What makes meat "halal"?

The term "halal meat" is very common these days, which is the only kind of meat that Muslims will eat. A lot of people however don't know what the term "halal" refers to and what constitutes meat as being as halal - or the exact opposite - haram. Jews abide by "kosher" and similarly Muslims abide by "halal".

Let's discover what constitutes meat as being halal

The following conditions are required for meat to be considered halal:

1. Only fish can be consumed without being slaughtered, everything else must be slaughtered before being consumed.
2. Meat will not be considered halal if it is slaughtered by a Zoroastrian, someone who left Islam after accepting it or someone who worships idols.
3. It is permissible to slaughter with anything that has a cutting edge: this does not include a claw, tooth, bone or the like.
4. When slaughtering, the animal’s windpipe and gullet must be cut. The carotid arteries don't necessarily have to be cut for the slaughter to be valid.
5. If the person slaughtering does not cut any part of the gullet or windpipe and the animal dies, it is not permissible to eat.
6. The slaughterer must cut swiftly.

The following things are considered to be recommended:

1. To turn the animal towards the direction of Makkah, facing the Qiblah.
2. The knight should not be blunt.
3. To cut rapidly (meaning very, very fast).
4. To mention the name of God - "Allah" by saying "Bismillah".
5. To send blessings on the Prophet (s.a.w).
6. To cut the arteries on both sides of the neck.

Article Source: http://www.phalenes.org/articles

Areeb Bajwa talks about many Islamic issues in his articles. He lives in Mississauga in Ontario, Canada and suggests this resource for Halal restaurants Mississauga

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