What is Halal food? Halal ( حلال) is an Arabic word which means ‘permissible’ in English.
Halal food is a term that refers to food that is permissible by Islamic law. It is an important aspect of the Islamic faith, and Muslim should consume halal food only in their daily lives. Halal food is not only limited to meat but on a wide range of food items that are halal or permissible under Islamic laws. In This article what halal food is, its significance in the Islam and the various rules and regulations that govern its production and consumption.
Table of Contents
What is Halal Food?
Halal food is any food that is permissible according to Islamic dietary laws. The Arabic word “halal” means permissible or lawful, in contrast, the term haram means forbidden or unlawful. Islamic laws are depends upon the “Quran”(the holy book of Islam), and the Hadith sayings and teaching of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
Significance of Halal Food in the Islam
The consumption of halal food is an important aspect of the Islam. Muslims believe that eating halal food is a way to purify the ones. It is also represents obedience to Allah and to follow the teachings of Prophet Muhammad SAW.
Rules and Regulations Governing Halal Food
Halal food is also important in Islamic social and cultural practices. Islamic dietary laws are based on several principles that govern the production and consumption of halal food.
Below are those principles:
- The animal must be slaughtered in a specific way in order for meat to be considered halal. The animal must be alive and healthy at the time of slaughter and it must be killed by cutting the throat with a sharp knife while the name of Allah is recited. This is known as dhabiha, and it is a quick and painless method of slaughter that is designed to minimize the animal’s suffering.
- The person should be a Muslim who is mentally sound and knowledgeable of the Islamic slaughtering procedures
- Food must prepared in a hygienic manner which includes clean utensils and equipment as well as ensuring that the food is free from any impurities or contaminants.
- After the animal is slaughtered, the blood must be drained from animal’s body which ensure to remove any impurities from the meat and to comply with Islamic dietary laws.
What is Prohibited:
Certain animals are prohibited according to Islamic dietary laws such as pork and its byproducts, animals that have not been slaughtered according to Islamic law and carnivorous animals.
Alcohol: Muslims are prohibited of consuming alcohol and any food or drink that contains alcohol is considered to be haram and strictly prohibited.
Halal Food Certification:
Muslims purchases food that has been certified as halal by a recognized certification body. Halal certification ensures that the food has been produced and prepared according to Islamic dietary laws and is free from any haram ingredients or contaminants.
Several halal certification bodies around the world are present, including the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA), the Halal Food Authority (HFA) in the UK and the Halal Certification Services (HCS) in Australia are the few renowned ones. These certification bodies audits the food production facilities, ingredients and packaging to ensure that they meet Islamic dietary laws.
Halal Food and the Food Industry
The halal food industry has grown significantly in past few years specifically after Covid-19 where people roaming and moving around the world. According to a research report by Grand View the global halal food market valued around $1.8 trillion in 2020 and it is expected to reach $2.5 trillion by 2026.
Many food companies recognized the importance of the halal food market and started producing halal products. In addition, even in supermarkets and food retailers are now carrying halal-certified products to cater to the needs of Muslim consumers requirements.
The halal food industry also plays an significant role in the global economy.
FAQs:
Q: What is considered halal food?
A: Halal food refers to any food or drink that is permissible for Muslims to consume according to Islamic dietary laws. It must not contain any forbidden (haram) ingredients such as pork or alcohol, and must be prepared in accordance with specific guidelines and practices, such as slaughtering the animal in a certain way and reciting the name of Allah during the process.
Q: Why Muslims eat halal?
A:Muslims believe that eating halal food is a way to purify the ones. It is also represents obedience to Allah and to follow the teachings of Prophet Muhammad SAW.
Q: What is halal vs non halal?
Halal food is food that is permissible for Muslims to consume according to Islamic dietary laws, while non-halal food is any food or drink that does not meet these requirements. Halal food must be free from haram substances and prepared according to specific guidelines, while non-halal food may contain haram ingredients or be prepared in a way that does not meet Islamic dietary laws.
Q: What’s the difference between halal and kosher?
Halal is the Islamic dietary law, while kosher is the Jewish dietary law. They differ in the animal slaughter requirements, forbidden animals, mixing of meat and dairy, and certification process. Although they share some similarities, they are distinct dietary guidelines based on different religious traditions.
