Arabian Tongue Institute Blog (Islamic dietary laws)

Islamic dietary laws

"He has only forbidden to you dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah . But whoever is forced [by necessity], neither desiring [it] nor transgressing [its limit], there is no sin upon him. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful."(Quran 2:173)

Halal is an Arabic word which means ‘lawful’ or ‘permitted’. In relation to food, Halal is the diet which should be followed according to the Quran. In Islamic faith, there are two categories for food, they are Halal and Haram. Halal food is what is seen as the correct foods to eat, whereas Haram foods are prohibited.

Generally speaking, all food is considered Halal in Islam, unless it is specifically prohibited by the Quran and the Islamic teachings. 

This is a list of foods prohibited by Islam. Deliberately eating or drinking them is a great sin. Unless it is an exceptional and an extreme case where no other halal food or drink is available; or the person is in danger due to extreme hunger or for medicinal purposes;

- Animal meat does not slaughter following the methods prescribed in the Quran and Sunnah. 

- Pork or pork by-products 

- Alcohol 

- Blood 

- Foods that may contain any combination of the aspic, alcoholic pastries, etc.

It is taught in the Quran that animals should be slaughtered in a very specific way. This applies to both animals and poultry. In order to slaughter animals in line with Islamic faith, a cut should be made through the windpipe, carotid artery, and the jugular vein.

The animal must be completely healthy and alive when this cut is made, and once the cut is made, all blood should be drained from the carcass. While this is happening, a dedication will be recited by a Muslim, this is known as the shahada or the tasmiya.  

Increasingly, major commercial meat packers have been establishing certification processes for assuring that their foods comply with Islamic dietary rules. Islamic consumers can find properly slaughtered meats labeled "halal certified." With the halal food market occupying a 16 percent share of the entire world's food supply and expected to grow, it is certain that halal certification from commercial food producers will become a more standard practice with time.