What is Halal ?
Halal is an Arabic word meaning “lawful” or “permitted”. When it comes to food and consumables, Halal is the dietary standard of Muslims. With a few exceptions, all pure and clean things are considered Halal.
Back to top
|
What is Haram?
The opposite of Halal is haram, which means “unlawful” or “prohibited”. When it comes to food and consumables following foods are Haram.
Swine/pork and its by-products
Animals improperly slaughtered or dead before slaughtering
Animals killed in the name of anyone other than ALLAH (God)
Alcohol and intoxicants
Carnivorous animals, birds of prey and land animals without external ears
Blood and blood by-products
Foods contaminated with any of the above products
Back to top
|
How Can we Tell If An Ingredient Is Halal Or Not?
The best way to verify the source or nature of an ingredient is to ask the producer. Most products list their contact information right on the label. Give them a call or write them a letter and ask about the ingredient in question. They will be more than happy to answer your inquiries. Please share your findings with others. The surest and easiest way to know a product is acceptable is to see the Halal symbol on the product label.
Back to top
|
If I recite Kalima before eating non-zabiha food does this make it halal?
No, the food will remain Haram.
Reciting Kalimah does not change the nature of the food.
Back to top
|
What is Mushbooh?
Mushbooh is an Arabic term which means suspected. If one does not know the Halal or Harm status of a particular food or drink, such a food or drink is doubtful. A practicing Muslims prevents himself from consuming doubtful things.
Back to top
|
Is Gelatine halal?
Gelatine is a protein product obtained from the collagen of vertebrates, including pigs, cattle, and fish. It is recovered by hydrolysis. The main raw materials used today are pigskins, cattle bones and cattle hide. Of these, the most common source is pigskins.
Gelatine is used in the preparation of baked goods, ice cream, yoghurt, jellies and many other dairy and confectionary products. It is also used in the medical and pharmaceutical industry. Gelatine has other non-food uses, such as photographic film and carbonless paper.
If the word gelatine appears on a label without reference to its source, it is generally derived from pig skins and cattle bones, so it must be avoided.
It is possible to produce Halal gelatine by using the bones and hides of Halal slaughtered cattle. In such a case, the gelatine should be certified Halal and labelled as Halal gelatine.
Back to top
|
Isn't All Cheese Halal?
The production of cheese requires the use of enzymes to coagulate or curdle the milk and the addition of other ingredients for various functions. The enzymes can be derived from animal, vegetable or microbial sources. The animal sources include pigs and cattle. The enzyme derived from pigs is called pepsin, and is haram. Another enzyme derived from pigs or small cattle is lipase. (Lipase can also be made by micro organisms, which is Halal.)
One of the enzymes derived from the inner lining of the fourth stomach of calves is called rennet. It may come from Zabiha calves or non-Zabiha calves. The enzyme can also be produced microbial. Microbial enzymes are not derived from meat and are Halal.
Rennet is a crude preparation containing dried, ground linings of the calf stomach. The active enzyme is called Chymosin. Today, purified chymosin is also manufactured through genetic modifications of micro organisms when chymosin gene from calf is duplicated and inserted into microbial cells. Calf rennet is still used by specialty cheese manufacturers. Moreover, pig enzymes, such as lipase, are still used in high flavour, ripened cheeses, like romano.
Most cheese products do not list the source of the enzyme, so one must ask the producer where the enzyme comes from. Of course, it is possible the source will change without notification.
Finally, cheese products may contain many other ingredients, which must also be examined
Back to top
|
Is Whey Powder Halal?
Whey powder is obtained by spray drying liquid whey. The shelf life of whey liquid is shorter just like milk. Liquid whey is used in liquid dairy or other liquid products. Whey is Halal only if it has been obtained from Halal source such as bacteria, synthetic processes or zabiha slaughtered cows/lambs.
Back to top
|
If anyone have eaten haram food should they expect to be forgiven?
It is compulsory to enquire about the ingredients of prodcuts being Halaal or Haraam before consuming them. If there is a doubt, then too it is compulsory to abstain from such products.
If you consumed some products after thoroughly enquiring about the ingredients being Halaal or Haraam and later come to know that the information was incorrect and the ingredients were Haraam, then you will be excused.
A person’s actions are judged by his intentions. If you sincerely repented, be certain you are forgiven.
Back to top
|
What are the basic rules in Muslim food?
With respect to food, Islamic laws are very specific and Muslims seek to eat foods defined as “Halal”, which is defined by Muslims as “that which is allowed”. Essentially, “Halal” means permitted by God, or “Allah”, the Law-Giver.
Back to top
|
What about Muslim law and meat?
In order to obtain a “Halal” designation, the conditions of Islamic animal breeding and processing must be met.
In order to be considered “Halal”, animals bred for meat must not have consumed any meat or meat by-products. Muslims are also taught that the animals must be well-rested and handled in a way that minimizes suffering.
Back to top
|