WHAT ISLAM SAYS ABOUT...
Basics Of Islam
Halal Food in Islam
Halal refers to that which is permissible to Muslims.
Are kosher and halal the same?
There are many similarities between what is kosher (permissible for Jews to consume) and what is halal (permissible for Muslims to consume), but there are also significant differences.
The two dietary codes diverge on issues such as alcohol and food pairings. Kosher laws generally do not prohibit alcohol, whereas Islamic law strictly prohibits its consumption, even when used for cooking. Unlike Jews, Muslims do not require the separation of dairy and meat products.
However, both Islamic and Jewish dietary rules prohibit consuming pork and pork-derived products. They require similar ritual slaughtering procedures as well as the draining of the slaughtered animal’s blood, and both prohibit carrion (an animal found dead before slaughter). Many of the animals Muslims are allowed to slaughter are also permitted for Jews.
Are there dietary restrictions in Islam?
Yes. Muslims are prohibited from consuming pork, alcohol, and substances that impair the mind, as well as those that do not meet proper standards (detailed below).
While an exhaustive treatment of Islamic dietary rules is beyond our scope here, it suffices to say that Islam’s prohibition regarding food, drink, and substances extend beyond merely pork and alcohol.
For instance, Muslims are not permitted to use or ingest any type of intoxicating substance for merely recreational purposes. Additionally, certain types of animals (such as animals of prey) are not permitted for consumption. Even animals whose meat is permissible, if not slaughtered properly, becomes impermissible to consume.
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