What is Halal

It is Not - Slaughter Only 

A lot of people believe that Halal is simply how the animal is slaughtered.  The slaughter is only a part of it.  

​

In some places animals have been beaten or treated without compassion during production, handling, transport, and slaughter.  In mass production facilities this is a on going Such meat should not be treated as halāl or at least be considered as Makrooh (detestable or abominable).

​

It is - Well Treatment Of the Animal

There is a rich tradition of the Prophet Mohammad’s SAW concern for animals as can be found in the Hadith and Sunna.
 

Halal includes the overall animal welfare. Islam accommodates ethical and legal aspects of treating animals which include basic food sufficiency, adequate rest, safety and comfort, and basic freedom of animal life. In general, the practice of animal welfare in Islam is theology-based ethics that is closely related to the human function as God’s vicegerents. Thus, the concept of animal welfare from the Islamic perspective is holistic sustainability that includes the welfare of all beings.

​

For an animal to be legitimately halal to eat, it must be treated with respect and dignity prior to its slaughter. In Islam, every living being must be respected. This is further amplified by a hadith, According to Sahih Bukhari, this is what Prophet Muhammed SAW had to say about the general treatment of animals.

​

Ensure that farm animals do not experience the following:

• ​​hunger and thirst

• environmental (weather related) discomfort

• pain, injury, disease

• inability to behave as animals during the span of their life

• psychological injury, fear or distress

​

What is Halal?

Humane is Halal and Inhumane is Not

“A good deed done to an animal is as meritorious as a good deed done to a human being, while an act of cruelty to an animal is as bad as an act of cruelty to a human being.”  Prophet Muhammad: Hadith (Prophetic Traditions).