By definition, Halal foods are those that are eaten by Muslims, that is allowed in Islam by the Qur’an or the Hadith. Only foods that have been prohibited by Shariah (Islamic law) can not be consumed by Muslims.

Besides the consumption of foods, their production, manufacturing, storage, and use of utensils, and the overall processing of foods and equipment/machinery are also cleansed and used according to Islamic law.

Of halal foods, meat is the most commonly eaten and most regulated in the Muslim community. The rest of them include:

• Dairy and eggs
• Fruits and vegetables
• Pulses and legumes
• Rabbits
• Fish
• Camels
• Sheep
• Cattle
• All domestic birds
• Buck
• Goats
• Locusts

And haram foods, those that are prohibited in Islam and therefore must not be consumed by Muslims, include:

• Alcohol
• Blood
• Food that may contain alcohol or gelatin made from Haram meat such as cakes, desserts, or ant other food made with alcohol.
• Pork or pork by-products
• Any meat that is not slaughtered according to the methods prescribed by the Qur’an and Hadith.

So, What Precisely Is Halal Meat?

The main difference between Halal and Haram meat is how the animal is brought up and how it is slaughtered. Halal meat is supposed to be sacrificed/slaughtered in a specific way that is prescribed by the Qur’an and Ahadith – that method is called Zabihah. This prescribed procedure ensures that the least amount of pain is brought to the animals being slaughtered.

Some important rules that must be followed when slaughtering an animal to be eaten are:

• A Muslim must carry out the slaughter.
• The animal mustn’t be dead.