Halal Food Laws

Philosophical Basis and Practical Implications

Islam is a comprehensive religion guiding the lives of its followers through sets of rules governing the personal, social and public aspects. Since food is an important part of daily life, food laws carry a special significance.

The Islamic view of the food laws is very simple and clear. The halal and haram are part of the total legal system of Islam, its Shar’ah, a system whose primary objective is the good of mankind. The Islamic “Shari’ah” removes from human beings harmful, burdensome customs and superstitions, aiming to simplify and ease the business of day-to-day living.

The basic guidance about the food laws is revealed in the Qur’an (the divine book) from Allah ? (the Creator) to the prophet Muhammed (peace be on him) for all mankind. The food laws are explained and put into practice through the Sunnah (the life, action, and teachings of Prophet Muhammed (peace be on him) as recorded in the hadith (the compilation of the traditions of Prophet Muhammed). These laws are strictly observed by Muslims of all ethnic and geographic origins.

With the global emphasis in food marketing, coupled with an increase in the meals consumed away from the home, it is imperative that the food industry understand the requirements of the Muslim consumer. The food industry must understand the basis and practical applications of these laws, and be willing to make some products and process modifications to enable it to serve these consumers.

Principles Regarding Permissibility
These are generally accepted principles pertaining to halal which means allowed lawful or permitted. It is obligatory for Muslim to eat Halal food and consume halal products and haram is an Arabic word means prohibited or unlawful.

• The basic principle is that all things created by God are permitted, with a few exceptions that are specifically prohibited.
• To make lawful and unlawful is the right of God alone. No human being, no matter how pious or powerful, may take it into his hands.
• Prohibiting what is permitted and permitting what is prohibited is similar to ascribing partners to God.
• The basic reasons for the prohibition of things are due to impurity and harmfulness. A Muslim is not required to know exactly why or how something is unclean or harmful in what God has prohibited. These might be obvious reasons, and there might be obscure reasons.
• What is permitted is sufficient, and what is prohibited is then harmful, God prohibited only things that are harmful to human while providing better alternatives.
• Whatever is conductive to the “Prohibited” is in itself prohibited. If something is prohibited, anything leading to it is also prohibited.
• Falsely representing unlawful as lawful is prohibited It is unlawf God's prohibitions by flimsy excuses.
• Doubtful things should be avoided, these is a grey area between clearly lawful and clearly unlawful. This is the area of “what is doubtful”. Islam considers it an act of piety for the Muslim to avoid doubtful things, in order for them to stay clear of unlawful. The Prophet Muhammed (Peace be on him) said “The halal is clear and the haram is clear”, between the two there are doubtful matters concerning which people do not know whether they are halal or haram. One who avoids them in order to safeguard his religion and his honour is safe, while if someone engages in a part of them, he may be doing something haram.Basis for the Prohibitions

In the Islamic Faith, Allah is the Almighty God. He has no partners. The first requirement of a Muslim is to declare that “There is no God but Allah ?…” So everything has to be dedicated to Allah only. There is no challenge to this fact, and no explanations are required or necessary. The basis for the prohibition of the below categories is purely and strictly Qur’ani guidance.

• Carrion and Dead animal
• Blood
• Swine
• Alcohol and other Intoxicants

Halal and Haram by Category

Lawful and prohibited food can be grouped into other categories, as well;

• The animal Kingdom: This includes land animal and marine animal. All fresh water and salt water animals (those which live in water all the time) are permitted unless they are harmful to death. There is no requirement to slaughter the marine animals, among the land animals, swine is prohibited specifically, and carnivorous mammals and certain other animals and birds are prohibited by deduction from the Islamic law. By-products (eggs and milk) of the halal animals while alive are permitted forMuslims unless there is contamination by any prohibited ingredients into the seemingly halal products. e,g., use of pepsin or animal rennet in cheese manufacture.
• The Plant Kingdom: All products derived from plants are lawful for Muslim consumption except when fermented to contain alcohol, or when containing intoxicants or ingredients otherwise harmful to humans.
• The Mineral Kingdom: Generally safe substances derived from mineral or petroleum sources are halal except those which might become intoxicating or those which pose a health hazard.
• Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering for Halal Food: Biotechnology and bioengineering have started to reshap the food productions, Questions are being raised about the permissibility of food produced using these techniques. Islam is a viable religion for all times, and such issues are binge reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Muslim scholars. Biotechnology covers a wide range of biological science activities and, may lead to a large number of different applications for the food industry and our food supply.

Islamic food laws are based on cleanliness, sanitation, and purity. All utensils must be clean and free of contamination from any unlawful or harmful substances.

Any by-products or derived ingredients must also be from duly slaughtered animals to be good for Muslim consumption.