People read "halal" on many food labels and restaurants, but only a few know what it means. For our Muslim brothers and sisters, "halal" means according to law in Islamic law. The term is used to identify food as permissible according to Sharia, or Muslim law. It is the opposite of "haram," an Arabic terminology which means "forbidden.".
A product that is identified halal on its label means that it was prepared in compliance with undeviating Islamic laws and is therefore allowed to be served to Muslims. Islamic dietary rules mandate that food items must not have prohibited substances or ingredients. In the Muslim religion, these substances include pork meat, animal blood, birds of prey and other carnivorous animals, alcohol and other addicting liquids and substances.
Other haram or forbidden foods include cattle killed in the name of anyone but the Islam god Allah, or those food items that have been offered or given in a sacrifice to other gods. An animal should be butchered according to a sanctioned method. In Islam, butchering an animal for food has to be done quickly, in order to kill the animal quickly and evade it from prolonged agony and pain.
Halal-certified dining establishments in non-Islamic countries also thoroughly make sure that their preparation process meets the Islamic standards. While a Muslim will certainly avoid a non-halal or haram food, eateries also need to make sure that the halal-certified dishes have been prepared so that the halal foods are not contaminated with haram foods.
Being halal-certified is not a matter to trifle with especially as it means catering to a esteemed culture and religious belief. Thus, owners of halal eateries carry upon them a huge responsibility and an transparent accounting of what goes on in the kitchen and what is put into the food being served.
In Muslim communities, it is easy to locate halal dishes and halal-certified eateries as most are owned by Muslims who follow Sharia. However, Muslims in non-Islamic communities may have more difficulty finding packed foods and dining establishments adhering to their religious law. That is why processed foods and dining establishments make their halal certifications known so that Muslims would be able to identify foods that meet Islamic dietary standards.
Found the halal sign on a restaurant? This simply means ingredients on the meal and the food preparations observe halal standards. It also means that the dining establishment respects and values the customs, traditions and beliefs of the Islamic faith.
A product that is identified halal on its label means that it was prepared in compliance with undeviating Islamic laws and is therefore allowed to be served to Muslims. Islamic dietary rules mandate that food items must not have prohibited substances or ingredients. In the Muslim religion, these substances include pork meat, animal blood, birds of prey and other carnivorous animals, alcohol and other addicting liquids and substances.
Other haram or forbidden foods include cattle killed in the name of anyone but the Islam god Allah, or those food items that have been offered or given in a sacrifice to other gods. An animal should be butchered according to a sanctioned method. In Islam, butchering an animal for food has to be done quickly, in order to kill the animal quickly and evade it from prolonged agony and pain.
Halal-certified dining establishments in non-Islamic countries also thoroughly make sure that their preparation process meets the Islamic standards. While a Muslim will certainly avoid a non-halal or haram food, eateries also need to make sure that the halal-certified dishes have been prepared so that the halal foods are not contaminated with haram foods.
Being halal-certified is not a matter to trifle with especially as it means catering to a esteemed culture and religious belief. Thus, owners of halal eateries carry upon them a huge responsibility and an transparent accounting of what goes on in the kitchen and what is put into the food being served.
In Muslim communities, it is easy to locate halal dishes and halal-certified eateries as most are owned by Muslims who follow Sharia. However, Muslims in non-Islamic communities may have more difficulty finding packed foods and dining establishments adhering to their religious law. That is why processed foods and dining establishments make their halal certifications known so that Muslims would be able to identify foods that meet Islamic dietary standards.
Found the halal sign on a restaurant? This simply means ingredients on the meal and the food preparations observe halal standards. It also means that the dining establishment respects and values the customs, traditions and beliefs of the Islamic faith.
