Halal: What is permissible for a Muslim in Bali

Halal is a word that anyone living in Muslim country will be familiar with. Arabic in origin, it refers to what is permissible for a Muslim under the laws of Islam. Most westerners understand halal to refer to food and drinks items, particularly meats.

Food and drinks items in Bali often have the halal symbol, as a guarantee they are suitable for Muslims. Most Muslim people will use products without the halal symbol too, such as soy sauce made in Singapore, or bbq sauce made in the US. The halal symbol assists in situations where there might be some doubt, such as a packet of sosi (sausages). Here is some more information on halal.

Halal the Word

The use of the term varies between Arabic-speaking communities and non-Arabic-speaking ones.

In Arabic-speaking countries, the term is used to describe anything permissible under Islamic law, in contrast to haraam, that which is forbidden. This includes behaviour, speech, dress, conduct, manner and dietary laws (listen to some aspects of halal).

In non-Arabic-speaking countries, the term is most commonly used in the narrower context of just Muslim dietary laws, especially where meat and poultry are concerned, though it can be used for the more general meaning as well. This dichotomy of usage is similar to the Hebrew term ‘kosher’.

Quranic Verses relating to Halal

In determining whether a food is halal or haraam (forbidden), various verses of the Quran (ayat) are frequently referenced:

‘He hath only forbidden you dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that on which any other name hath been invoked besides that of Allah. But if one is forced by necessity, without willful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits – then is he guiltless. For Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful’

‘Forbidden to you (your food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been invoked the name of other than Allah; that which hath been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by being gored to death; that which hath been (partly) eaten by a wild animal; unless ye are able to slaughter it (in due form); that which is sacrificed on stone (altars); (forbidden) also is the division (of meat) by raffling with arrows: that is impiety. This day have those who reject Faith given up all hope of your religion: yet fear them not but fear me. This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed my favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. But if any is forced by hunger, with no inclination transgression, Allah is indeed Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful’

‘This day are (all) good things made lawful for you. The food of those who have received the Scripture is lawful for you, and your food is lawful for them. And so are the virtuous women of the believers and the virtuous women of those who received the Scripture before you (lawful for you) when ye give them their marriage portions and liven with them in honour, not in fornication, nor taking them as secret concubines. Who so denieth the faith, his work is vain and he will be among the losers in the Hereafter’

‘Say: I find not in the message received by me by inspiration any (meat) forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it, unless it be dead meat, or blood poured forth, or the flesh of swine, for it is an abomination or, what is impious, (meat) on which a name has been invoked, other than Allah’s. But (even so), if a person is forced by necessity, without willful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits, thy Lord is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful’

‘He has only forbidden you dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and any (food) over which the name of other than Allah has been invoked. But if one is forced by necessity, without willful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits, then Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful’

The following verses are oft-cited when referring to alcohol and Islam:

‘Shaitân (Satan) wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants (alcoholic drinks) and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allâh and from As-Salât (the prayer). So, will you not then abstain?’

‘They ask you (O Muhammad) concerning alcoholic drink and gambling. Say: “In them is a great sin, and (some) benefit for men, but the sin of them is greater than their benefit.” And they ask you what they ought to spend. Say: “That which is beyond your needs.” Thus Allâh makes clear to you His Laws in order that you may give thought.’

Varying Forms of Halal

Muslims vary on what is required for food to be considered halal.

Dhabiĥa Halal (ذبيحة حلال)

Adherents to this philosophy maintain that in order for food to be considered halal, it must not be a forbidden substance and any meat must have been slaughtered according to traditional guidelines set forth by the Sunnah, known as dhabiĥa. This is the strictest definition of halal.

First type of “Bismillah” Halal

Some believe that the guidelines of Dhabiĥa do not necessarily need to be followed[citation needed] and reciting “Bismillahi Allahu Akbar” (In the name of God , And God is the greatest) immediately preceding consumption renders the meat permissible. People who adhere to this type of halal generally do not partake in the consumption of forbidden substances. Defenders of this method declare that the Quran does not dictate that God’s (see Islamic concept of God) name must be taken prior to slaughtering the animal, it merely says in multiple places:

And eat not of that whereon Allah’s name hath not been mentioned..Quran 6:121

They also narrate a hadith in which Muhammad states “Mention Allah’s name on it and eat…” upon being questioned on how to deal with food that is not verifiably dhabiĥa.

Critics of this method claim that the text of the Quran and the hadith needs to be taken in perspective, and accuse defenders of this method of misinterpreting them. [11]

Halal and Kosher

Some believe that the word ‘kosher’ is an adequate replacement for ‘halal’, even though they are not identical. However, most Muslim and Jewish authorities believe the terms are not interchangeable. More information can be found at Comparison of Dhabiĥa Halal and Kashrut.

Explicitly Forbidden Substances

A variety of substances are considered forbidden (haraam) as per various Quranic verses:

•Pork, or any pig-based products
•Blood
•Animals slaughtered in the name of anyone but God (There is debate regarding the permissibility of meat slaughtered by Christians or Jews)
•Carrion
•’Fanged beasts of prey‘ as per the Sunnah, usually simplified to all carnivorous animals, with the exception of most fish and sea animals
•All intoxicants (specifically alcohol)

There is some disagreement among Muslims regarding seafood, especially predatory sea creatures. IFANCA (Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America) states, regarding the opinion of Islamic scholars.

•All are in agreement that fish with scales are halal
•Sunnis consider all fish to be halal, while Shias consider some fish haraam. Within Sunnis, there is a strong position that shellfish (shrimp, lobster, crab, clams, etc.) are prohibited. This is most prevalent in the Hanafi school but also has support among some Shafi’i and Maliki scholars.
•Most agree that frogs are haraam due to the prohibition of killing them in hadith.
•Fish found dead in water are haraam.

Dhabiĥa (method used to slaughter animals)

The conventional method of slaughtering all animals, excluding fish and most sea life, is known as dhabiĥa (ذَبِيْحَة), often pronounced by non-Arabs as zabiha. It involves severing the major arteries in the neck of the animal, as well as the esophagus and trachea, with one swipe of a non-serrated blade.

Criticisms of Dhabiĥa Halal

Some object to dhabiĥa halal and believe that it causes unnecessary suffering to the animal which is not stunned before slaughter.

Advocates for dhabiĥa halal contend that this method of slaughter is actually more humane than the modern method of stunning before slaughter.

In Bali people seem quite relaxed as to the halal / haram question relating to food. Some food places such as the Padang warungs are always run by Muslim people. A typical warung may not strictly follow the rules involving killing the animal and indeed will probably buy the meat from a supermarket. Satay vendors usually cook just one type of meat, making it easy for locals to identify what kind it is. In Indonesia many Muslims enjoy a drink and will often say alcohol is okay as long as you don’t abuse it.

Back in the early 80’s KFC in Malaysia was losing business after McDonalds claimed it wasn’t killing the chickens in the halal manner. Some say that obtaining the halal stamp in Indonesia sometimes requires a bit ‘negotiation’. One of Indonesia’s favourite products Bintang beer, does not carry carry the halal symbol and is not likely to in the near future.