Q.

Discuss the teachings of Islam about Halal o Haram

Ans: Halal means ‘lawful’, it pertains to what Muslims can do, especially in regards to food and drink. In
reference to food, it is the dietary standard, as prescribed in the Qur’an (the Muslim scripture). The
opposite of halal is haram, which means unlawful or prohibited. Halal and haram are universal terms
that apply to all facets of life. These terms are commonly used in relation to food products, meat
products, cosmetics, personal care products, pharmaceuticals, food ingredients, and food contact
materials. In general every food is considered halal in Islam unless it is specially prohibited by the Qur’an
or the Hadith . By official definition, halal foods are those that are:

Free from any component that Muslims are prohibited from consuming according to Islamic law
(Shariah).

Processed, made, produced, manufactured and/or stored using utensils, equipment and/or machinery
that have been cleansed according to Islamic law.

Muslims eat to maintain a strong and healthy physique in order to be able to contribute their knowledge
and effort for the welfare of the society. Muslims are supposed to make an effort to obtain the best
quality nutritionally. It is mentioned in a Hadith that the prayer of a person is rejected by Allah if the food
consumed is prohibited (haram). All foods are considered halal except the following (which are haram):

Alcoholic drinks and intoxicants

Non-Halal Animal Fat

Enzymes* (Microbial Enzymes are permissible)

Gelatine* – from non-Halal source (fish gelatine is Halal)

L-cysteine (if from human hair)

Lard

Lipase* (only animal lipase need be avoided)

Non-Halal Animal Shortening

Pork, Bacon / Ham and anything from pigs

Unspecified Meat Broth

Rennet* (All forms should be avoided except for plant / microbial /

synthetic – rennet obtained from halal slaughtered animal is

permissible).
Stock* (a blend of mix species broth or meat stock)

Tallow* (non-Halal species)

Carnivorous animals, birds of prey and certain other animals

Foods contaminated with any of the above products

Haram is an Arabic term meaning ‘forbidden’ This may refer to: either something sacred to which access
is forbidden to the people who are not in a state of purity or who are not initiated into the sacred
knowledge; or, in direct contrast, to an evil and thus "sinful action that is forbidden to be done". The
term also denotes something "set aside", thus being the Arabic equivalent of the Hebrew concept ‫קודש‬,
qadoš and the concept of sacer (cf. sacred) in Roman law and religion. In Islamic jurisprudence, haram is
used to refer to any act that is forbidden by Allah and is one of five Islamic commandments (al-ʾAḥkām
al-Ḵamsa) that define the morality of human action. The two types of haram are:

‫( الحرام لذاته‬al-ḥarām li-ḏātihi) – Prohibited because of its essence and harm it causes to an individual

Adultery, murder, theft

‫( الحرام لغيره‬al-ḥarām li-ġayrihi) – Prohibited because of external reasons that are not fundamentally
harmful but are associated to something that is prohibited Ill-gotten wealth obtained through sin.
Examples include money earned through cheating, stealing, corruption, murder, and Interest, or any
means that involve harm to another human being. Also, a deal or sale during Friday's prayers salat al-
jumu'ah. It is prohibited in Islam for a Muslim to profit from such haram actions. Any believer who
benefits from or lives off wealth obtained through haram is a sinner.

Prayer in a house taken illegally.

The religious term haram, based on the Quran, is applied to:

Actions, such as cursing, fornication, murder, and disrespecting your parents.

Policies, such as riba (usury, interest).

Certain foods and drinks, such as pork and alcohol.

Some ḥalāl objects, foods, or actions that are normally halal but under some conditions become haram.
For example, halal food and drinks at noon-time during Ramadan or a cow or another halal animal that is
not slaughtered in the Islamic way and in the name of Allah (God).

Certain inaction, such as abandoning the salah.