Message revealed from above (like rain) to the Prophet's heart (p.b.u.h.) . The very place where the hearts of the sinless Imams got it from and store it like fountains of youth for others to make their own hearts fruitful with faith, virtue and morals.

Yes, one must completely be aware of the main origin of one's knowledge or one may call it 'spiritual nourishment', lest it may come from a corrupted source and, as a result, cause one's soul and body to become sick or die. And the matter of things being lawful /halal/ or unlawful, /haram/, and permitted or forbidden can anologically be understood through the potential guidance, too.

This is also probable that the terms 'food' and 'look' both have 'vast meanings in this verse, hence all the three above commentaries can be gathered in it. It is evident that the term 'man', used in the verse, includes all members of the human race whether they are believers or unbelievers. They must care about what they eat and, also, the wonder of its creation in order for the unbelievers, to find the right way, and for the believers to increase in their faith.