INTRODUCTION
The issue of halal meat is one of
importance in Islam, however in recent times with the advent of
modernisation Muslims have gone away from tradition methods of
slaughtering. This has now caused much confusion, with differing
opinions as to what is considered halal meat.
When there is confusion on any Islamic
matter, we should always refer back to Allah and His Messenger, as Allah
(swt) says,
فَإِن تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ
إِلَى اللّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ
Ya
ayyuha allatheena amanoo ateeAAoo Allaha
waateeAAoo alrrasoola waolee al-amri minkum fa-in tanazaAAtum
fee shay-in faruddoohu ila Allahi waalrrasooli in
kuntum tu/minoona biAllahi waalyawmi al-akhiri
thalika khayrun waahsanu ta/weelan
(And) if you differ in
anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger [Surah
An Nisa’ 4:59]
There are numerous verses (ayaat) and
prophetic narrations (ahadith) commanding Muslims to eat that which is
lawful (halal) and to leave that which is unlawful (haram).
Allah (swt) says in the Qur'an
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ كُلُواْ مِمَّا فِي
الأَرْضِ حَلاَلاً طَيِّباً
Ya
ayyuha alnnasu kuloo mimma fee al-ardi
halalan tayyiban wala tattabiAAoo khutuwati
alshshaytani innahu lakum AAaduwwun mubeenun
O mankind! Eat of that
which is lawful and good on the earth [Surah Al Baqarah 2:168]
The Messenger (saw) said:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ طَيِّبٌ لاَ يَقْبَلُ إِلاَّ
طَيِّبًا
“Allah is pure and only
accepts that which is pure” [Sahih Muslim] #2393
الْحَلاَلُ بَيِّنٌ وَالْحَرَامُ بَيِّنٌ
“That which is lawful
is clear and that which is unlawful is clear” [Sahih Muslim] #4178
So it is common knowledge that Muslims
only eat or drink that which is halal, to the point even the
disbelievers (kuffar) have come to know that alcohol and pork is
prohibited for a Muslim. As this is one of the topics known by
necessity;
Many food types are halal in their
original state such as fruits, vegetables, and sea food, other food type
such as meat from chicken, sheep or cattle are only lawful if killed or
slaughtered in the right manner.