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Islamic dietary laws are laws that devout Muslims follow regarding their diet. Special attention is paid to certain plant and animal species’ suitability for human consumption, as well as their perceived “cleanliness”. More importantly, when an animal is deemed fit for consumption, Islamic dietary laws intend to hasten or otherwise lessen that animal’s suffering prior to slaughter, making the death a fast process, treating the animal with dignity and honor, all while giving thanks and praise to Allah.
Islamic jurisprudence specifies which foods are halāl (حَلَال, "lawful") and which are harām (حَرَامْ, "unlawful"). The dietary laws are found in the Quran, the holy book of Islam, as well as in collections of traditions attributed to Islamic prophet Muhammad ("Sunnah").
Herbivores—hoofed, cud-chewing animals, including most wild antelope (such as gazelle, oryx, etc.), bovids, camel, deer, goats, or sheep—are just some examples of animals that are halal, but only if they were treated like sentient beings, slaughtered quickly and painlessly, and while reciting the Bismillah and Takbir. If the animal was treated poorly in life, and/or tortured for a prolonged period of time while being slaughtered, the meat is then considered haram. Forbidden foods for human consumption include all alcoholic drinks and substances, pigs (or any member of family Suidae), roadkill, carrion, the meat of carnivorous animals, and any animals that have died due to abuse, illness, injury, stunning, torture, poisoning, or any other reason not in the name of God.
Regulations of food
Halal (permissible, lawful)
Quranic verses which have information regarding halal foods include: Q2:173, Q5:5, and Q6:118–119, 121.
Permissible meats and animals
Livestock or cattle, i.e. grazing beasts, are lawful except those that are explicitly prohibited. However, hunting is prohibited during "the pilgrimage" (Quran 5:1).
This means that most herbivores or cud-chewing animals like cattle, deer, sheep, goats, and antelope are considered halal to consume.
Animals hunted by trained birds and animals are also permitted according to the Quran 5:4.
Permitted method of slaughter
In Islamic law, dhabīḥah (Arabic: ذَبِيحَة) is the prescribed method of slaughter for halal animals. It consists of a swift, deep incision to the throat with a very sharp knife, cutting the wind pipe, jugular veins and carotid arteries on both sides but leaving the spinal cord intact.
The carcass should be hung upside down for long enough to be free of blood.
Slaughtered animals must be acknowledged as sentient beings and slaughtered painlessly while reciting the Bismillah and Takbir. The butcher is required to call upon the name of Allah (Bismillah) individually for each animal. If the animal is treated poorly, or tortured while being slaughtered, the meat is haram.
Conversely, animals slaughtered for food may not be killed by being boiled or electrocuted. Animals strangled or beaten to death, or which died by falling or due to a wild animal are also expressly forbidden in the Qur'an 5:3.
Game of Sea
Game of water (i.e. fish and other sea creatures) is generally permitted in most of the schools of Islam, based on their interpretation of the Quran 5:96; however, the Hanafi school of Islamic jurisprudence forbids consumption of seafood other than true "fish", and considers other sea creatures, such as crustaceans, to be makruh. Fishing is permitted during pilgrimage.
Some scholars are in disagreement over whether or not prawns and shrimp constitute as true "fish"; comparatively, many scholars do agree that crocodile, crab, lobster, or any mollusk is not. al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya, 5/289–291, Bada’i al-Sana’i, 5/35–39 and Radd al-Muhtar, 304–308.
In Shia hadith, there is a prohibition on the consumption of eels, including all freshwater and marine-based species.
Food of People of the book
Food of Jews and Christians (other than those explicitly forbidden) is lawful for Muslims.
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. (Quran 5:5)
Haram (forbidden)
A variety of substances are also considered as unlawful (haram) for humans to consume and, therefore, forbidden.
Certain animals are considered haram, including land animals without blood, including all insects except locusts. Surah al-A’raf, V: 157; Sunan Abu Dawud, no: 3806. Most reptiles are also considered haram, as well as most pests (hasharat al-Ardh) such as mice and rats. Surah al-A’raf, V: 157.
Differences of opinion exist as to whether the consumption of horses, mules, and donkeys is permitted. In the Quran, one finds this verse: "And (He has created) horses, mules, and donkeys, for you to ride and use for show; and He has created (other) things of which you have no knowledge." Surah al-Nahl, V: 8. Which some scholars have interpreted as limiting these animals for riding and show and not permitting their consumption. Musnad Ahmad, 4/89, Sunan Abu Dawud, no: 3790, Sunan Nasa’i and Sunan Ibn Majah; Sahih al-Bukhari, no: 5202, 5205, and 5208. Predatory animals, such as lions and tigers, and birds of prey, such as falcons and hawks are forbidden to consume. Sahih Muslim, no: 1934.
However, a person would not be considered guilty of sin in a situation where the lack of any alternative creates an undesired necessity to consume that which is otherwise unlawful. Such as a famine.
Intoxicants
Alcoholic drinks are generally prohibited in Islamic thought, with the Quran including several verses that admonish the consumption of khamr, an Arabic term meaning intoxicants that is interpreted to include most forms of alcohol and psychoactive drugs:
They question thee about intoxicants and games of chance. Say: In both is great sin, and (some) utility for men; but the sin of them is greater than their usefulness. And they ask thee what they ought to spend. Say: that which is superfluous. Thus God maketh plain to you (His) revelations, that haply ye may reflect. (Al-Quran 2:219)
O ye who believe! Draw not near unto prayer when ye are drunken, till ye know that which ye utter, nor when ye are polluted, save when journeying upon the road, till ye have bathed. And if ye be ill, or on a journey, or one of you cometh from the closet, or ye have touched women, and ye find not water, then go to high clean soil and rub your faces and your hands (therewith). Lo! Allah is Benign, Forgiving. (Quran 4:43)
O ye who believe! Intoxicants and games of chance and idols and divining arrows are only an infamy of Satan's handiwork. Leave it aside in order that ye may succeed. (Al-Quran 5:90)
There is some debate about whether the prohibition extends to dishes in which the alcohol would be cooked off, or if it would be practically impossible to consume enough of the food to become intoxicated, but it is generally accepted that the inclusion of any alcohol should be avoided and alternatives used.
Substances which contain intoxicants but are not consumed are not prohibited as such. For example, alcohol can be used as a disinfectant or for cleaning.
The Alevi Muslims of Turkey permit alcohol, unlike many other denominations. The Zaidi and Mutazili sects believe that the use of alcohol has always been forbidden and refer to the Qur'an Ayah (4:43) as feeling of sleepiness and not to be awake.
Carrion
An animal which dies by itself i.e., carrion:
Forbidden to you is that which dies of itself, and blood, and flesh of swine, and that on which any other name than that of Allah has been invoked, and the strangled (animal) and that beaten to death, and that killed by a fall and that killed by being smitten with the horn, and that which wild beasts have eaten, except what you slaughter, and what is sacrificed on stones set up (for idols) and that you divide by the arrows; that is a transgression. This day have those who disbelieve despaired of your religion, so fear them not, and fear Me. This day have I perfected for you your religion and completed My favor on you and chosen for you Islam as a religion; but whoever is compelled by hunger, not inclining willfully to sin, then surely Allah is most-Forgiving, most-Merciful.
Blood
Blood and its by-products are forbidden in Islam, in the Quran, surah 5, al-Maʼidah, verse 3: also and its by-products are forbidden in Islam, in the Quran, surah 5, al-Maʼidah, verse 3:
Forbidden to you is that which dies of itself, and blood, and flesh of swine, and that on which any other name than that of Allah has been invoked, and the strangled (animal) and that beaten to death, and that killed by a fall and that killed by being smitten with the horn, and that which wild beasts have eaten, except what you slaughter, and what is sacrificed on stones set up (for idols) and that you divide by the arrows; that is a transgression. This day have those who disbelieve despaired of your religion, so fear them not, and fear Me. This day have I perfected for you your religion and completed My favor on you and chosen for you Islam as a religion; but whoever is compelled by hunger, not inclining willfully to sin, then surely Allah is most-Forgiving, most-Merciful.
Pork
Consumption of pork and products made from pork is strictly forbidden in Islam. The origin of this prohibition is in Surat al-Baqarah:
He has only forbidden you what dies of itself, and blood, and flesh of swine, and that over which any other (name) than (that of) Allah has been invoked; but whoever is driven to necessity, not desiring, nor exceeding the limit, no sin shall be upon him; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
Animals dedicated to other than God
Animal dedicated to or slaughtered in the name of a human being or saint is prohibited.
He has only forbidden you what dies of itself, and blood, and flesh of swine, and that over which any other (name) than (that of) God has been invoked; but whoever is driven to necessity, not desiring, nor exceeding the limit, no sin shall be upon him; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
Horses, mules and donkeys
In both Sunni and Shia hadith the meat of mules is prohibited but horse meat is allowed in Sunni sources.
Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah: "On the day of Khaibar, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) forbade the eating of donkey meat and allowed the eating of horse meat."
Horse meat is especially popular among the Muslims of Central Asia, due in part to their nomadic heritage.
According to Shia hadith, the use of horses for food is prohibited.
Donkey meat is prohibited according to one hadith.
Animals with fangs
Predator animals possessing fangs are prohibited (e.g. cats, dogs, bears, lions, wolves).
Narrated Abu Tha`laba: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) forbade the eating of the meat of beasts having fangs (canine teeth).
Birds of prey
Birds having talons are prohibited (e.g. owls, eagles, hawks).
Ibn 'Abbas reported that Islamic Prophet prohibited the eating of all fanged beasts of prey, and all the birds having talons (claws).
Other prohibited animals
Lizard is prohibited.
Narrated AbdurRahman ibn Shibl:The Messenger of God (ﷺ) forbade to eat the flesh of lizard.
It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar said: “Who eats crows? The Messenger of God (ﷺ) called them vermin, By Allah, they are not from among the good and permissible things.”
Likewise snakes, scorpion, and mice are prohibited.
It was narrated from ‘Aishah that the Islamic Prophet said: “Snakes are vermin, scorpions are vermin, mice are vermin and crows are vermin.”
Eating monkeys is prohibited in Islam. According to Shia hadith, metamorphosed animals to which a disobedient, irreverent, or arrogant pre-Islamic nation was converted as a punishment, such as (apes and monkeys) are prohibited.
Islamic dietary laws during Ramadan
Ramadan, the ninth month on the Muslim calendar, is considered the holy month of fasting. Ramadan begins and ends with the appearance of the new moon. During the month of Ramadan, God delivered the Quran to the prophet Muhammad as guidance for the people. During Ramadan, Muslims take time for introspection, prayer, and reading of the Quran. For those who observe Ramadan with fasting, prayer, and faithful intention; God forgives their past sins. During this period, Muslims focus on self restraint or sawm (Arabic: to refrain) which is one of the five pillars of Islam. Ramadan emphasizes sawm, when worshippers have to abstain from food, drink, sexual activity, and immoral behavior between dawn and dusk. After dusk, Muslims break their fast during a meal called iftar with family and friends. Sawm can be negated by breaking fast, however, the lost can be made up with one extra day of fasting. The end of the Ramadan fast is the celebration of Eid-al-Fitr (Feast of Fast-Breaking), one of the two major religious holidays on the Muslim calendar.
Food certification
Since the turn of the 21st century, there have been efforts to create organizations that certify food products as halal for Muslim consumers in the USA. Since 1991, some mainstream manufacturers of soups, grains, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, prepared foods, and other products, as well as hotels, restaurants, airlines, hospitals, and other service providers have pursued the halal market. These companies purchase halal-certified products. This can allow companies to export products to most Middle Eastern countries and Southeast Asian countries. The oldest and most well-known halal certifier in the United States is called the Islamic Services of America.
In Europe, several organizations have been created over the past twenty years in order to certify the halal products. A survey recently published by a French association of Muslim Consumers (ASIDCOM) shows that the market of halal products has been developed in a chaotic way in Europe. The European certification organizations do not have a common definition of "halal" nor agreed upon control procedures and traceability. The controls implemented by individual agencies are all very different: they can go from an annual audit of the slaughterhouse, to checking each production with permanent controls in place and on-going independent monitoring.
In South Africa, most chicken products have a halal stamp. The South African National Halal Authority (SANHA) issues certificates and products bearing this logo range from water, snacks, and even meat-free products (which may contain non-halal ingredients). The South African National Halal Authority also licenses the usage of the Halal logo in restaurants where the food is halal, in addition to no alcohol or pork products being served.
In Singapore, halal certification is managed by Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS), also known as the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore. They are the sole custodian of Halal Certification in Singapore.
In Malaysia, the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) is the agency responsible for halal certification in Malaysia.
Availability of halal food in non-Islamic regions
Many apparently meat-free dishes, and even some desserts, contain pork, such as most kinds of gelatin, or other non-conforming substances. There is some disagreement about food additives such as monosodium glutamate (MSG) that may use enzymes derived from pig fat in the production process. It is difficult to avoid such additives when eating out since they are usually not listed on restaurant menus. Some Muslim organizations compile tables of such additives.
The halal market is now estimated to be 26% of world food trade and is growing. Companies from Europe and North America that would like to access the growing Halal market must get their consumable products Halal certified. The Global Halal Institute has a list of Halal certifiers that are approved by most Muslim countries with dietary import restrictions.
Americas
The first USDA approved Halal Food Company in the USA is Midamar Corporation. The company began producing halal beef, chicken, lamb and turkey products for domestic and international consumption in 1974 and is based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa which is home to one of the oldest Muslim communities in America and the longest standing mosque in America. In Dearborn, Michigan, the home of one of the largest Muslim and Arab populations in the United States, some fast-food restaurant chains such as the McDonald's Corporation have introduced halal chicken nuggets and chicken sandwiches.
Europe and Asia
In the United Kingdom, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, or Singapore, halal fried chicken restaurants having thousands of outlets, some but not all of which, serve halal foods such as the Kentucky Fried Chicken, Nando's, Brown's Chicken, and Crown Fried Chicken companies. In Arab, North African and Middle Eastern countries meat and food is mostly halal, even from foreign fast food chains.
Benefits
The halal way of slaughter has been considered to be healthier and more hygienic. Research claims the method of quickly severing windpipe, jugular vein and carotid artery in one quick move without giving the animal time to panic does have an effect on quality of meat. When animals face trauma or stress the glycogen in their body is converted to lactic acid. This affects the pH level of the meat, lower pH resulting in lighter colored meat and higher pH resulting in darker meat. This makes the meat tougher and also hard to chew. The halal way of slaughtering ensures the method is virtually less traumatic for the animal. According to the Humane Society Institute for Science and Policy, in a 1980 study on the effects of stress on livestock and meat quality, it was found that stunning creates more anxiety due to the stress experienced between the stunning and the bleeding out of the animal. The halal slaughter method does not encounter this, as the swipe of the knife directly correlates to the loss of blood supply.
“By cutting the windpipe and the carotid artery, the flow of blood to the nerve in the brain that causes the sensation of pain, is stopped,” says Mufti Obaidullah Qasmi, former teacher at Darul Uloom, Deoband, India. “This leads to reduced pain.” The animal may appear to struggle and kick, but that is due to the contraction and relaxation of muscles deficient in blood, rather than pain.
In addition, draining out all the blood post-slaughter produces softer meat. Blood left in could clot and cause the meat to spoil faster and harbor the growth of microorganisms.
See also
External links
- Halal Adviser - Halal & Haram Guide
- Laws of Islam concerning food
- Is conventional meat Halal/Zabiha? Green Zabiha
- List of Haram and Doubtful Ingredients
- Learn More: Halal Knowledge Centre Archived 2018-07-23 at the Wayback Machine
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