Brenda Khan
Halal is an Arabic term that means permissible in English. Halal food refers to dietary guidelines as prescribed in the Islamic faith. The concept of halal is central to Islamic practices and is derived from the Quran, the Sunnah (the teachings and practices of the Prophet Muhammad), and the rulings of Islamic scholars. The Quran and the Prophet Muhammad's teachings give clear rules about what is allowed and forbidden in a halal diet. In the modern world, the concept of halal has expanded beyond dietary restrictions to become a global industry, particularly in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and financial sectors. Halal food must be sourced, manufactured, and handled according to Islamic law, and it must be free from any ingredients or substances that are forbidden according to Islamic teachings, such as pork, alcohol, blood, and intoxicants. Meat is considered halal when the animal is slaughtered according to specific Islamic guidelines, which include a swift and humane slaughter while reciting the name of God.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Meat | Allowed if the animal is slaughtered by a Muslim who pronounces the name of Allah as the animal is killed. The animal must be killed by cutting the throat, windpipe, and blood vessels in the neck, causing death without severing the spinal cord. The blood must be drained completely. |
| Animals | Herbivores, cud-chewing animals like cattle, deer, sheep, goats, and antelope are allowed. Animals hunted by other animals (such as trained birds) are also permitted. |
| Fish | Fish with scales are allowed. According to the Maliki school, all types of seafood, including seahorses, lobsters, and crabs, are permitted. According to the Shafi school, every type of non-poisonous fish is permitted, and crustaceans that do not live on land, such as soft-shell crabs and lobsters, are allowed. |
| Alcohol and intoxicants | Forbidden. |
| Pork | Forbidden. |
| Food of Jews and Christians | Lawful for Sunni Muslims. |
| Machinery and utensils | Must be cleaned according to Islamic law (shariah). |
| Vanilla extract | Forbidden due to alcohol content. |
| Blood and blood by-products | Forbidden. |
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What You'll Learn
Allowed meats: herbivores, livestock, and hunted animals
A Halal diet is one that adheres to Islamic dietary laws, which specify which foods are halal (lawful) and haram (unlawful). These laws are found in the Quran, the holy book of Islam, as well as in collections of traditions attributed to the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
Herbivores, or cud-chewing animals, such as cattle, deer, sheep, goats, and antelope, are considered halal as long as they are treated humanely and slaughtered painlessly while reciting the basmala and takbir. The animal must be acknowledged as a sentient being, and the butcher is required to call upon the name of Allah (Bismillah) before slaughtering. This method of slaughter is known as dhabīḥah in Islamic law and involves a swift, deep incision to the throat with a sharp knife, cutting the windpipe, jugular veins, and carotid arteries on both sides while leaving the spinal cord intact. The animal's carcass should then be hung upside down to drain the blood.
Livestock or cattle are also considered lawful, except for those that are explicitly prohibited. This includes grazing beasts such as cows, camels, and buffalo.
Hunting is generally prohibited during the pilgrimage, but there are some exceptions. Wild animals that are halal to eat, such as deer, partridge, and wild goats, can be hunted and consumed if done so in accordance with specific laws. For example, the animal must be capable of running away or flying, and the weapon used for hunting must be sharp enough to tear the body of the animal, such as a knife, sword, spear, or arrow. If an animal is hunted with a gun, the speed of the bullet is also a factor in determining whether the meat is halal.
In terms of hunted animals, it is important to note that animals hunted by trained retrievers or other animals (such as trained birds) are also permitted as long as certain conditions are met. The dog, for instance, should be trained to obey commands and should not eat anything from the prey before its master arrives.
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Slaughter methods: swift, deep incision to the throat, draining blood
Islamic dietary laws specify which foods are halal and which are haram, or 'unlawful'. Halal meat is derived from herbivores and cud-chewing animals such as cattle, deer, sheep, goats, and antelope. These animals must be treated as sentient beings and slaughtered painlessly. The slaughter method, known as Zabihah, is considered the most humane and purest way to slaughter animals for consumption.
Zabihah involves a swift, deep incision to the throat, cutting the windpipe, jugular veins, and carotid arteries on both sides. This method ensures that most of the blood is drained from the veins, as the consumption of blood is forbidden in Islam. The spinal cord must be left intact, and the carcass should be hung upside down to ensure it is free of blood.
The animal must be restrained, particularly the head and neck, before its throat is cut to prevent movement, which can result in a poor cut, bad bleeding, and unnecessary pain. The butcher is required to call upon the name of Allah (Bismillah) for each animal individually.
In some cases, animals may be stunned before slaughter to render them unconscious, as long as the stunning does not cause death. However, many Muslims oppose any form of stunning, arguing that their method is the most humane.
The Sunnah method of slaughter involves draining all impure blood from the body by cutting all the vessels of the throat, including the carotid arteries, trachea, and oesophagus. This method ensures that the meat is lawful for Muslims of all schools of thought to consume.
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Alcohol and intoxicants: forbidden
Alcohol and intoxicants are forbidden in Islam. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Every intoxicant is Khamr, and every Khamr is haram". Khamr refers to any intoxicating substance.
The consumption of intoxicants is discouraged in Islamic teachings, eventually leading to a complete prohibition. This is because alcohol is seen as a substance that clouds judgment, weakens moral responsibility, and disrupts personal and social well-being. The Quran affirms that the harm caused by alcohol outweighs any good it may bring.
The prohibition is not against specific flavours or processes, but rather the intoxicating effect. Even everyday foods like bananas, bread, and fruit juices contain trace amounts of natural ethanol, but they do not intoxicate, and so are permissible. The key principle is that if a large amount of something is intoxicating, then even a small amount is forbidden.
There is some debate about the permissibility of food cooked with alcohol. Some scholars argue that if the alcohol is fully absorbed into the food and no trace of it remains, then it is permissible to consume. However, if the essence of the alcohol remains, it is forbidden, as the ruling applies to the dish as a whole and not just its composition.
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Seafood: most is halal, but some is haram
Islamic dietary laws are based on the Quran and collections of traditions attributed to the Islamic prophet Muhammad. These laws specify which foods are halal (lawful) and which are haram (unlawful). While most seafood is halal, there are some exceptions.
According to the Quran, "Lawful to you is what you catch from the sea and use for food as provision for yourself and for the travelers...". This verse is interpreted to mean that all types of seafood are halal, including fish and shellfish. However, it is important to note that this excludes anything harmful, such as poisonous fish or plants that may cause an allergic reaction.
There are differing opinions among Islamic scholars and schools of thought regarding the permissibility of certain types of seafood. For example, while all four major schools of Islamic thought consider fish halal, the Hanafi school considers non-fish creatures, such as squid, octopus, and mussels, to be impermissible. Additionally, the consumption of eels is prohibited in Shia hadith, and some scholars consider lobsters and shrimp to be scavengers of the sea, feeding on waste material and dead animals.
The method of slaughter is also important in determining whether seafood is halal or haram. For example, fish farms may be considered haram due to animal abuse and the use of chemicals. To be considered halal, seafood must be sourced and prepared according to Islamic guidelines, and the name of Allah must be invoked during the slaughtering process.
When purchasing seafood, it is important for Muslims to look for Halal certification to ensure that the product meets Islamic dietary standards. This certification helps to clarify any uncertainty and provides assurance to Muslim consumers that the product is acceptable for consumption.
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Other dietary laws: food of Jews and Christians is lawful for Sunni Muslims
Islamic dietary laws specify which foods are halal (lawful) and haram (unlawful) for Muslims to consume. These laws are found in the Quran, the holy book of Islam, as well as in collections of traditions attributed to the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
According to Islamic dietary laws, food that is considered haram includes alcohol, pork, frog, carrion, the meat of carnivores, and animals that died due to illness, injury, stunning, poisoning, or slaughtering not in the name of God. Herbivores and cud-chewing animals like cattle, deer, sheep, goats, and antelope are considered halal only if they are treated humanely, slaughtered swiftly and painlessly, and the name of Allah is invoked during the process.
In the context of Sunni Islam, there is a specific ruling regarding the permissibility of consuming food prepared by Jews and Christians. According to this ruling, the food of Jews and Christians (other than those explicitly forbidden in Islamic law) is generally considered lawful for Sunni Muslims to consume. This is based on the interpretation of certain verses in the Quran and hadith traditions.
However, there are specific conditions mentioned in Islamic sources that must be met for meat prepared by Jews and Christians to be considered permissible for Sunni Muslims. These conditions include:
- The meat should be slaughtered according to Islamic guidelines, which involve a swift and deep incision to the throat, cutting the windpipe, jugular veins, and carotid arteries, while leaving the spinal cord intact. This method, known as Zabihah, is considered the most humane and pure way to slaughter animals in Islam.
- The name of Allah should be invoked during the slaughtering process. It is not permissible to eat meat over which any name other than that of Allah has been mentioned.
- The meat should not be obtained from animals that are forbidden in Islamic law, such as pigs, dogs, or animals that have been strangled, electrocuted, or drowned.
These conditions are based on the interpretation of Islamic texts and the guidance provided by Islamic scholars. By following these guidelines, Sunni Muslims can ensure that the food prepared by Jews and Christians aligns with their religious dietary laws and is, therefore, permissible for consumption.
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Frequently asked questions
Halal is an Arabic word that means 'permissible' in English. It refers to the dietary guidelines as prescribed in the Islamic faith.
Foods that are considered halal are those that are made, produced, manufactured, processed, and stored using machinery, equipment, and/or utensils that have been cleaned according to Islamic law. They must be free from any component that Muslims are prohibited from eating according to Islamic law. For meat to be considered halal, it must be slaughtered by a Muslim who pronounces the name of Allah as the animal is killed. The animal must be killed by cutting its throat, windpipe, and blood vessels in the neck, causing its death without severing the spinal cord. The blood must be drained completely.
Foods that are not considered halal for Muslims to consume include pork, alcohol, blood, intoxicants, and foods with impure ingredients.
Halal food guidelines come from three main sources: the Quran, which gives clear rules about what is allowed or forbidden; hadiths, which are stories and teachings from the life of the Prophet Muhammad; and the rulings of Islamic scholars, who interpret these guidelines to ensure compliance with Islamic principles.
