Very often we hear about halal food which is very important for Muslims. Halal food is easy to get in the Muslim countries, however, it’s hard to get the same in the non-Muslim states. This is because Muslims are concerned about halal food always unlike non-Muslims. However, it’s also necessary to know in detail about halal food and its significance in Islam.
Halal food is comprised of two words; halal is an Arabic word which means permissible and food includes anything that can be eaten and in broader concept we can include drinks here too. Thus, halal food is a food that is permissible to eat in Islam. On contrary of halal good is haram food which is not allowed to eat in Islam. Usually, halal is used with meat and the meat of certain animals is allowed to eat as per Islam which is called halal meat. However, with many other food items, halal is connected and used as per the orders of Islam.
Islam guided Muslims about what food is halal and thus, Muslims should eat halal food only. However, Muslims should also know what is halal. There is a huge variety of food available in this world and it is not humanely possible for us to discuss about each and every food but we can talk about main food items and certain principles that make food halal. Firstly, the meat of cow and goat is halal and Muslims can eat that. Secondly, it is also important to slaughter the animal as per the prescribed method in Islam if you want to make meat of that animal halal; that specific method is called zibah.
Islam guided Muslims about what food is halal and thus, Muslims should eat halal food only. However, Muslims should also know what is halal. There is a huge variety of food available in this world and it is not humanely possible for us to discuss about each and every food but we can talk about main food items and certain principles that make food halal. Firstly, the meat of cow and goat is halal and Muslims can eat that. Secondly, it is also important to slaughter the animal as per the prescribed method in Islam if you want to make meat of that animal halal; that specific method is called zibah.
There are many things in food which aren’t halal and thus, called as haram for Muslims which means that Muslims are not allowed to eat that food. The meat of many animals is haram for Muslims like the meat of donkey and the meat of dog etc. Furthermore, if the above mentioned steps as per Islamic rules are not followed in slaughtering the animals then Muslims should not eat the meat of those animals.
The following Quranic verse can guide us in the best way about how the animals must be slaughtered and how their meat becomes halal:
“Prohibited to you are dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah, and [those animals] killed by strangling or by a violent blow or by a head-long fall or by the goring of horns, and those from which a wild animal has eaten, except what you [are able to] slaughter [before its death], and those which are sacrificed on stone altars, and [prohibited is] that you seek decision through divining arrows. That is grave disobedience. This day those who disbelieve have despaired of [defeating] your religion; so fear them not, but fear Me. This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion. But whoever is forced by severe hunger with no inclination to sin - then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” (Quran, 5:3)
Halal food is very important for the Muslims because it is the order of Allah (SWT) that Muslims should eat halal food and hence, this is enough reason that why halal food is important for Muslims. The Quran also order and guide us to have halal food.
“So eat of that [meat] upon which the name of Allah has been mentioned, if you are believers in His verses.” (Quran, 6:118)
“O mankind, eat from whatever is on earth [that is] lawful and good and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.” (Quran, 2:168)
Thus, by following the orders of Allah (SWT) and eating halal food, Muslims do good deed and save themselves from the sin of eating haram food. Hence, the significance of halal food is clear. Moreover, in hadith, there is also mention of halal food which further shows the importance of halal food.
Abu Hurairah (RA) related,” Allah's Messenger (SAWW) said: “Verily Allah is pure and He accepts only what is pure and indeed Allah has given those orders to the believers, which he has given to the Messengers. He has said, “O Messenger, eat from the pure foods and work righteous”. He -also- has said: “O you who have believed, eat from the pure things which we have provided you.”...” (Muslim)
S'aad (RA) related, Allah's Messenger (SAWW) said, “O S'aad purify your food (and as a result) you will become one who's supplications are accepted. I swear by He in whose hands the soul of Muhammad (SAWW) lies, verily a servant (of Allah) tosses a haram morsel in his stomach (due to which) no deed is accepted from him for 40 days.” (Tabarani)
Thus, there is great importance of halal food in Islam and Muslims should eat halal food in order to avoid doing sin of eating haram food. Furthermore, by eating halal food, Muslims’ supplications are accepted and they attain the pleasure of Allah in this way. Also, by avoiding eating haram food, Muslims save them from committing any sin. Hence, there is great quantity of halal food in this world and Muslims must eat from that and avoid eating haram food.
