People read "halal" on a variety of food labels and dining establishments, but only a few know what it means. For our Muslim brothers and sisters, "halal" signifies according to law in Islamic law. The term is used to classify food as permissible according to Sharia, or Muslim law. It is the opposite of "haram," an Arabic statement which means "forbidden.".
If a food item has halal on its label, then it means it was manufactured in compliance with Islamic standards and is therefore permitted to be eaten by Muslims. According to Islamic dietary rules, food items must not contain forbidden substances in its ingredients, such as pork meat, blood, carnivore and birds of prey meat, alcohol, and other toxics.
Other haram or prohibited food items include animals 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 killed according to a sanctioned method. In Islam, butchering an animal for food has to be done quickly, in order to take away the life of the animal quickly and evade it from prolonged agony and pain.
For restaurants serving halal foods, the strict requirement goes beyond using only halal ingredients and obeying halal food preparation and cooking standards. Halal dining establishments that serve non-halal foods should also ascertain that kitchen utensils used for non-halal foods will not be used for halal foods. Activities in the kitchen should not mix lest there is "contamination".
Being halal-certified definitely demands extraordinary attention to food preparation and zealous service towards the Muslim customers. That is why halal certification is not just a sign to garnish. It carries with it a serious responsibility and sincerity on the part of the restaurant owner.
In Muslim communities, it is easy to spot halal meals and halal-certified eating places as most are run by Muslims who follow Sharia. However, Muslims in non-Islamic countries may have more dilemma finding packed foods and restaurants obedient to their religious law. That is why food items and eateries make their halal certifications known so that Muslims would be able to identify foods that meet Islamic dietary standards.
So if a dining establishment labels itself halal-certified, you can be sure that the ingredients used in a meal and the process these had been through is adherent to Sharia laws. It also means that the halal restaurant gives all their customers the highest value.
If a food item has halal on its label, then it means it was manufactured in compliance with Islamic standards and is therefore permitted to be eaten by Muslims. According to Islamic dietary rules, food items must not contain forbidden substances in its ingredients, such as pork meat, blood, carnivore and birds of prey meat, alcohol, and other toxics.
Other haram or prohibited food items include animals 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 killed according to a sanctioned method. In Islam, butchering an animal for food has to be done quickly, in order to take away the life of the animal quickly and evade it from prolonged agony and pain.
For restaurants serving halal foods, the strict requirement goes beyond using only halal ingredients and obeying halal food preparation and cooking standards. Halal dining establishments that serve non-halal foods should also ascertain that kitchen utensils used for non-halal foods will not be used for halal foods. Activities in the kitchen should not mix lest there is "contamination".
Being halal-certified definitely demands extraordinary attention to food preparation and zealous service towards the Muslim customers. That is why halal certification is not just a sign to garnish. It carries with it a serious responsibility and sincerity on the part of the restaurant owner.
In Muslim communities, it is easy to spot halal meals and halal-certified eating places as most are run by Muslims who follow Sharia. However, Muslims in non-Islamic countries may have more dilemma finding packed foods and restaurants obedient to their religious law. That is why food items and eateries make their halal certifications known so that Muslims would be able to identify foods that meet Islamic dietary standards.
So if a dining establishment labels itself halal-certified, you can be sure that the ingredients used in a meal and the process these had been through is adherent to Sharia laws. It also means that the halal restaurant gives all their customers the highest value.
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