Islamic dietary laws

This is a sub-article to Hygiene in Islam, Healthy diet and Food and cooking hygiene.

Islamic dietary laws provide a set of rules as to what Muslims eat in their diet and other areas.

Overview

Islamic jurisprudence specify what food is halāl, meaning lawful. They are found in Qur'an, the holy book of Islam, usually detailing what is unlawful, or harām.

There are some more rules added to these in fatwas by Mujtahids with various degrees of strictness, but they are not always held to be authoritative by all.

Islamic law prohibits a Muslim from consuming alcohol, eating or drinking blood and its by-products, and eating the meat of a carnivore or omnivore, such as pork, monkey, dog, or cat (piscivorous animals however are not considered carnivorous). (Quran 5:3, 5:90)

For the meat of a land animal to be halāl it must be properly slaughtered by a Muslim or a Person of the Book (Christian or Jew). The proper Islamic method of slaughtering an animal is called Dhabiĥa.

Healthy diet

A healthy diet is also important in Islam. Overeating is discouraged.

Food and cooking hygiene

Food and cooking hygiene is an impotant part of Islamic dietary laws

Dhabiĥa: Islamic slaughter

Main article: Dhabiĥa

For the meat of a land animal to be halāl it must be properly slaughtered by a Muslim or a Person of the Book (Christian or Jew), while mentioning the name of God (Allah in Arabic); for instance, the animal may not be killed by being boiled or electrocuted, and the carcass should be hung upside down long enough to be blood-free. Different rules apply to fishes and, in general, fish with scales are always halāl, while some fatwas declare shellfish and scaleless fishes such as catfish to be harām.

The proper Islamic method of slaughtering an animal is called Dhabiĥa. According to some fatwas, the animal must be slaughtered only by a Muslim. However, some different fatwas dispute this, and rule from the orthodox Qur'anic position, that according to verse 5:5 of the Qur'an (which declares that the food of the People of the Book to be halāl), the slaughter may be done by a Jew or a Christian. Thus, many observant Muslims will accept kosher meat if halāl options are not available. Other main references in Qur'an include 2:173, 5:3, 5:5, 5:90, 6:118, 6:145, 16:115.

Food certification

Due to the recent rise in Muslim populations in the United States and Europe, certain organizations have emerged that can certify Halal food products and ingredients for Muslim consumers. The Muslim Consumer Group is an example of an organization that places certification labels such as the H-MCG symbol to identify the Halal status of different edible and non-edible consumer products.

Prohibited food

Many items and animals are Haaram to eat, Taboo food and drink. This include what is regarded as unclean animals.

Alcohol

Main article: Islam and Alcohol

In Islam, intoxication by alcoholic beverages is generally forbidden, but Alcohol is allowed to be used for medical and other purposes.

Blood

Eating or drinking blood and its by-products is forbidden.

Carnivores

Carnivores are prohibited to eat. Piscivorous animals however are not considered carnivorous.

Omnivores

Omnivores, such as pigs, monkeys and dogs, are prohibited.

Pork

There are religious restrictions on the consumption of pork in Islam.

Al-Baqarah The Cow 2:173. He hath only forbidden you dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that on which any other name hath been invoked besides that of Allah. But if one is forced by necessity, without willful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits,- then is he guiltless. For Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.

The Food 5:3. Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been invoked the name of other than Allah; that which hath been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by being gored to death; that which hath been (partly) eaten by a wild animal; unless ye are able to slaughter it (in due form); that which is sacrificed on stone (altars); (forbidden) also is the division (of meat) by raffling with arrows: that is impiety. This day have those who reject faith given up all hope of your religion: Yet fear them not but fear Me. This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islám as your religion. But if any is forced by hunger, with no inclination to transgression, Allah is indeed Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.

The Cattle 6:145. Say: "I find not in the Message received by me by inspiration any (meat) forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it, unless it be dead meat, or blood poured forth, or the flesh of swine,- for it is an abomination - or, what is impious, (meat) on which a name has been invoked, other than Allah's". But (even so), if a person is forced by necessity, without willful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits,- thy Lord is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.

The Bee 16:115. He has only forbidden you dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and any (food) over which the name of other than Allah has been invoked. But if one is forced by necessity, without willful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits,- then Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Other religions

Comparison of Dhabiĥa Halal and Kashrut

Science

In recent years, due to a cultural phenomenon that has encouraged young Muslims to find common ground between Islam and science, there have been numerous studies undergone to try and find altruistic benefits in living a life in adherence to Islamic dietary laws. One example of this is studies that were done on trichinosis, which can be caught from consuming undercooked pork.

See also

• Halaal
• Muslim Consumer Group (MCG)
• Kashrut
• Hechsher
• A Comprehensive List of Halal Food Products in U.S. and Canadian Supermarkets

External links

• http://www.islamonline.com/cgi-bin/news_service/spot_full_story.asp?service_id=693