Halaal (حلال, halāl, halal) is an Islamic Arabic term meaning "permissible". In English it is most frequently used to refer to food that is permissible according to Islamic law. In Arabic it refers to anything that is permissible under Islam. Islam (Arabic: ; ( (help· info)), submission (to the will of God)) is a monotheistic faith, considered one of the Abrahamic religions, and the worlds second-largest religion. ... Arabic (; , less formally, ) is the largest member of the Semitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family (classification: South Central Semitic) and is closely related to Hebrew and Aramaic. ...

Usage

The use of the term sometimes varies between Arabic-speaking Muslim communities and non-Arabic-speaking ones. A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم) (sometimes also spelled Moslem) is an adherent of Islam. ...

In Arabic-speaking countries, the term is used to describe anything permissible under Islamic law, in contrast to haraam, that which is forbidden. This includes behavior, speech, dress, conduct, manner and dietary laws. Arabic (; , less formally, ) is the largest member of the Semitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family (classification: South Central Semitic) and is closely related to Hebrew and Aramaic. ... Sharia (Arabic شريعة also Sharia, Shariah or Syariah) is traditional Islamic law. ... Haraam (harām) (Arabic: حرام ) is an Arabic word, used in Islam to refer to anything that is prohibited by the faith. ...

In non-Arabic-speaking countries, the term is most commonly used in the narrower context of just Muslim dietary laws, especially where meat and poultry are concerned, though it can be used for the more general meaning as well. This usage is similar to the Jewish term "kosher". Muslim dietary laws provide a set of rules as to what Muslims eat in their diet. ... The word Jew ( Hebrew: יהודי) is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or someone of Jewish descent with a connection to Jewish culture or ethnicity and often a combination of these attributes. ... The circled U indicates that this can of tuna is certified kosher by the Union of Orthodox Congregations. ...

The Islamic method of slaughtering animals for meat is known as Thabiha Halaal. It is also pronounced Zabiha.

Dietary usage

Forbidden substances

A variety of substances are considered haraam (forbidden), including: pork, blood, animals slaughtered in the name of anyone but God, carrion, carnivorous animals with the exception of most fish and sea animals, and all intoxicants (specifically alcohol). A section of the Muslim community believe that fish which do not carry scales as well as lobsters and crabs are considered haraam, while others believe that only those animals living in "both worlds" (land and water) are considered haraam; for example, frogs. Fish with scales are halaal if they are allowed to die on land (they cannot be beaten to death or cut apart while still swimming). Carrion is the carcass of a dead animal that becomes food for other scavenging animals such as hyenas or Tasmanian Devils. ... A carnivore (KAR-nih-vohr) meaning meat eater (Latin carn = flesh + vorare = to devour) is an animal that eats a diet consisting solely of meat, whether it comes from live animals or dead (scavenging). ... In chemistry, alcohol is any organic compound in which a hydroxyl group (-OH) is bound to a carbon atom, which in turn is bound to other hydrogen and/or carbon atoms. ...

Dhabiĥa (method used to slaughter animals)

The method of slaughtering all animals excluding fish and most sea-life is known as Dhabiĥa (ذَبِيْحَة), meat prepared in this manner is then considered Halal. Islamically, the prescribed method is to cut through the large arteries in the neck along with the esophagus with one swipe of a nonserrated blade and drain all blood and impurities from the animal, because as noted above, the consumption of blood itself is forbidden. During the draining of the blood, the animal is not handled until it has fully died.

The action of slaughtering an animal is a ritual religious act that is preceded by the words "In the name of God, God is the Greatest Bismillah, Allahu Akbar بسم الله ، الله أكبر) . The reasoning behind invoking the name of the creator at the moment of sacrifice is stated by some to be the equivalent of acknowledging the right of that creator over all created things, as such this invocation is then a type of permission granted to the one performing the sacrifice and endows a sense of gratitude even prior to partaking in the meat of the animal. The common usage of "Bismillah al Raĥman Al Raĥim" (In the name of God the Beneficent the Merciful) is not used here, because the act is one of subduement not of mercy, and as such the words Allahu Akbar (God is the Greatest) are used to reiterate that the animal was only subdued for consumption by God's divine design and command, and must only be taken then in his name. Image:Basmala. ...

It is also common for the words "Praise be upon Him who has made you suitable for slaughter [for the purpose of consumption] ("Subĥâna man Ĥallalaka li ˈl-dhabĥ") to be spoken immediately before slaughter instead, even though this is more of a cultural practice than one of based in Prophetic traditions Hadith (Arabic: , Arabic pl. ...

Prior to the slaughter, the animal's eyes and ears are checked to ensure that the animal is healthy and suitable for slaughter. If the animal is deemed to be healthy, it is first given water to drink (in order to quench its thirst) and is then pointed towards Mecca to be slaughtered. Muslims consider this method of killing the animal to be cleaner and more merciful to the animal. Some animal rights groups contend that this causes unnecessary pain and suffering to the animal when compared to modern methods of animal slaughter, which involve stunning the animal before killing it. Islamic groups assert that the Islamic method of slaughter is the fastest method and causes the least pain to the animal, since the neck is severed immediately causing the animal not to feel pain afterwards. Electrocution is forbidden in Islam since halaal slaughter requires the animal to be conscious and not contaminated by anaesthetics or intoxicating materials. Mild stunning for the subduement of larger, uncontrollable animals however is one of debate among Muslim Jurists. Animal welfare groups argue for greater protection for non-human animals, particulary those used by human beings in laboratories, for food and in entertainment, and those kept as companion animals. ... A Faqih is an expert in fiqh, or, Islamic jurisprudence. ...

Problems facing Muslims in non-Muslim countries

Muslims living in non-Muslim countries face three major problems. The first is obviously the absence, or scarcity, of restaurants and grocery stores that offer halaal food, especially meat (although in Great Britain at least, the amount of halaal foods available has widely increased). A family dinner at a local restaurant becomes a problem when all of the meat available is not halaal. The second is the abundance of pork products used in Western cooking. Finding pork, ham, and bacon on the menu creates a problem. While Muslims will not order a pork dish, they may be concerned about "cross contamination"; for example, using the same kitchen knife to cut up pork and then cut up fish or beef. Pots and pans might be used continuously in a busy kitchen: a chef cooking fried rice with pork might then use the same pan for fried rice with chicken (with only a quick rinse of the pan or none at all). Also, many apparently meat-free recipes, and even desserts, contain pork gelatine. The third concern is the frequent use of alcohol, especially wine, in cooking sauces and cakes, though some contend that this is not a concern so long as the alcohol has been thoroughly burned off. There are also other concerns about food additives such as monosodium glutamate (MSG) that might use enzymes derived from pig fat in the production process. It is very difficult to avoid such food additives as they would not normally be declared on the menu. Often, American Muslims will simply not eat pork or consume alcohol, but eat non-halal beef, chicken, fish, etc. Gelatin (also gelatine) is a translucent brittle solid, colorless or slightly yellow, nearly tasteless and odorless, that is created by prolonged boiling of animal connective tissue. ... Monosodium glutamate, sodium glutamate or E 621 (IUPAC names: 2-aminopentanedioic acid, 2-aminoglutaric acid, 1-aminopropane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid), commonly known as MSG or Vetsin, is a sodium salt of glutamic acid. ...

In very desperate situations, such as when a Muslim faces starvation, some dietary laws can be relaxed or ignored.

Comparison with Kashrut

There are some similarities between the Jewish dietary laws known as Kashrut and Muslim dietary laws. For example, both forbid all pork products, both prescribe certain methods for slaughtering animals and poultry (including the recital of a blessing to God over such animals before slaughter), and both forbid the consumption of blood and mandate that it be drained from animals after slaughter. It has been suggested that Kosher foods be merged into this article or section. ...

On the other hand, there are material differences. Islam forbids alcohol, while alcoholic consumption is allowed in kashrut (although there are strict rules that govern the kosher winemaking process). Muslims are allowed to eat the vast majority of seafood, while in kashrut all shellfish, molluscs, and selected other varieties of fish are forbidden. According to some interpretations kashrut, any combination of dairy and meat products is forbidden, whereas this is considered halaal.

The Qur'anic verse 5:5 declares that the food of the People of the Book is halaal. Many interpret this reference to imply that the dietary laws are similar enough to (though less restrictive than) those regulating kashrut that Muslims can consume kosher meat and other food products when there are no halaal alternatives. Of course, kosher products that include alcohol among their ingredients are still haraam. The Quran (Arabic , literally the recitation; also called or The Noble Quran; also transliterated Quran, Koran, and less commonly Alcoran) is the holy book of Islam. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Muslim dietary laws provide a set of rules as to what Muslims eat in their diet. ... In chemistry, alcohol is any organic compound in which a hydroxyl group (-OH) is bound to a carbon atom, which in turn is bound to other hydrogen and/or carbon atoms. ...

In certain instances, some Islamic authorities have permitted Muslims to rely upon kosher certification (particularly in regard to slaughtering) when halaal food is otherwise unavailable. This view is subject to debate, however, and is rejected by many, for a variety of reasons. Jewish authorities do not allow reliance upon halaal certification as a substitute for kashrut and many Islamic authorities argue the same for kashrut certification. Islamic groups advise using Kashrut certification only as a last resort.

Since the turn of the century, there have been efforts to create organizations such as the Muslim Consumer Group that certify food products as Halaal. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Sikhs and Halaal

Sikhism technically forbids Sikhs from eating halaal meat, because they believe the methods used to kill the animal cruel, inefficiently slow and unnecessarily painful. ^{[Wikipedia:“Glossary of Religious Terms,Jhatka Meat.” Sandeep Singh Brar. The Sikhism Homepage. 29 Jan. 2006 <http://www.sikhs.org/gloss2.htm>]} Some historians say that the halal meat boycott was set forth by Sikh Gurus after the killing of the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur by Moghul Emperor Aurangzeb. The Golden Temple is a sacred shrine for Sikhs Sikhism (Punjabi: , ), is a panentheistic religion based on the teachings of ten Gurus who lived in northern India during the 16th and 17th centuries. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... References ^ Tirha, B. B. A Taste of Trascendence, (2002) p. ... Guru Teg Bahadur Ji (April 1, 1621 - November 11, 1675) was the ninth of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism and became Guru on March 20, 1665 following in the footsteps of his grand-nephew, Guru Har Krishan Ji. ... The Mughal Empire (alternative spelling Mogul, which is the origin of the word Mogul) of India was founded by Babur in 1526, when he defeated Ibrahim Lodi, the last of the Delhi Sultans at the First Battle of Panipat. ... Aurangzeb (from Persian, اورنگزیب meaning befitting the throne),(November 3, 1618 – March 3, 1707, also known as Alamgir I, was the ruler of the Mughal Empire from 1658 until 1707. ...

Different interpretations of the word Halaal

In Hungarian, the word halál means "death," which can result in misunderstandings with food in supermarkets labeled as "halal." However it is pronounced "HOL-ahl," whereas "halaal" is pronouced "ha-LAHL."

In Romanian the word, a neologism taken from Turkish, has two almost contradictory meanings. When used on its own as an interjection (i.e. "Halal!") it means "Nice!" or "Good for you!". When used as an attribute, it actually has a moderate pejorative meaning: "Halal mâncare!" would translate roughly as "And you call this food?".

Halaal & North American Fast Food

• In Dearborn, Michigan (where there is a significant Muslim population), there is a McDonald's Restaurant branch that sells halal Chicken McNuggets and McChicken Sandwiches.

Nickname: Motto: Official website: www. ... Official language(s) English de-facto Capital Lansing Largest city Detroit Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 11th 96,716 mi² 250,494 km² 239 miles 385 km 491 miles 790 km 41. ... McDonalds Corporation (NYSE: MCD) is the worlds largest chain of fast-food restaurants. ... Chicken McNuggets are a fast-food product offered by world-chain McDonalds. ... The McChicken sandwich is a chicken patty sandwich with lettuce and mayonnaise on a bun. ...

See also

• Harām
• Islamic dietary laws
• Istihlal
• Sharī'ah
• Kashrut
• Kosher foods
• Taboo food and drink
• Clean animals
• Unclean animals
• Hechsher

Haraam (harām) (Arabic: حرام ) is an Arabic word, used in Islam to refer to anything that is prohibited by the faith. ... Islamic dietary laws provide a set of rules as to what Muslims eat in their diet. ... Istihlal (Arabic: ) is a term used in Islamic jurisprudence, or fiqh, to refer to the act of regarding some action as permissible, or halaal; the implication is that such a regard is an erroneous and improper distortion of Islamic law. ... Sharia (Arabic: ; also Sharīah, Sharia, Shariah or Syariah) is the Arabic word for Islamic law, also known as the Law of Allah, and governs both secular and religious life of the devout Muslim. ... It has been suggested that Kosher foods be merged into this article or section. ... Kosher foods are those that meet certain criteria of Jewish law. ... Pigs are considered non-kosher (unfit or unclean) in the Old Testament though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you. ... The Clean animals are listed in the book of Leviticus in the Torah. ... Pigs are considered non-kosher (unfit or unclean) in the Old Testament though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you. ... Hechsher (הכשר Hebrew: kosher approval , plural: hechsherim) is the formal granting of certification, usually by an authorized rabbi, that a product is certified as kosher (meaning fit [for consumption].) A hechsher is usually conveyed to the public by a special marking on products (generally foods) certifying that the item is certified...

External links

Guides

• Zabihah.com Online halaal restaurant guide
• Halaal and Haraam (Islamic.co.uk) About halaal and haraam foods, ingredients, and behavior

Information

• Halaal: An explanation
• Muslim method of slaughtering
• The Quran and Hadith about Halal and Haram food
• Large list of Halaal-related concepts
• Answering criticism of the concept
• Answering criticism