What is Halal?
This section will provide information on the concept of Halal in Islam, covering its meaning, significance, and various aspects.
Many Muslims today frequently discuss the importance of consuming "Halal meat," yet few are familiar with the true Quranic standards for Halal. Often, those who relocate to Western countries or new converts are advised to adhere strictly to "Halal meat" according to cultural interpretations. However, the Quran offers a clear divine explanation of Halal, one that challenges many conventional ideas and encourages followers to honor God’s own guidance over human interpretations.
The Quran teaches that God is extremely displeased with those who prohibit anything that was not specifically prohibited in the Quran, as stated in:
- 16:112-116
- 6:142-152
The upholding of any prohibitions not specifically mentioned in the Quran is considered idolatry. If you worship God Alone, you will uphold His teachings ALONE and honor the commandments and prohibitions instituted by HIM ALONE.
- 16:112: God cites the example of a community that used to be secure and prosperous, with provisions coming to it from everywhere. But then, it turned unappreciative of God's blessings. Consequently, God caused them to taste the hardships of starvation and insecurity. Such is the requital for what they did.
- 16:113: A messenger had gone to them from among them, but they rejected him. Consequently, the retribution struck them for their transgression.
- 16:114: Therefore, you shall eat from God's provisions everything that is lawful and good, and be appreciative of God's blessings, if you do worship Him alone
- 16:115: He only prohibits for you dead animals, blood, the meat of pigs,* and food which is dedicated to other than God. If one is forced (to eat these), without being deliberate or malicious, then God is Forgiver, Most Merciful.
- 16:116: You shall not utter lies with your own tongues stating: "This is lawful, and this is unlawful," to fabricate lies and attribute them to God. Surely, those who fabricate lies and attribute them to God will never succeed.
- 6:142: Some livestock supply you with transportation, as well as bedding materials. Eat from God's provisions to you, and do not follow the steps of Satan; he is your most ardent enemy.
- 6:143: Eight kinds of livestock: regarding the two kinds of sheep, and the two kinds of goats, say, "Is it the two males that He prohibited, or the two females, or the contents of the wombs of the two females? Tell me what you know, if you are truthful."
- 6:144: Regarding the two kinds of camels, and the two kinds of cattle, say, "Is it the two males that He prohibited, or the two females, or the contents of the wombs of the two females? Were you witnesses when God decreed such prohibitions for you? Who is more evil than those who invent such lies and attribute them to God? They thus mislead the people without knowledge. God does not guide such evil people."
- 6:145: Say, "I do not find in the revelations given to me any food that is prohibited for any eater except: (1) carrion, (2) running blood, (3) the meat* of pigs, for it is contaminated, and (4) the meat of animals blasphemously dedicated to other than God." If one is forced (to eat these), without being deliberate or malicious, then your Lord is Forgiver, Most Merciful.
- 6:146: For those who are Jewish we prohibited animals with undivided hoofs; and of the cattle and sheep we prohibited the fat, except that which is carried on their backs, or in the viscera, or mixed with bones. That was a retribution for their transgressions, and we are truthful.
- 6:147: If they disbelieve you, then say, "Your Lord possesses infinite mercy, but His retribution is unavoidable for the guilty people."
- 6:148: The idol worshipers say, "Had God willed, we would not practice idolatry, nor would our parents, nor would we prohibit anything." Thus did those before them disbelieve, until they incurred our retribution. Say, "Do you have any proven knowledge that you can show us? You follow nothing but conjecture; you only guess."
- 6:149: Say, "God possesses the most powerful argument; if He wills He can guide all of you."
- 6:150: Say, "Bring your witnesses who would testify that God has prohibited this or that." If they testify, do not testify with them. Nor shall you follow the opinions of those who reject our revelations, and those who disbelieve in the Hereafter, and those who stray away from their Lord.
- 6:151: Say, "Come let me tell you what your Lord has really prohibited for you: You shall not set up idols besides Him. You shall honor your parents. You shall not kill your children from fear of poverty - we provide for you and for them. You shall not commit gross sins, obvious or hidden. You shall not kill - God has made life sacred - except in the course of justice. These are His commandments to you, that you may understand."
- 6:152: You shall not touch the orphans' money except in the most righteous manner, until they reach maturity. You shall give full weight and full measure when you trade, equitably. We do not burden any soul beyond its means. You shall be absolutely just when you bear witness, even against your relatives. You shall fulfill your covenant with God. These are His commandments to you, that you may take heed.
God very clearly mentioned in the Quran what is prohibited from the food and (by extension) meat. See 2:173, 5:3, 6:145 and 16:115. From these verses you can know what is Halal (lawful) meat and what is haram (prohibited). Anything else is a LIE, a fabrication that God did not approve of, therefore it goes against God (16:116).
- 2:173: God cites the example of a community that used to be secure and prosperous, with provisions coming to it from everywhere. But then, it turned unappreciative of God's blessings. Consequently, God caused them to taste the hardships of starvation and insecurity. Such is the requital for what they did.
- 5:3: Prohibited for you are animals that die of themselves, blood, the meat of pigs,* and animals dedicated to other than God. (Animals that die of themselves include those) strangled, struck with an object, fallen from a height, gored, attacked by a wild animal - unless you save your animal before it dies - and animals sacrificed on altars. Also prohibited is dividing the meat through a game of chance; this is an abomination. Today, the disbelievers have given up concerning (the eradication of) your religion; do not fear them and fear Me instead. Today, I have completed your religion, perfected My blessing upon you, and I have decreed Submission as the religion for you. If one is forced by famine (to eat prohibited food), without being deliberately sinful, then God is Forgiver, Merciful.
"Halal Meat" as we know it these days, is a term used more often for commercial profits than religious observance. Those who call their meat Halal, are in some way insinuating that any other meat is not Halal, or specifically the meat in the general grocery stores is not Halal. They make more money on their products by selling it more expensive while deceiving the naive public Moslems into believing that their meat is the only Halal meat for the Muslims.
You do not need to guess hard to understand the MERCY of the MOST merciful. God Almighty knows many Muslims will live in the middle of Christians and Jews and will be sharing their food and for this reason God told the Prophet Muhammed more than 1400 years ago, in 5:5 that people of previous scripture can consume our food and vice versa.
- 5:5: Today, all good food is made lawful for you. The food of the people of the scripture is lawful for you, and your food is lawful for them*. Also, you may marry the chaste women among the believers, as well as the chaste women among the followers of previous scripture, provided you pay them their due dowries. You shall maintain chastity, not committing adultery, nor taking secret lovers. Anyone who rejects faith, all his work will be in vain, and in the Hereafter he will be with the losers.
These verses were revealed at a time when God already told us that the people of the scripture distorted their books and no-one can claim this verse was meant for the early Jews and Christians. God Almighty has also specified a very important criteria for His true believers, MENTION GOD"S NAME on everything you are going to eat. See 5:4, & 6:118-119
- 5:4: They consult you concerning what is lawful for them; say, "Lawful for you are all good things, including what trained dogs and falcons catch for you." You train them according to God's teachings. You may eat what they catch for you, and mention God's name thereupon. You shall observe God. God is most efficient in reckoning.
- 6:118: You shall eat from that upon which God's name has been pronounced, if you truly believe in His revelations.
- 6:119: Why should you not eat from that upon which God's name has been mentioned? He has detailed for you what is prohibited for you, unless you are forced. Indeed, many people mislead others with their personal opinions, without knowledge. Your Lord is fully aware of the transgressors.
In these verses, God places responsibility, as always, on the individual. It is our duty as believers to mention God's name over everything we eat. Notice that God specifically commands us to “EAT” and not to “SLAUGHTER” when it comes to mentioning His name. God, in His wisdom, anticipated a time when slaughterhouses would be operated by machines and technology, assigning this responsibility to each true Muslim to invoke His name over their food.
While machines might recite the adhan or the basmallah, this does not absolve us individually of the duty to remember God and call upon His name before consuming food. Those working in a slaughterhouse may be idol-worshipers, atheists, or merely claiming allegiance to a religion; they might identify as Muslims, Jews, or Christians without truly upholding God's laws. For this reason, it is essential that each of us remembers to invoke God's name before we eat.
In essence, it is not the slaughterhouse that determines whether meat is halal or haram, but rather YOU who do. God has not differentiated between meat prepared by Muslims, Christians, or Jews; all are lawful to the same extent—all are halal. Therefore, all such food should be eaten after pronouncing God’s name over it. Insisting on seeking "halal meat" by driving miles to a specific source may reflect a misunderstanding or lack of belief in God’s guidance, given that He has permitted the food of Christians and Jews. To deny this permission given in the Quran might warrant a re-evaluation of one’s beliefs and understanding of Islam (or Submission, as it translates in English). Those who truly believe in God’s words in the Quran accept His permission, enjoy the food of the People of the Scripture, and appreciate the mercy granted by the Most Merciful.
- 5:88: And eat from the good and lawful things that God has provided for you. You shall reverence God, in whom you are believers.
- 22:30: Those who reverence the rites decreed by God have deserved a good reward at their Lord. All livestock is made lawful for your food, except for those specifically prohibited for you. You shall avoid the abomination of idol worship, and avoid bearing false witness.
- 2:168: O people, eat from the earth's products all that is lawful and good, and do not follow the steps of Satan; he is your most ardent enemy.
- 5:96: All fish of the sea are made lawful for you to eat. During pilgrimage, this may provide for you during your journey. You shall not hunt throughout the pilgrimage. You shall reverence God, before whom you will be summoned.
- 2:172: O you who believe, eat from the good things we provided for you, and be thankful to God, if you do worship Him alone.
- 5:93: Those who believe and lead a righteous life bear no guilt by eating any food, so long as they observe the commandments, believe and lead a righteous life, then maintain their piety and faith, and continue to observe piety and righteousness. God loves the righteous.
- 2:173: He only prohibits for you the eating of animals that die of themselves (without human interference), blood, the meat of pigs, and animals dedicated to other than God. If one is forced (to eat these), without being malicious or deliberate, he incurs no sin. God is Forgiver, Most Merciful.
- 5:3: Prohibited for you are animals that die of themselves, blood, the meat of pigs,* and animals dedicated to other than God. (Animals that die of themselves include those) strangled, struck with an object, fallen from a height, gored, attacked by a wild animal - unless you save your animal before it dies - and animals sacrificed on altars. Also prohibited is dividing the meat through a game of chance; this is an abomination. Today, the disbelievers have given up concerning (the eradication of) your religion; do not fear them and fear Me instead. Today, I have completed your religion, perfected My blessing upon you, and I have decreed Submission as the religion for you. If one is forced by famine (to eat prohibited food), without being deliberately sinful, then God is Forgiver, Merciful.
- 6:145: Say, "I do not find in the revelations given to me any food that is prohibited for any eater except: (1) carrion, (2) running blood, (3) the meat* of pigs, for it is contaminated, and (4) the meat of animals blasphemously dedicated to other than God." If one is forced (to eat these), without being deliberate or malicious, then your Lord is Forgiver, Most Merciful.
- 16:115: He only prohibits for you dead animals, blood, the meat of pigs,* and food which is dedicated to other than God. If one is forced (to eat these), without being deliberate or malicious, then God is Forgiver, Most Merciful.
- 6:118: You shall eat from that upon which God's name has been pronounced, if you truly believe in His revelations.
- 6:119: Why should you not eat from that upon which God's name has been mentioned? He has detailed for you what is prohibited for you, unless you are forced. Indeed, many people mislead others with their personal opinions, without knowledge. Your Lord is fully aware of the transgressors.
- 6:121: Do not eat from that upon which the name of God has not been mentioned, for it is an abomination. The devils inspire their allies to argue with you; if you obey them, you will be idol worshipers.*
- 16:116: You shall not utter lies with your own tongues stating: "This is lawful, and this is unlawful," to fabricate lies and attribute them to God. Surely, those who fabricate lies and attribute them to God will never succeed.
- 10:59: Say, "Did you note how God sends down to you all kinds of provisions, then you render some of them unlawful, and some lawful?" Say, "Did God give you permission to do this? Or, do you fabricate lies and attribute them to God?"
- 16:35: The idol worshipers say, "Had God willed, we would not worship any idols besides Him, nor would our parents. Nor would we prohibit anything besides His prohibitions." Those before them have done the same. Can the messengers do anything but deliver the complete message?
- 5:87: O you who believe, do not prohibit good things that are made lawful by God, and do not aggress; God dislikes the aggressors.
- 5:88: And eat from the good and lawful things that God has provided for you. You shall reverence God, in whom you are believers.