Islamic dietary laws

Template:Short description Template:Further Template:Fiqh Islamic dietary laws are laws that Muslims follow in their diet. Islamic jurisprudence specifies which foods are halal (Template:Langx) and which are haram (Template:Langx). The dietary laws are found in the Quran, the holy book of Islam, as well as in collections of traditions attributed to the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

Herbivores, cud-chewing animals like cattle, deer, sheep, goats, and antelope are some examples of animals that are halal only if they are treated like sentient beings and slaughtered painlessly while reciting the basmala and takbir. If the animal is treated poorly or tortured while being slaughtered, the meat is haram. Forbidden food substances include alcohol, pork, frog, carrion, the meat of carnivores, and animals that died due to illness, injury, stunning, poisoning, or slaughtering not in the name of God.<ref name="yeniakit">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Quranic foundation

The Quran, which is the divine source, along with the life and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (Sunnah), explicitly state foods that are prohibited (haram) and permissible (halal).<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":5">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name=":4">Template:Cite journal</ref> These rules of living are believed as essentials for religious observances, practical life, and the health and well-being.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Etymology

The Arabic word halal literally translates to 'lawful' or 'permitted'.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> In Sharia law, this refers to what is lawful by Allah.<ref name=":3" /> The word haram translates to prohibited and one who breaks this are considered sinful.<ref name=":4" />

Rules

Based on Islamic scriptural injunctions, Islamic dietary laws are classified as halāl (permissible), harām (forbidden), and mashbūh (dubious).<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":3" />

Halal

Livestock or cattle, i.e., grazing beasts, are lawful except those that are explicitly prohibited. Hunting is prohibited during "the pilgrimage".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Islamic jurisprudence states that all things are essentially halal unless Sharia law states otherwise.<ref name=":3" /> The Quran explicitly states numerous halal food items:

• Cattle (sheep, goats, camels, buffaloes)<ref name=":3" />
• Land-hunted animals<ref name=":3" />
• Meat of animals slaughtered by People of the Book<ref name=":3" />
• Dates, olives, pomegranates, grapes, and various fruits<ref name=":3" />
• Animals slaughtered in the name of Allah<ref name=":3" />
• Cattle's milk and honey<ref name=":3" />
• Grains<ref name=":3" />
• Marine hunting (seafood)<ref name=":3" />

Seafood

Template:See also Seafood is generally permitted in most of the schools of Islam, based on their interpretation of the Quran 5:96; the Hanafi school of Islamic jurisprudence forbids consumption of seafood other than true "fish", and considers other sea creatures, such as crustaceans, to be makruh.<ref>* {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}

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Some Hanafi scholars are in disagreement over whether or not prawns and shrimp constitute as true "fish"; comparatively, many scholars do agree that crocodile, crab, lobster, or any mollusk is not.<ref>al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya, 5/289–291</ref><ref>Bada’i al-Sana’i, 5/35–39</ref><ref>Radd al-Muhtar, 304–308.</ref>

Mushbooh

Foods whose halal status is uncertain or debated may be classified as Template:Lang (Template:Langx; 'doubtful'). This includes foods that are seemingly halal but of an unknown source and ingredients for which the halal status is subject to differing interpretation, such as extract from brewer's yeast, which is nonalcoholic but derived from the production of alcohol.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Ritual slaughter

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} In Islamic law, Template:Transliteration (Template:Langx) is the prescribed method of slaughter for halal animals. It consists of a swift, deep incision to the throat with a very sharp knife, cutting the wind pipe, jugular veins and carotid arteries on both sides but leaving the spinal cord intact.<ref name="Usmani">[Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani, "The Islamic Laws of Animal Slaughter", White Thread Publishers, CA, USA]</ref>

The carcass should be hung upside down for long enough to be free of blood.<ref name="Guard">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Slaughtered animals must be acknowledged as sentient beings and slaughtered painlessly while reciting the Basmala and Takbir.<ref name="yeniakit" /> The butcher is required to call upon the name of Allah (Bismillah) individually for each animal.<ref name="Usmani" /> If the animal is treated poorly, or tortured while being slaughtered, the meat is haram.<ref name="yeniakit" />

Conversely, animals slaughtered for food may not be killed by being boiled or electrocuted.<ref name="Guard" /> Animals strangled or beaten to death, or that died by falling or due to a wild animal are also expressly forbidden.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web

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Halal butcher shop in Shanghai, China

Haram

A variety of substances are also considered unlawful (haram) for humans to consume and therefore, the consumption of them is forbidden by the Sharia (Islamic law).<ref name=":3" /> Haram is typically classified as Haram li-dhatih (textual haram) and Haram li-ghayrih (derivative rules).

Textual haram are things explicitly declared in scriptures. Derivative rules are not explicitly stated but prohibited based on Sharia rules and regulations.<ref name=":3" />

The Quran states 13 items that are haram:<ref name=":3" />

1. Dead animals (carrion) - animals must die per Islamic slaughter.<ref name=":3" />
2. Blood - specifically refers to flowing blood, however, the liver, spleen, and the blood remaining in meat or veins after slaughter are permitted.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":3" />
3. Pork - all parts of a pig are prohibited.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" />
4. Animals slaughtered in the name other than Allah.<ref name=":5" />
5. Strangulated animals<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":3" />
6. Animals killed by injury<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":3" />
7. Fallen dead animals<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":3" />
8. Animals that die from another animal's horn<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":3" />
9. Animals killed by another animal<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":3" />
10. Animals slaughtered at the altar of idols<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":3" />
11. Wine and intoxicating substances<ref name=":3" /><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
12. Animals incorrectly slaughtered<ref name=":3" />
13. Hunting in Ihram<ref name=":3" />

Differences of opinion exist as to whether the consumption of horses, mules, and donkeys is permitted. In the Quran, one finds this verse: "And (He has created) horses, mules, and donkeys, for you to ride and use for show; and He has created (other) things of which you have no knowledge".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Some scholars have interpreted this as limiting the named animals for riding and show only, prohibiting their consumption.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Predatory animals, such as lions, tigers, falcons and hawks are forbidden as well.

However, a person would not be considered guilty of sin in a situation where the lack of any alternative creates an undesired necessity to consume that which is otherwise unlawful, such as a famine.<ref name="cite quran|5|3|s=ns">Template:Cite quran</ref>

Sign on a refrigerator in a convenience store in Malaysia notifying that sales of beer are for non-Muslim customers only

Islamic dietary laws during Ramadan

Template:See also During Ramadan, the ninth month on the Muslim calendar and considered the holy month of fasting, Muslims take time for introspection, prayer, and reading of the Quran. During this period, Muslims focus on self restraint or sawm (Arabic: to refrain), which is one of the five pillars of Islam. During Ramadan, between dawn and dusk, worshippers abstain from food, drink, sexual activity, and immoral behavior. After dusk, Muslims break their fast during a meal called iftar with family and friends. Sawm can be negated by breaking fast, however, the lost can be made up with one extra day of fasting. The end of the Ramadan fast is the celebration of Eid-al-Fitr (Feast of Fast-Breaking), one of the two major religious holidays on the Muslim calendar.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Food certification

Halal restaurant in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Yurta (potatoes with meat) and kumis are made of ingredients considered halal.

Halal food products in a shop in Finland

Since the turn of the 21st century, there have been efforts to create organizations that certify food products as halal for Muslim consumers in the US.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Since 1991, some mainstream manufacturers of soups, grains, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, prepared foods, and other products, as well as hotels, restaurants, airlines, hospitals, and other service providers have pursued the halal market. These companies purchase halal-certified products. This can allow companies to export products to most Middle Eastern countries and Southeast Asian countries. The oldest and most well-known halal certifier in the United States is called the Islamic Services of America.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In Europe, several organizations have been created in order to certify the halal products. A 2009 survey published by a French association of Muslim Consumers (ASIDCOM<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>) shows that the market of halal products has been developed in a chaotic way in Europe.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The European certification organizations do not have a common definition of "halal" nor agreed upon control procedures and traceability. The controls implemented by individual agencies are all very different: they can go from an annual audit of the slaughterhouse, to checking each production with permanent controls in place and on-going independent monitoring.Template:Citation needed

In South Africa, most chicken products have a halal stamp. The South African National Halal Authority (SANHA) issues certificates and products bearing this logo range from water, snacks, and even meat-free products (which may contain non-halal ingredients). The South African National Halal Authority also licenses the usage of the Halal logo in restaurants where the food is halal, in addition to no alcohol or pork products being served.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In Singapore, halal certification is managed by Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS), also known as the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore. They are the sole custodian of Halal Certification in Singapore.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In Malaysia, the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) is the agency responsible for halal certification in Malaysia.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Availability of halal food in non-Islamic regions

In 2013, the halal market was estimated to be 26% of world food trade.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Global Halal Institute has a list of Halal certifiers that are approved by most Muslim countries with dietary import restrictions for companies.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Europe and Asia

In the United Kingdom, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, or Singapore, halal fried chicken restaurants having thousands of outlets, some but not all of which, serve halal foods such as the Nando's, Brown's Chicken, and Crown Fried Chicken companies.Template:Citation needed

See also

• Islamic vegetarianism
• Comparison of Islamic and Jewish dietary laws
• Christian dietary laws
• Dhabihah
• Dietary laws
• Halal
• Hechsher
• Kashrut
• Kosher foods
• List of diets
• Makruh
• Muslim Consumer Group (MCG)
• Religious restrictions on the consumption of pork
• Ritual slaughter
• Taboo food and drink
• Word of Wisdom