Halaal

From ArticleWorld

Halaal means permissible in Islamic Arabic. It traditionally has similar meaning to the Jewish term kosher.

Contents 1 Meaning 2 Substances that halaal forbids 3 Thabiha 4 Muslims living in non-Muslim countries 5 Halaal and kashrut 6 Differences include:

Meaning

The meaning of halaal can take both general and specific terms. In Arabic-speaking Muslim countries, it describes anything permissible in Islamic law. Its antonym is haraam, which means forbidden. The term covers speech, dress, conduct and manner.

In non-Arabic-speaking Muslim countries it is used in the narrow concept of Muslim dietary laws, specifically when meat and poultry are involved.

Substances that halaal forbids

Halaal forbids a wide variety of substances, which include: pork, blood, animals slaughtered in the name of anyone but God, carrion, carnivorous animals (excluding most fish and sea animals) and alcohol and other intoxicants. Some believe that fish without scales (and lobsters and crabs) are haraam. Others believe that those that can live on land and in the water are haraam. Fish are halaal if they are allowed to die naturally on land.

Thabiha

The term Thabiha refers to the method used to slaughter animals. The method involves cutting through the large arteries in the neck, in one swipe, with a non-serrated blade. The blood — and all impurities — are allowed to drain, and the animal cannot be handled until it has fully died. This act is a ritual religious act. Halaal slaughter requires the animal to be conscious and not contaminated by intoxicating materials.

Muslims living in non-Muslim countries

Muslims in non-Muslim countries face a number of obstacles that include:

• The scarcity of restaurants and markets that offer halaal food.
• The abundance of pork products in Western cooking (often, Muslims are concerned about cross contamination when the same kitchen products are used to prepare various dishes).
• The practice of using alcohol in many recipes.
• The use of additives like MSG that may use enzymes from pig fat.

Halaal and kashrut

There are some similarities between halaal and the kashrut, the Jewish dietary laws:

• Both forbid pork products.
• Both require certain methods for slaughtering animals.
• Both forbid blood consumption and require it be drained from the animals.

Differences include:

• Islam forbids alcohol; kashrut allows it.
• Muslims may eat a vast majority of seafood; kashrut forbids shellfish, mollusks and other varieties of seafood.
• The kashrut forbids the consumption of any combination of dairy and meat products.