Is Your Food Halal?

Growing up, my social circle consisted mainly of non-Muslims and my mother would painstakingly drum it into my head to ask if the food was halal before I ate it. For a long time, I was content with just knowing that – to me – halal meant making sure the meat I consumed went through the ritual of Islamic slaughter. Little did I know that halal had an entire dimension that I was unaware of.

Disclaimer: I am not a specialist on the technicalities of the shar’i (Islamic ruling) of the halal issue, therefore I have no expertise and cannot speak from this perspective, but I do want to share my journey towards realizing what “eating halal” means to me.

The beauty of Islam is that it is not only a religion, but also a way of life. It guides us towards living our fullest potential as beautiful and pure human beings.

Islam promotes purity in all its various forms, whether it is in our worship, our relationships, business dealings, education, hygiene and specifically when it comes to what we consume. As humans, we are innately wired to find and tread the path of purity.

Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet (ﷺ), said, “No child is born but that he is upon natural instinct.” [1]

Eating pure food is an essential aspect of human existence as the saying “you are what you eat” states. If what we eat is a reflection of who we are, should we not endeavor to embody purity?

In the Quran, Allah, The Most High has commanded us:

“O men, eat the lawful and good things from what is in the earth." [2]

“O ye who believe! Eat of the good things wherewith We have provided you, and render thanks to Allah if it is (indeed) He whom ye worship” [3]

“Eat of the good things and act righteously” [4]

I found it interesting that in the aforementioned verses “halal” is mentioned once, and that “good” is emphasized more.

So, let’s explore what does Allah the Most High mean by “good”:

1. The most obvious definition of “good” is that the animal should be slaughtered according to strict Islamic guidelines thereby making it halal [5].
2. Secondly, “good” can refer to the wholesomeness of food. In 2015, I spontaneously decided to change my eating habits. Prior to that, I had always thought of myself as a healthy eater since I loved veggies, wholewheat bread, and lean meats. But the sweet treats were always close by. I decided to cut out all refined sugars, processed foods and unhealthy carbs. Within a few short months, I started to see a dramatic difference to my general health. I experienced better sleep, more energy, healthy skin and the disappearance of my allergies. If one took the time to study the life of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) we would quickly realize the wisdom in the guidelines he gave us with regards to the etiquette of eating. Today, the Islamic wisdom of eating is being adopted under the guise of a fad diets and eating plans such as keto and intermittent fasting [6].
3. Another aspect of “good” is ensuring that the environment and utensils used for food preparation is free from impermissible ingredients. One cannot eat from a kitchen where pork is being cooked or alcohol is being used or served from. I used to think that eating a vegetarian meal from a non-halal restaurant would be considered permissible, yet cross-contamination can occur so easily.
4. Lastly, “good” refers to the lawful money with which we buy our food. The consequences of eating food bought with haram money is tragic. It affects the consumer of the food and their progeny.

Food is essential to the health and well-being of humanity. We cannot survive without it, nor can we survive with it in excess. We live in a polarized world where starvation and over-indulgence co-exists and both scenarios have dire impacts on societies. It is unimaginable that we have people starving to death while others are extravagant and wasteful. The Quran clearly commands us to “Eat and drink, but not to excess” [7]. Islam encourages us to take the middle road in everything we do.

History is filled with evidence of early civilizations choosing specific areas for settlement based on the fertility of the land and its ability to yield crops. The need for food has caused societies to migrate from place to place. Migration has resulted in the mixture of populations as they spread across the globe leaving their influences as they passed through. In our contemporary world, people still migrate albeit for different reasons such as work, study, fleeing war, or seeking refuge. Our modern from of migration has seen countries who were formerly homogenous, now become melting pots of culture, and the most obvious signs of this is in their cuisine. It is an undisputed fact that food brings people together. It is a great conversation piece and for some it is the ultimate goal and a source of great pleasure.

For Muslims however, it is a means to an end. Our end is the hereafter. Through our consumption of halal food, we are able to nourish our bodies and souls. By eating halal food, we show our obedience to our creator and through this obedience, become His representatives on earth.

It has taken me many years to truly understand the meaning of halal and the pivotal role halal food plays in the life of a believer. I am amazed by the deeper benefits of eating halal and I am in awe of Allah’s love for His creation by gifting us with a pure way of eating.

My contemplation and research of what halal truly means has made me realize that eating halal food protects us from physical and spiritual ailments. It protects the animals by ensuring that they are given proper treatment. By ensuring that our food is attained through ethical sources, we subsequently protect the environment and reduce waste. My biggest realization is how food affects our relationship with Allah. It was narrated that a man came to the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) said: I would like my prayers to be answered. The Prophet told him: Purify your food and do not let any haram food enter your stomach [8].

So now when I choose a place to eat at or go to the supermarket, I can dine and shop with peace of mind knowing that halal-certified food has gone through a very careful vetting process by the various halal certification bodies who take on the responsibility of certifying our food. I am eternally grateful for this service as I no longer have to ask: “Is your food halal?”

Works cited:

[1] Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1292, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2658

[2] Quran chapter 2: verse 168

[3] Quran chapter 2: verse 172

[4] Quran chapter 23: verse 51

[5] https://halalcertification.ie/islamic-method-of-slaughtering/

[6] https://almadinainstitute.org/blog/the-prophetic-diet-the-perfect-new-years-resolution/

[7] Quran chapter 7: verse 31

[8] Wasā’il al-Shī’ah, v.4, ch.67, H.4