This is a short guide to introduce the meaning, concept and practice
of the term "halal" when referring to meat.
Introductions
"Halal" is an Arabic word that means ‘lawful’. In Islam certain things
are lawful and other things are not. The latter are called ‘haram’ and
include things such as drinking alcohol, sex outside marriage and eating
animals that are not herbivores (such as pigs).
When talking about halal meat we are talking about meat which is lawful
for a Muslim to eat, i.e. the animal has been treated and slaughtered in
a manner that has been deemed appropriate by God.
Halal not only refers to the actual slaughter of the animal but is also
tied in to the welfare of the animal as well as the state of mind, body
and soul of the person taking that animal’s life.
So what makes meat halal?
The principles of halal can be split into 3 areas;
- The actual slaughter
- The welfare of the animal
- The state of the slaughterer.
- The Slaughter
The following procedures constitute the ideal procedure for
slaughtering an animal…
- The animal is given a drink of water and is to be placed lying
down facing Mecca
- The animal must be calmed
- The animal is not allowed to see other animals going to slaughter
or being slaughtered and ideally not let to smell other animals’ blood
- The animal can at no time see the knife
- The knife must be razor sharp
- A prayer must be read and the intention to take the animal’s life
for the correct reasons must be made
- The neck must be slit in one clean pull of the knife cutting
through the skin and oesophagus right to the back of the neck
- The animal must be held securely until all life has left it
These methods are used as they are believed to be the kindest and
most effective way of slaughtering.
Stunning is not the considered as an ideal method of slaughtering but
some Islamic scholars have permitted it. Therefore much of the halal
meat in the UK is stunned and bled just like any other meat. The only
difference is that halal meat would be cut by a Muslim.
- The Welfare
The Quran, along with the Torah and Bible, is one of the original
animal rights texts. In addition, many of the sayings of the Prophet
Muhammad demand that Muslims treat animals mercifully and with
kindness. In one he says, "God calls for mercy in everything, so be
merciful when you kill and when you slaughter: sharpen your blade to
relieve its pain".
Technically speaking, Islam opposes battery and intense farming as
they are seen as an exploitation of animals. Therefore from birth to
death an animal should be reared and cared for in a natural and
stress-free environment.
- The State of the Slaughterer
The act of taking an animal’s life is called a "sacrifice". This
points to the fact that within Islam an animal’s life is seen as no
less worthy than any other creature’s. The giving up of an animal’s
life is a privilege not a right. The one slaughtering must be aware at
a physical, mental and spiritual level that the act they are about to
commit is serious and should not be approached nonchalantly.
Conclusions
‘Halal’ meat in its original and intended sense therefore means the meat
of an animal that has been ethically treated, properly fed and raised
and in the end mercifully slaughtered. Its aim is to secure the rights
of the animal to a good life as well as ensure that the meat they offer
up is pure.
About The Author
By Neil Payne, founder
of the UK’s first
Organic Halal Meat
company.