Halal (حلال, ḥalāl, halaal) is an Arabic term meaning “permissible”. In the English language it most frequently refers to food that is permissible according to Islamic law. In the Arabic language it refers to anything that is permissible under Islam.
“Halal” the word
The use of the term varies between Arabic-speaking communities and non-Arabic-speaking ones.
In Arabic-speaking countries, the term is used to describe anything permissible under Islamic law, in contrast to haram, that which is forbidden. This includes behaviour, speech, dress, conduct, manner, and dietary laws (listen to some aspects of halal).
In non-Arabic-speaking countries, the term is most commonly used in the narrower context of just Muslim dietary laws, especially where meat and poultry are concerned, though it can be used for the more general meaning, as well [1]. This dichotomy of usage is similar to the Hebrew term “kosher“.
Quranic verses relating to Halal
In determining whether a food is halal or haraam (forbidden), various verses of the Quran (ayat) are frequently referenced:
- “He hath only forbidden you dead meat, and blood, and the
flesh of swine, and that on which any other name hath been invoked
besides that of Allah. But if one is forced by necessity, without
wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits – then is he
guiltless. For Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful”[Qur’an 2:73] [2]
- “Forbidden
to you (your food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that
on which the name of other than Allah hath been invoked; that which
hath been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong
fall, or by being gored to death; that which hath been (partly) eaten
by a wild animal; unless ye are able to slaughter it (in due form);
that which is sacrificed on stone (altars); (forbidden) also is the
division (of meat) by raffling with arrows: that is impiety. This day
have those who reject Faith given up all hope of your religion: yet
fear them not but fear me. This day have I perfected your religion for
you, completed my favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as
your religion. But if any is forced by hunger, with no inclination of
transgression, Allah is indeed Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful”[Qur’an 5:3] [3]
- “This
day are (all) good things made lawful for you. The food of those who
have received the Scripture is lawful for you, and your food is lawful
for them. And so are the virtuous women of the believers and the
virtuous women of those who received the Scripture before you (lawful
for you) when ye give them their marriage portions and live with them
in honour, not in fornication, nor taking them as secret concubines.
Whoso denieth the faith, his work is vain and he will be among the
losers in the Hereafter”[Qur’an 5:5][4]
- “Say:
I find not in the message received by me by inspiration any (meat)
forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it, unless it be dead
meat, or blood poured forth, or the flesh of swine, for it is an
abomination or, what is impious, (meat) on which a name has been
invoked, other than Allah’s. But (even so), if a person is forced by
necessity, without wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits,
thy Lord is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful”[Qur’an 6:145] [5]
- “He
has only forbidden you dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine,
and any (food) over which the name of other than Allah has been
invoked. But if one is forced by necessity, without wilful
disobedience, nor transgressing due limits, then Allah is
Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful”[Qur’an 16:115] [6]
The following verses are oft-cited when referring to alcohol and Islam:
- “Shaitân (Satan) wants only to excite enmity and hatred
between you with intoxicants (alcoholic drinks) and gambling, and
hinder you from the remembrance of Allâh and from As-Salât (the
prayer). So, will you not then abstain?”[Qur’an 5:91][7]
- “They
ask you (O Muhammad) concerning alcoholic drink and gambling. Say: “In
them is a great sin, and (some) benefit for men, but the sin of them is
greater than their benefit.” And they ask you what they ought to spend.
Say: “That which is beyond your needs.” Thus Allâh makes clear to you
His Laws in order that you may give thought.”[Qur’an 2:219] [8]
Varying forms of Halal
Muslims vary on what is required for food to be considered “halal”.
Dhabiĥa Halal (ذبيحة حلال)
Adherents to this philosophy maintain that in order for food to be
considered halal, it must not be a forbidden substance and any meat
must have been slaughtered according to traditional guidelines set
forth by the Sunnah, known as dhabiĥa. This is the strictest definition of Halal.
Halal and kosher
Some believe that the word “kosher” is an adequate replacement for “halal”, even though they are not identical.[9] However, most Muslim and Jewish authorities believe the terms are not interchangeable. [10]. More information can be found at Comparison of Dhabiĥa Halal and kashrut.
Explicitly forbidden substances
A package of halal-certified (see green label on the package) frozen food (steamed cabbage buns) from Jiangsu province, China
A variety of substances are considered forbidden (haraam) as per various Quranic verses:
- Pork, or any pig-based products
- Blood
- Animals
slaughtered in the name of anyone but God (There is debate regarding
the permissibility of meat slaughtered by Christians or Jews) - Carrion
- “Fanged beasts of prey”[11] as per the Sunnah, usually simplified to all carnivorous animals, with the exception of most fish and sea animals
- All intoxicants (specifically alcohol)
There is some disagreement among Muslims regarding seafood,
especially predatory sea creatures. IFANCA (Islamic Food and Nutrition
Council of America) states, regarding the opinion of Islamic scholars[12]:
- All are in agreement that fish with scales are halal
- Sunnis consider all fish to be halal, while Shias consider some fish haraam[13].
Within mostly the Hanafi School of thought, there is a strong position
that shellfish (shrimp, lobster, crab, clams, etc.) are prohibited,
although there is no mention of it being prohibited in Hadith and Quran.
- Most agree that frogs are haraam due to the prohibition
of killing them in hadith. In fact it is common belief in South East
Asia that animals who live on both land and sea (such as amphibians,
some reptiles, and some species of bird) are off limits.Dhabiĥa (method used to slaughter animals)
The conventional method of slaughtering all animals, excluding fish and most sea life, is known as dhabiĥa (ذَبِيْحَة), often pronounced by non-Arabs as zabiha.
It involves severing the major arteries in the neck of the animal, as
well as the esophagus and trachea, with one swipe of a nonserrated
blade.Criticisms of Dhabiĥa Halal
Civilized
human beings object to dhabiĥa halal because it causes unnecessary
suffering to the animal, which is not stunned before slaughter.For more detail, see dhabiĥa and animal rights controversy.
-
Problems following dietary laws in non-Muslim countries
Australian halal certificate for chocolate.
Malaysian halal certificate for a coffee’s brand
Halal certificate issued for dairy products by an European certification body.Depending
on which definition of halal a Muslim chooses to adhere to, and the
strictness with which the person chooses to adhere to it, living in a
non-Muslim country can pose minimal or great difficulty.Dhabiĥa Halal
Dhabiĥa halal is relatively difficult to adhere to in a non-Muslim country:
- Depending
on the presence or absence of a significant Muslim population in the
area, finding grocery stores, meat stores, and restaurants which
serve/sell dhabiĥa halal foods can be extremely difficult.
- The abundance of pork and non-dhabiha meats at
restaurants presents a rather difficult problem to overcome. While a
Muslim will not order a non-dhabiĥa halal dish, there is a concern
about cross-contamination. This is likely to occur when the dhabiĥa
halal dish is prepared with the same cooking tools as other non-dhabiĥa
halal dishes. Food and juices from the two dishes are likely to be
exchanged, technically rendering the dhabiĥa halal dish as haraam.
- Many apparently meat-free dishes, and even some desserts, contain pork, gelatin, or other non-conforming substances. There is also a concern in the Muslim community about food additives such as monosodium glutamate
(MSG) that may use enzymes derived from pig fat in the production
process. It is very difficult to avoid such food additives as they are
widely used and are not declared on restaurant menus.
- Alcohol, especially wine, is frequently used in cooking.
It is largely used in sauces and cakes, and is also present as an
ingredient in vanilla and other extracts. Some contend that this is not
a concern, so long as the alcohol has been thoroughly burned off in the
cooking process.
Since the turn of the century, there have been efforts to create organizations such as the Muslim Consumer Group that certify food products as halal for Muslim consumers
Comparison with kashrut
There is a great deal of similarity between the laws of Dhabiĥa
halal and kashrut, and there are also various differences. More
information can be found at Comparison of Dhabiĥa Halal and kashrut.
[edit] Debate on permissibility of kashrut
Whether or not Muslims can use kashrut standards as a replacement
for halal standards is an ongoing debate. However, sura 5, verse 5 in
the Quran deems the food of Christians and Jews as permissible, except
alcohol which is forbidden in Islam.
Halal in non-Islamic Countries
- In Dearborn, Michigan, United States, home to one of the largest Muslim and Arab populations in the United States, a number of fast food chains like McDonald’s introduced halal chicken nuggets. [14]
Recent laws passed in the United States have made it illegal to
sell, distribute, and/or produce food that has been mislabeled “halal,”
when it is determined that the food does not meet Islamic dietary
standards. Similar laws protect kosher foods [15].
Some were struck down by the courts as an unconstitutional sanction of
religious provisions, but others were upheld as consumer protection
regulations. See Kashrut.
McDonald’s is intending to offer Halal meals in the United Kingdom
with two of its franchises currently on trial, offering this service.
After success in Australia where sales doubled as a result of
McDonald’s changing a restaurant to cater of the needs of Muslims. All
McDonald’s Restaurants in Singapore are Halal certified. [1]
Filed under: Halal Product | Leave a comment »
Halal Products Journal 