The term Halal literally means permissible or lawful. In Islamic terminology, it refers to anything that is allowed according to Islamic law (Shari’ah). The opposite of Halal
is haram, which means forbidden or unlawful. The rules governing halal food are derived from Islamic Shari’ah. It is widely known that Muslims consume halal meat; however, questions are sometimes asked about what halal actually means. In Arabic, halal simply refers to what is permissible or allowed. The opposite term, haram, refers to what is prohibited. Arabic is the language of the Qur’an, the holy scripture revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) by Allah, which Muslims follow in all aspects of life.
For meat to be considered halal, the animal or poultry must be slaughtered according to a specific Islamic method known as Zibah or Zabihah. The Qur’an provides clear guidance on lawful and unlawful foods, including in Chapter Al- Ma’idah (5:3).
According to Islamic requirements, the animal must be alive and healthy at the time of slaughter, as carrion (dead animals) is forbidden. The slaughter must be performed using a very sharp knife in a swift, single cut that severs the jugular veins, carotid arteries, and windpipe in order to minimise pain to the animal. During the slaughter, a Muslim slaughterer recites the Tasmiya (invocation in the name of Allah), dedicating the act to Allah.
Modern slaughtering systems, particularly in poultry processing where thousands of birds may be slaughtered per hour, have addressed the issue of recitation by ensuring that the Muslim slaughterer begins the process with the name of Allah, as Muslims are instructed to commence their actions in His name. Islamic dietary laws also require that all flowing blood must be completely drained from the carcass, as blood is prohibited for consumption, as mentioned in the Qur’an (Al-An’am 6:145). Pork and swine products are also strictly forbidden and are clearly prohibited in several verses of the Qur’an.
Additionally, animals that die through strangulation, violent blows, or falls are not considered halal. From these principles, it becomes clear that the following requirements must be fulfilled for halal meat production:
1. The animal must be alive at the time of slaughter.
2. The slaughter must be performed by a Muslim .
3. The name of Allah must be invoked during the slaughter.
4. The major blood vessels must be severed and the blood must be fully drained.
5. Slaughtering practices must comply with Islamic principles.
Since pork is prohibited in Islam, halal slaughter must not take place in facilities where pigs are slaughtered or in areas close to pig slaughtering operations. Islam also emphasises animal welfare. Animals must be treated humanely before slaughter. They should be properly fed and given water, and they must not witness the slaughter of other animals. The knife used must be extremely sharp and of sufficient size to ensure a swift and humane cut. Whenever possible, both the slaughterer and the animal should face the Qibla (direction of Mecca). Furthermore, the animal must be healthy and free from injury or disease at the time of slaughter.