Halal Explained

[WoodrowX2]

This thread is the result of posts in another thread. Rather than derail the other thread I thought I would start a new thread.

Halal seems to be misunderstood by some non-Muslims. They seem to think there is an insidious plot for Muslims to force Halal food upon them and some people are boycotting stores that sell Halal products.

Halal simply means permitted. Anything we are allowed to do is halal. Virtually all food is Halal. However a few things can make a food Haram(Forbidden) Particularly when it comes to additives. Some additives that can make a food haram are intoxicants, no matter how small the amount is, some food dyes that are made from insects such as cochineal, flavorings if they contain alcohol or if alcohol was used in making them, gelatin if from a forbidden animal and rennet if from a forbidden animal.

The biggest issue in Grocery stores is meat products. Meat and meat products will usually fall into one of 3 categories, Halal permitted to be eaten by Muslims. Makruh permitted but should be avoided if halal is available. Haram forbidden to Muslims.

Halal meat has to be a permitted animal and slaughtered in an acceptable Zabiah manner.

Makruh can be slaughtered by a Christian or Jew, but it can not be from a sacrificial alter and no prayers can be said to anyone except God(saw)

The difficulty in identifying Christian slaughtered meat, is it will not be labelled as such. Kosher is labelled as such so that is the preferred choice when Halal is not available. Unlabelled meats leave it open as to who might have slaughtered it and the question if it was offered as a sacrifice to a false idol or if the one doing the slaughtering prayed to a false idol.

The Zabiah and Kosher method of slaughter are identical contrary to what some hate sites claim.

Now the issue about Halal labels. There is no central agency that certifies Halal although there are several trying to establish themselves as such. but for the most part it is all up to the integrity of the producer and often they produce their own labels. Currently the only trust we have as to if a product labelled halal actually is halal, is the integrity of the manufacturer/producer/distributor. Many companies seem to be making their own halal labels and putting them on products that do not even require them, as an attempt to reach the growing Islamic market.

 

[smaneck]

The difficulty in identifying Christian slaughtered meat, is it will not be labelled as such. Kosher is labelled as such so that is the preferred choice when Halal is not available. Unlabelled meats leave it open as to who might have slaughtered it and the question if it was offered as a sacrifice to a false idol or if the one doing the slaughtering prayed to a false idol.

Yeah, but who prays to idols before they slaughter their meat anymore? That's not going to happen in most parts of the world.

The Zabiah and Kosher method of slaughter are identical contrary to what some hate sites claim.

Ideally, although I think Jewish shochets are somewhat better trained, their blades can't have any niks, and if they don't do it cleanly the animal no longer considered kosher whereas in Islam these things won't necessarily render the meat haram.

 

[LoveBeingAMuslimah]

Jewish law and Islamic law both require that:

1) The animal must be alive when it is slaughtered (hence stunning or other procedures to render the animal unconscious should be avoided).
2) The animal must be killed with a sharp knife (hence, a blow to the head would render the animal treif and ḥarām).
3) The knife must cut the neck arteries of the animal: in particular, the trachea, esophagus, cartiod arteries and jugular veins should be cut, while leaving the spinal cord intact.
4) The blood must be drained out.
5) There must be minimal harm to the animal – a painless and quick slaughter is required.

All of these are points of agreement between Jewish and Islamic law.

Click the link for more info (including differences):

The American Muslim (TAM)


The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said,

Verily Allaah has prescribed Ihsaan (proficiency, perfection) in all things. So if you kill then kill well; and if you slaughter, then slaughter well. Let each one of you sharpen his blade and let him spare suffering to the animal he slaughters. [Saheeh Muslim]

 

[WoodrowX2]

Yeah, but who prays to idols before they slaughter their meat anymore? That's not going to happen in most parts of the world.

However, in the USA if a Christian is doing the slaughter there is a very strong probability he will either not offer thanks (which would be ok) or they would thank Jesus(as) which would make it haram.

Ideally, although I think Jewish shochets are somewhat better trained, their blades can't have any niks, and if they don't do it cleanly the animal no longer considered kosher whereas in Islam these things won't necessarily render the meat haram.

There is truth to that as any Muslim is permitted to do the slaughter. There is a possibility some will not be properly trained. Especially out here in the boon docks when a wanabee Muslim Rancher transplanted from New York City, tries to slaughter a cow based on what he learned from google searches.



While the person doing the slaughter would be considered committing a sin, that would not invalidate the meat.

A few years ago I had the idea of raising and selling Halal bison. Nobody is crazy enough to try to slaughter a Bison in the Zabiah manner.

 

[LoAmmi]

A few years ago I had the idea of raising and selling Halal bison. Nobody is crazy enough to try to slaughter a Bison in the Zabiah manner.

Glatt Kosher Bison, Buffalo Burgers, Buffalo Sausages, Buffalo filet

There are people crazy enough to do it Kosher. LOL

 

[WoodrowX2]

Glatt Kosher Bison, Buffalo Burgers, Buffalo Sausages, Buffalo filet

There are people crazy enough to do it Kosher. LOL

I thought suicide is forbidden in Judaism

I can just envision someone trying to slaughter a 2,500 pound wild Bison bull. Even though most are now raised on farms, bison are still wild and very dangerous animals.

I have had some kosher Bison and it is quite good. My wife likes to cook Traditional Cheyenne and Bison is a very large part of the Cheyenne diet, so we do buy Kosher Bison. It is also much healthier than beef.

 

[LoAmmi]

I thought suicide is forbidden in Judaism

Suicide is, but being just flat out crazy isn't. LOL

 

[wn123455]

If some people can boycott Israeli products and services because they think Israeli products and services contribute to the oppression of palestinians then I have the right to boycott halal goods because it contributes to islamic terrorism, the muslim majority countries oppression of non-muslim minorities, the indonesian oppression of West Papuans etc...

 

[smaneck]

However, in the USA if a Christian is doing the slaughter there is a very strong probability he will either not offer thanks (which would be ok) or they would thank Jesus(as) which would make it haram.

I don't know of any Christians who thank Jesus before they slaughter an animal. Of course your Native American friends would always give thanks.

A few years ago I had the idea of raising and selling Halal bison. Nobody is crazy enough to try to slaughter a Bison in the Zabiah manner.

Not if they want to live long and prosper.

 

[smaneck]

If some people can boycott Israeli products and services because they think Israeli products and services contribute to the oppression of palestinians then I have the right to boycott halal goods because it contributes islamic terrorism, the muslim majority countries oppression of non-muslim minorities, the indonesian oppression of West Papuans etc...

Relax, wn, no one is going to force halal food down your throat.

I don't eat Hebrew National Hotdogs either. They are good but their too expensive.

BTW, you should avoid New Zealand lamb if you don't want to eat halal. Nearly all of it is slaughtered according to Halal standards even if it isn't labeled as such. They sell so much of it to the Islamic world that it is just cheaper to do it all that way.

In any case, I will be happy to eat your share of lamb.

 

[wn123455]

Boycott halal - YouTube

Two can play the same ‘BOYCOTT’ game | BARE NAKED ISLAM

 

[Aryeh Jay]

A few years ago I used to raise chickens, turkeys, and ducks for the local Michigan Jews that didn’t want to pay $10.00+ a pound for packaged kosher poultry. I apprenticed under a shochet in Seattle a while back, but did not move up past lamb/goats.

 

[LoAmmi]

Does this fellow also speak out against Kosher slaughter, which I guess he could say has been bleeding into Western culture since....

*checks calendar*

since Western culture began.

 

[smaneck]

Boycott halal - YouTube

Two can play the same ‘BOYCOTT’ game | BARE NAKED ISLAM

Who else it playing the boycott game other than you?

If you are not Muslim or Jew you are not likely to buy your food halal or kosher for the simple reason it is usually more expensive. No formal boycott needed. They don't make the food for you in the first place.

Except of course, New Zealand lamb and Hebrew National Hotdogs.

 

[smaneck]

Does this fellow also speak out against Kosher slaughter, which I guess he could say has been bleeding into Western culture since....

*checks calendar*

since Western culture began.

Will your feelings be hurt if we decide to boycott kosher foods? Do you think they will stop making kosher food because us goyim decide not to eat it?

Good, now pass me a ham and cheese bagel.

 

[WoodrowX2]

If some people can boycott Israeli products and services because they think Israeli products and services contribute to the oppression of palestinians then I have the right to boycott halal goods because it contributes islamic terrorism, the muslim majority countries oppression of non-muslim minorities, the indonesian oppression of West Papuans etc...

All vegetables, eggs, milk, fruits and nearly all seafood are Halal. It is virtually impossible to not buy halal products.

Most clothing, house hold goods, etc are also Halal.

Very few things are not Halal.

For the most part the Halal label is a marketing tool used by retailers to attract the Muslim consumers.

As I mentioned above that so far in the USA the Halal symbol is no guarantee the product is Halal and the lack of one does not mean a product is not Halal.

About the only products we want to know if they are Halal or Kosher are meat products.

 

[WoodrowX2]

Who else it playing the boycott game other than you?

If you are not Muslim or Jew you are not likely to buy your food halal or kosher for the simple reason it is usually more expensive. No formal boycott needed. They don't make the food for you in the first place.

Except of course, New Zealand lamb and Hebrew National Hotdogs.

Correct, Halal and Kosher foods are not made for the general public and are more expensive than other products.

 

[TG123]

If some people can boycott Israeli products and services because they think Israeli products and services contribute to the oppression of palestinians then I have the right to boycott halal goods because it contributes islamic terrorism, the muslim majority countries oppression of non-muslim minorities, the indonesian oppression of West Papuans etc...

I am actually opposed to the boycott of Israeli products. Boycotting a country's products, if done effectively, harm ordinary people who have little say in how their country is run. A boycott of Israeli goods, if done by many, would not hit Netanyahu. It would hit the average shopkeepers and others who are just trying to make a living.

I have volunteered with activist groups opposing the Israeli occupation and abuses of the Palestinian people, but I am not, and never will be, a supporter of BDS. That is one point at which I and many other activists in these groups disagree on, and always will.


I support boycotting settlement products that are produced in the West Bank, but not Israeli products that are made within the Green Line.

Likewise, I would boycott and avoid any Indonesian products made in West Papua or any Turkish products made in Kurdistan or Cyprus. I would not however boycott products from Indonesia or Turkey.

The average Indonesian and Turk, like the average Israeli, is not calling the shots and is not abusing people in West Papua or Kurdistan or Palestine. Boycotts of products hurt the poor, not the policy makers.

 

[smaneck]

Boycotting a country's products, if done effectively, harm ordinary people who have little say in how their country is run.

Sometimes, but it proved a pretty effective strategy against apartheid South Africa.

 

[WoodrowX2]

Boycott halal - YouTube

Two can play the same ‘BOYCOTT’ game | BARE NAKED ISLAM

Carefull we are sneaky, anything can be halal without you knowing it. The Easter bunny is a Muslim weapon

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