VALUE OF HALAL

Food in Islam

Islam as a Divine Universal Religion, is a code of life. It aims to guide the human being for their physical and spiritual well–being, in order to find a harmony and inner balance as well as the surrounding environment.

Thus, Islam guides the human being in all aspects of life such as food, clothing, and social conduct amongst others.

With regard to food, the Islamic doctrine seeks to meet the nutritional needs of the human being, in order to ensure physical well -being, without discarding the spiritual component that seeks a perfect relationship with Allah (God) and all its creatures.

Before Islam, everything was permitted (Halal), except what Allah forbade, as verse 168 of chapter 2:

"O Humans Eat of all that is lawful and that the soil contains beneficial and follow not the footsteps of Satan, he is your open enemy."(Qur'an 2:168)

So the question what is lawful and unlawful before Allah remains. The answer lies in several verses of the Holy Quran and sayings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).

The types of meat which are consumable by Muslims is quoted below, in the following verse:


"O you who believe, eat of the good with which We gave you and be grateful to Allah if it is Him ye worship . He has only forbidden you dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that what had been sacrificed under the invocation of another name other than God. However, who unintentionally or abuse, is impelled to it will not be reproached, because God, He is Forgiving, Merciful."(Qur'an 2: 172/173)


In this verse we find some of the conditions so that the meat can be considered Halal.

 

WHAT IS HALAL?

“Halal” means “lawful” or “permitted” and is sometimes translated as “acceptable."

In the Islamic context, the term Halal refers to all types of foods which Allah has made permissible.

In Islam, voluntary consumption of any (non- Halal) food Haram, is considered a crime.
The consumption of Halal food is obligatory on every Muslim, unless you are in a situation where your life is at risk.