What does Halal mean? This term has gained increasing recognition and popularity in the past few years. Halal is a concept that governs several aspects of Muslim lives
Muslims living in non-Muslim countries often struggle to know the answer to this question in every aspect of life, especially regarding food. If you are among those who are wondering to know the answer to this question, don’t worry, we are here to help you.
In this blog, we will guide you through the definition of halal and the type of food that falls into this category.
So without further ado, let’s start to gain knowledge on this topic!
What Does Halal Mean – Explore the Definition
Halal is an Arabic term that means permissible or allowed in Islam. This word is used to describe the things that are allowed by Islamic law. It applies to a variety of aspects of daily life like clothing, manners, finance, and most importantly food.
Now, let us explore what it means in terms of food. Read further to understand this topic;
Halal food refers to eatables and drinks that are prepared in accordance with Islamic dietary law. This law dictates what food is allowed to consume and how they should be prepared for good consumption.
The concept of halal food is important in Islam because it highlights an important aspect of faith and emphasizes maintaining a hygienic lifestyle. By adhering to the required rules, Muslims fulfill their religious obligations by following Allah’s order.
Food – Allowed In Islam
Halal food is the food products that are prepared and maintained under the halal environment which means under the law and regulations applied by Islamic Shariah. The definition of this food is quite vast but in general pork and alcohol are the two haram food items that should not be consumed by Muslims at any cost.
Now, if we delve deeper into this topic, there are a variety of foods that are permissible for Muslims while there are also some food that are not permissible to be consumed by Muslims. So let’s first have a look at permissible food.
- Every type of fresh fruits, vegetables, and grains can be eaten because they are allowed in Islam.
- Seafood is halal but the condition is the animal caught should be alive
- Poultry products like eggs, milk, etc are permissible. The condition that applies in this manner is that they must be taken from halal animals and must be processed in a hygienic manner, free from any prohibited substance.
- Processed food or food products that are halal certified and free from prohibited materials are permitted to consume.
- In terms of meat, the rules set by Islamic Shariah are:
- The animal must be slaughtered according to the Islamic principles
- The animal must be slaughtered by saying the name of Allah
- Birds that eat through their beaks are permissible in Islam
- Cattle meat that is gained from cows, buffalo, sheep, goats, camel, or animals falling in this category.
All these foods and meats are halal in Islam. To get it in Ontario, you can check our list of Halal meat shops.
Prohibited Food In Islam
On the other hand, let us also inform you what types of foods are haram/non-halal in Islam. Check out the list below.
- Pork and its by-product
- Predatory animals that have canine teeth like domestic donkeys, horses, etc
- Carnivorous animals that consume flesh like lions, tigers, and bears
- Alcohol and intoxicating substances
- Halal animals that are not slaughtered according to Islamic law or in the name of Allah.
- Animals that died prior to slaughtering mean dead animals.
- Birds with talons or that consume meat by grabbing in their paws like crows, vultures, eagles, etc.
Don’t forget to read our comprehensive blog – What makes meat halal?
So now you have complete guidance on halal and haram food items. Although, in Muslim countries it is easy to find halal food and people are also not much considered what they eat. The reason is they are much assured that the food they are consuming is permissible and processed according to Islamic laws.
In non-Muslim countries like America, Australia, or Canada, Muslims struggle to find halal food or restaurants. This is why we are here to help you! We believe that everyone should have access to delicious food no matter where they live.
At MyHalalRestaurants we are helping Muslims by providing them insight into halal options. What is halal and from where they can get halal food, in Canada?
So whether you are looking for traditional dishes or fusion cuisine, we are here to guide you. Find the restaurant and food shops of your choice and fill your appetite with delicious and lavish food.
Moreover, we also have a list of meat and grocery stores for your halal shopping. So follow us to gain further insight into this topic.