The word “halal” comes from Arabic and means “permitted” or “lawful” in English. Halal therefore refers to all ways of life, actions and foods that are permitted under Islamic law. The opposite of “halal” is “haram,” which means “forbidden” in English. For example, eating pork and consuming pork gelatin in sweets are haram for Muslims—that is, forbidden (you can find halal sweets without pork gelatin here). Which actions and foods are halal (permitted) and haram (forbidden) for Muslims is determined by the writings of the Quran and the way of life of the Prophet Muhammad (s).  

Halal and haram are two principles that relate to all aspects of human life. They concern everything that is part of life. Rights between people, family and neighborhood relationships, the treatment of animals, the way we interact with the environment, as well as finance and banking, are just a few examples of areas governed by the halal-haram principle, along with food.

Halal meat and the concept of Islamic slaughter

When considering halal-haram classifications, meat often receives the most attention. For a particular type of meat or a food containing meat to be classified as halal (Which foods are halal?), not only the choice of animal but also the procedures for preparing for and carrying out the slaughter, as well as the processing of various meat products, play a significant role. This article focuses on preparation, as well as the conditions and procedures for slaughter.

Islamic slaughter, or ritual slaughter?

In German, the term “ritual slaughter,” familiar from Judaism, has become established for the Islamic method of slaughter. In principle, there are significant similarities to the concept of “kosher,” but to avoid misunderstandings and overlap in meaning, some certifiers make a distinction and group the “Muslim rules” under the name “Islamic slaughter.”

The Rules for Islamic Slaughter - A Guide

As with permitted (halal) and forbidden (haram) foods, there are also guidelines for slaughter itself, set by certifiers. These are based on the Quran, the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (s), and numerous legal opinions, and take into account geographical conditions and technological capabilities in the age of industrial standards and automated processes. According to the following guidelines of the European Halal Certification Body

• only permitted (halal) animals may be slaughtered (so no pork).
• the person performing the slaughter must be Muslim.
• the slaughtered animal must be alive during the process.
• stunning methods may be used to protect the animal from pain and suffering* (further information on this point can be found below). 
• however, the animal must not have died from stunning or by any other means before the decisive cut.
• it must be slaughtered in the name of Allah.
• the animal must under no circumstances be tortured or subjected to stress and/or suffering.
• any transport to the slaughterhouse should be carried out as gently as possible.
• the slaughter knives should be as sharp as possible to ensure a quick, clean cut.
• it is undesirable to break the animal’s neck during slaughter.
• the animal must be allowed to bleed out. 

Islamic slaughter according to halal criteria is complete when the windpipe, the esophagus and both carotid arteries are quickly severed below the larynx. At least three of these four must be cut.

In general, the following guiding principle can be followed:

During the animal’s rearing, transport, preparation, slaughter and post-slaughter handling, care must be taken to respect it as one of God’s creatures and treat it with dignity.

The Prophet Muhammad (s) emphasizes this statement with the following teaching:

“Whoever is merciless toward a living being will receive no mercy (from Allah ta‘ala).”¹

The teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (s) make it clear once again that the question of halal concerns not only the choice of animal and the slaughtering technique, but also requires humane, species-appropriate treatment.

Halal is a universal concept that covers a broad spectrum, from how an animal is kept to how it is processed into products. Since the idea of halal encompasses such a far-reaching and wide-ranging field, the next article will examine all the important aspects of the production and processing process of a halal food product.

Note on stunning methods