Halal means all things or behaviours sanctioned (permitted as lawful) by Islamic law and ritually fit to be done or use. The word Halal means permissible or lawful, and it is derived from an Arabic root word hala, which means to become lawful, or permitted. In Islamic theology, halal food, thing, or deed can be carried out by a person without having penalty. In the modern world, and especially non-Muslim, the meaning of the word halal has been associated with food, or drink that are permitted to be taken by Muslims. This is not the case in terms of Muslims ideology, the entire life of Muslims is controlled by what is regulated and prescribed by the Holy Quran to be Halal or Haram. A Muslim food, dress, shelter, actions, manners, ethics, and even look should all conform to what is permitted (Halal) by Allah.
The Concept of Halal in the Quran and Hadith
Halal are all things permitted and allowed to be done without penalty in Islam and this permission is found in the Quran and Hadiths (traditions of Prophet Mohammed SAW), and it is not limited only to food, but also businesses, services, finance, travel and tourism, chemicals and ingredients for production, pharmaceuticals, and clothes. The opposite of Halal is Haram, which has been contracted in the Quran. All Halal things are to be good for human beings, and all things that are forbidden (Haram) or prohibited by Islam are found to harm human beings or nature. Pork, Alcohol, blood, dead animals, and animals slaughtered without with other than Allah’s name are all deemed haram, unlawful to be eaten by Islam. Several Islamic organizations have literature quid lines and standards based on the Shariah law, as principles for measuring, and determining what halal should be. One of them is the Malaysian standard, prepared by Malaysia Department of Islamic Development (JAKIM), which defined the Halal as follows: “Halal is defined as food not made of, or containing parts of animal origin which Islamic law forbids to be consumed. Food is Halal if it does not contain or come into contact with anything regarded as filth e.g. carrion, alcohol, pork, blood, faeces, and urine. It must also be prepared, processed or manufactured using equipment untainted by anything unclean.”
Allah says in the Holy Quran:
“O ye people! Eat of what is on earth, lawful and good and do not follow the footsteps of the Evil One, for he is to you an avowed enemy” (Al Baqarah: 168).
On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (ra): The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Allah the Almighty is Good and accepts only that which is good. And verily Allah has commanded the believers to do that which He has commanded the Messengers. So the Almighty has said: “O (you) Messengers! Eat of the tayyibat [all kinds of halal (legal) foods], and perform righteous deeds.” [23:51] and the Almighty has said: “O you who believe! Eat of the lawful things that we have provided you.” [2:172]” Then he (ﷺ) mentioned [the case] of a man who, having journeyed far, is dishevelled and dusty, and who spreads out his hands to the sky saying “O Lord! O Lord!,” while his food is haram (unlawful), his drink is haram, his clothing is haram, and he has been nourished with haram, so how can [his supplication] be answered? [Muslim)
The above Quran verse ask Muslims to eat lawful (Halal) and desist from what is unlawful (evil), while the hadiths clearly shows that entire life of Muslim (food, cloth, drink, nourishments) should be halal and not haram, before a Muslim prayer will be accepted.
In conclusion a Muslim entire life is sanctioned by the Quran and the Hadith in terms of what is halal and haram, the opposite.
What is Haram
Haram means all things, deeds, and actions that are prohibited by Islam. Haram is the opposite of halal. In the study of Halal ecosystem, it refers to food items and non-food items that are prohibited to be eaten. Example of such food are rotten flesh of halal meat, dead animals, pork, and alcoholic drinks.
The Rationale Behind Haram Food
Eating dead animal is prohibited and the obvious rational to it is dangerous to the health of human being. It is also considered degrading in every human society to eat dead animal. In addition, the dead animal may have been killed by a dangerous disease which can spread to human if eaten.
Flowing blood is prohibited from Allah’s saying below
“I do not find within that which was revealed to me [anything] forbidden to one who would eat it unless it be a dead animal or blood spilled out or the flesh of swine – for indeed, it is impure – or it be [that slaughtered in] disobedience, dedicated to other than Allah . But whoever is forced [by necessity], neither desiring [it] nor transgressing [its limit], then indeed, your Lord is Forgiving and Merciful.”
The above prohibition is specifically linked to blood that flows out when the animal has been
Slaughtered. This kind of blood would be a terrible drink for humans. This is because it has high chance of spreading disease and secondly it has no nutrition, but contains toxics.
There are other forms of food prohibition, and Allah knows best the reasons for the prohibition, and Muslims entire life is to submit to Allah, and obey his commandment
Prohibition of Pork and Drug in Islam
Pork
Port is prohibited to be eaten because it is impure (rijis). Allah said in the Quran:
“He has forbidden you only dead animals, and blood, and the swine, and that which is slaughtered as a sacrifice for other than God.” (Quran 2:173)
In reference to the flesh of swine (Pork) Allah says in Quran 6: 145 “for that surely is impure”
From above reference it is clear that pork is not clean to be eaten.
Scientist has also proved that Pork contain parasites and diseases harmful to human beings, and hence not good to be eaten. In addition, pork has high cholesterol and harmful for human beings.
Finally, as Muslim we spend our entire life worshiping Allah, as Allah told us in the Quran that, He created Jinn and Humans to worship him and one of the worship is to obey his commandment of not to eat Pork.
Drugs and intoxicants
Drugs and intoxicants deadens the nervous system rendering a person to be helpless of himself, and such state compels him to neglect his spiritual, material, and moral duties and responsibilities. Allah says: “O you who believe! Truly, intoxicants and gambling and divination by arrows are an abomination of Satan’s doing; avoid it in order that you may be successful. Assuredly Satan desires to sow enmity and hatred among you with intoxicants and gambling, and to hinder you from there remembrance of Allah and from Salat. Will you not then desist?” (5:90, 91)
Note: Halal and Haram are discussed in more details, in the Post Graduate Diploma program, which is offered by giibic