The word "halal" comes from Arabic and means "permitted" or "lawful" in English. Halal therefore refers to all lifestyles, actions, and foods that are allowed according to Islamic law. The opposite of "halal" is "haram," which means "forbidden" in English. For example, the consumption of pork and pork gelatin in sweets is haram—that is, forbidden—for Muslims ( you can find sweets without pork gelatin that are permitted for Muslims here ). Which actions and foods are halal (permitted) and haram (forbidden) for Muslims is derived from the scriptures of the Quran and the way of life of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Halal and haram are two principles that pertain to all aspects of human life. They encompass everything that is part of life. Human rights, family and neighborhood relationships, the treatment of animals, environmental stewardship, and even finance and banking, as well as food, are just a few examples regulated by the halal-haram principle.

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 meat-containing food to be classified as halal ( Which foods are halal? ), not only the choice of animal but also the procedures for preparing and carrying out the slaughter, as well as the processing of various meat products, play a significant role. This article will focus on the preparation, conditions, and execution of the slaughter in more detail.

Is Islamic slaughter the same as ritual slaughter?

In German, the term "shechita," familiar from Judaism, has become established for the Islamic method of slaughter. While there are fundamentally strong similarities to the concept of "kosher," to avoid misunderstandings and overlaps in meaning, some certifiers differentiate and summarize the "Muslim rules" under the name "Islamic slaughter."

The rules for Islamic slaughter - a guide

Just as there are guidelines for permitted ( halal ) and forbidden (haram) foods, there are also guidelines from certifiers for the slaughtering process itself. These are based on the Quran, the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and numerous legal opinions, and take into account geographical conditions and technological possibilities in the age of industrial standards and automated processes. The following guidelines are issued by the European Halal Certification Authority.

• Only permitted (halal) animals may be slaughtered (i.e., no pork).
• The person performing the slaughter must be Muslim.
• The slaughtered animal must be alive during this process.
• Anesthetic methods may be used to protect against pain and suffering* (more information on this point can be found below).
• However, the animal must not have died from the stunning or otherwise before the decisive cut.
• must be slaughtered in the name of Allah.
• Under no circumstances should the animal be tortured or subjected to stress and/or suffering.
• Any transport to the slaughterhouse should be as gentle as possible.
• The butchering knives should be as sharp as possible to allow for a quick, clean cut.
• It is undesirable to break the animal's neck during slaughter.
• The animal must be bled out.

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

Basically, the following guideline can be followed:

During husbandry, transport, preparation, slaughter and aftercare, care must be taken to respect the animal as a creature of God and to treat it with dignity.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) underlines this statement with the following tradition:

“Whoever acts mercilessly (towards a living being) will not receive mercy (from Allah ta'ala).” ¹

The tradition of the Prophet Muhammad (s) makes it clear once again that the question of halal does not only concern the choice of animal and the technique of slaughter, but also requires humane and species-appropriate treatment.

Halal is a universal concept encompassing a wide range of aspects, from animal husbandry to the processing of the animal products. Because the idea of ​​halal covers such a profound and broad field, the following article will examine all the important aspects of the production and processing of halal food products .

Note on anesthesia procedures