What is Halal ?

()(
In Islam, beside prayer and other religious activities, eating is respected as a matter of
worship of God. Muslims consume to maintain good health in order to perform their duty
to contribute their knowledge and efforts for the welfare of society. Islam has no desire
to make people's lives difficult, narrow, and circumscribed; on the contrary; he desires
ease, goodness, guidance, and mercy for them. Eating Halal is not only a religion
governed rules and manners but also a way of life and they reflect Islamic ideas and
values.
Islam shows mercy towards people in that whenever it forbids something it provides a
better substitute with which to replace it. Islam forbids usury but allows profitable
business.
Islam forbids gambling, but allows winning prizes in contests of shooting, racing,
wrestling, etc. Islam forbids adultery but urges Muslims to marry as soon as they can
support a family. Islam ban drinking alcohol but permit all other good and healthy drinks.
Islam forbids what is bad in food but allows what is good and nourishing.
In Arabic, Halal (also sometimes spelled halaal) is a Quranic word meaning anything
that is lawful, legal, licit, legitimate, permissible, allowable, permitted, allowed,
admissible, authorised, unprohibited, unforbidden or unproscribed or acceptable to all
aspects of daily life and betterment of social context.

The word Halal is associated with the word Toyyib which means good. This is
clearly stated in Quran 2:168 O mankind! Eat of that which is Halal and Toyyib on
the earth..
Within the Islamic religion, a strong emphasis is placed on cleanliness

both

spiritually and in the context of food and drink

"Shaitn (Satan) wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you with
intoxicants (alcoholic drinks) and gambling, and hinder you from the
remembrance of Allh and from As-Salt (the prayer). So, will you not then
abstain?" Quran 5:91
For a food or drink product to be approved for consumption it must conform to the
Islamic dietary laws as specified in the Qur'an, the Hadith (sayings) of the Prophet
Muhammad, his Sunnah (tradition) and in the Fiqh (understanding) of the Islamic Jurists
: Hanafi, Shafi', Maliki and Hambali
In Food, the term is most commonly used in the narrower context of Muslim dietary
laws. Islam has laid down three very important guidelines, specially where Halal meat (
Dhabiha ) and poultry ( Zabiha ) are concerned.

Whether the consumption of the foodstuff is prohibited by Allah,

Whether the Halal food is obtained through Halal or Haram means, and

Whether or not the material is harmful to health.

There are several factors that determine the Halal /Haram status of a particular
Halal product. Amongst others, it is dependent on its nature, how it was
processed and where it originated from.

There are mainly two terms that mean Islamic prohibition or restriction on food: Halal
and Haram.

What is Haram ?
Non- Halal, also traditionally know as Haram means anything that is unlawful or
unallowable, forbidden, interdicted, illegal or banned and they are regarded as Najis
(unclean) in Islamic thinking. Haram is always associated with what is bad and harmful
such as behaviour, speech, dress, conduct, manner and Islamic dietary law.
Haram is a widely-used synopsis to define all that is "forbidden" or "illicit" by God. This
can be an act of sin or evil or consumption or benefit from flesh or otherwise of certain
animals, or those animals that are not forbidden deemed not to have been Islamic
slaughtered in accordance to God's prescribed teaching.
Anyone who engages in Haram is liable to incur the punishment of Allah in the
Hereafter -(Life after death. Muslims believe that Mans life is not limited to the short
span of earthly existence, rather it continues after death. )

Also Haram is food that has been stolen or acquired through unethical means. Islam
also prohibits the usage of any materials that are detrimental to the spiritual or mental
well-being of a person, such as alcoholic drinks and drugs.
Halal Food - How Do People View It?
Almost twenty years ago, the term Halal and Haram were not popularise used in the
terminology of world food industry. Today, it has being tremendous increase known as
an important influential element of the industry. Still, there is little known
how, misconception and mythical of the significance, rules & belief and authorization
guidelines of Halal product.
Regular Muslims perceive God permit consumption of Halal food as food. Non-Muslims
however, comprehend Halal food as food taken by Muslims that does not contain pork
or lard and alcohol. Most food producer point of view, Halal food is a pork free
and alcoholic free food for the Muslims that when labelled/presented as such to the
market, shall provide enormous economic gain.
As such, their understanding of Halal food is, no doubt, correct. However, they fail to
understand the true essence of what Halal food really is. Halal food goes beyond the
definition of 'food that is allowed in Islam that is pork free nor alcohol free'.

Halal or Haram Bakery Products

Halal or Haram Bakery Products ?

Flour enrichment: The enrichment must come from halal sources, either plant- or
chemical-based.
Flours and cereal ingredients must undergo non alcohol treatment during processing.
For example, some soy products, such as soy protein isolate, use alcohol treatment
during processing. Defatted soy flour made after hexane extraction is acceptable.
Emulsifiers/dough conditioners: Emulsifiers and conditioners should be obtained
from Halal vegetable fat.
L-Cysteine: L-Cysteine is a non-essential amino acid used as a reducing agent in
bakery products such as hard rolls, doughnut, pizza crusts, loaf,pastries, bagels and
croissants to reduce te process of mixing . It also prevents shrinkage of pizza crusts

made with high protein flour and helps in the machinability of dough. L-Cysteine
obtained from human hair is not considered a halal ingredient. Some halal officially
recognised organizations accept L-Cysteine from animals feather, eg duck or chicken
feathers. Synthetic L-Cysteine from petroleum is acceptable.
Dairy ingredients used in bakery products (i.e., whey, lactose, caseinates and unsalted
butter): These require halal certification, whereas non-fat dry milk is acceptable as a
halal ingredient (as long as dryers are not used for haram ingredients).
Bakery's Yeast : Bakery's Yeast is considered halal.
Brewer Yeast's : Brewer Yeast's extract in bakery snacks: Most Muslim consumers
avoid food products made from brewer's yeast extract since it is a by-product of beer.
Alcoholic beverages are prohibited in halal officially recognised organizations-certified
food products.
Natural and artificial flavors: Natural and artificial flavors in bakery products are the most
important ingredients for halal manufacturer products. The makeup of flavoring material
must be plant-based (no meat). Petroleum-based propylene glycol is considered a halal
solvent for flavoring.

Ethyl alcohol is not an acceptable halal solvent. The

argument, however, is that it is evaporated during baking. Most Halal officially
recognised organizations will not accept this argument, since the alcohol was originally
present as a raw material in the first stage of production. Alcohol, even a small amount,
produced naturally, is acceptable--such as in over ripened fruits and during yeast
fermentation of dough for bread baking.
Vinegar: Only distilled vinegar is acceptable, due to the presence of a very minimal
amount of diluted alcohol leftover in the vinegar. Not all alcohol is converted to acetic
acid and water. Wine and balsamic vinegars are considered haram ingredients.
Shortening: Only vegetable oil, vegetable shortening, or vegetable shortening with
vegetable fat based emulsifiers is acceptable as halal.

Vanilla extract and Vanilla sugar: Vanilla extract in cookie

products or in ice cream is not acceptable as a halal ingredient because it contains 35%
or more alcohol. Vanilla sugar made with sugar and vanilla extract also is not
acceptable as halal, for the same reason.
BHT and BRA: They are acceptable as halal ingredients only if the carrier is a vegetable
oil.
Beta carotene: Several processing aid ingredients are used in beta carotene color. Only
fish gelatin or vegetable oil is acceptable as a carrier, or as a processing aid ingredient.
FD&C colors: FD&C colors without any carriers are acceptable as halal colors. The
problem arises when glycerin is used as a solvent in liquid FD&C colors. Only plantbased glycerin or vegetable oil is allowed in the Halal officially recognised organizations
certification of halal liquid FD&C colors.

Gelatin: Unknown Gelatin or Kosher gelatin in toaster

pastries or in cookies is not acceptable. Fish gelatin or gelatin obtained from cows
slaughtered according to Islamic law is fine.
Cereal products: The vitamins, gelatin in marshmallows, dairy ingredients, flavors and
colors in cereal products are ingredients to consider in developing a cereal product for
halal markets. The source of the above ingredients must be from a halal source.
Dairy products: This is the most important category of food ingredients because it is
used in many different Halal food products.
Bibliography
http://www.ehalal.org/quranverses.html retrieve on 10 September 2009