What should we be eating then? Before answering this question consider that
it is a duty of every Muslim to investigate carefully what is going into
his/her stomach. What we eat is what makes us who we are. Impure food and behavior
will make our Ummah impure. We are not only responsible for our own health but
also responsible for the health of this planet and all creatures therein.
Now if we choose to put effort into obtaining food that is pure then there
are options for the seekers. Halal products are widely available in most
grocery stores. Halal production is in
line with Allah’s nature and produces wholesome pure food without the use of
chemical fertilizers, herbicides or insecticides and genetic modification. There
are also local farms around us, which are respectful of Allah’s creatures and
grow Halal food. You can visit these farms and buy meat and produce directly
from them.
It should be recognized that Muslims must always lead the way to
righteousness. Allah SWT says in the Quran; “You are the best community raised up for mankind, you enjoin what is
good and forbid what is evil…”(3:110) As Muslims let’s strive to choose
what is pure and be exemplary in our lifestyle for the rest of mankind.
The simple logic of “Halal-good and pure” may not hold true in today’s food
systems in especially in our modern time. If we want to be pure and clean, we
must be vigilant and selective about our actions so that our Du’a will be
accepted and granted by Allah subhannah wa taala.
“Truly, what is Halal is evident, and what is Haram is evident, and in
between the two are matters which are doubtful which many people do not know.
He who guards against doubtful things keeps his religion and honor blameless,
and he who indulges in doubtful things indulges in fact in haram things. Sahih
Bukhari (Hadith # 50) & Muslim (Hadith # 2996)
There are 22 things which are not permissible (to eat) from a sheep, a cow,
or any other animal slaughtered even it was slaughtered in an Islamic way.
1.
Guts.
2.
Intestines.
3.
Bladder.
4.
Testicles.
5.
Penis (the sign of a masculine).
6.
Vagina (the sign of a feminine).
7.
Anus.
8.
Blood in the arteries/veins.
9.
The blood that is in the meat, that is left even after
the animal has been sacrificed.
10.
The blood of the heart.
11.
Blood of the liver.
12.
Blood of the spleen.
13.
Gall bladder.
14.
The bile (yellow substance) that is excreted from the
gall bladder.
15.
The gland.
16.
Spinal Marrow (nukha’).
17.
The two muscles/tendons of the neck which stretch till
the shoulders.
18.
The moisture that is in the nose.
19.
Semen and sperm, whether the sperm of the male is found
in the female (animal), or whether it is the animals own sperm/semen.
20.
That blood which is created in the womb by semen.
21.
That flesh which has formed in the womb by seminal
fluid, whether the flesh has developed a body (with its parts) or not.
22.
That animal which has been fully developed in the womb,
but which came out (of the womb) dead, or died without slaughter.
Some of the dishes that our dear Muslim brothers and sisters should avoid
are Papaitan,Dinuguan(imitation),Bopis,Balot and the likes of the above
mentioned ingredients. Filipino restaurant in Saudi Arabia particularly in
Alkhobar KSA tried to imitate Dinuguan using a squid inks and called it Dinuguan in
their Menu List.
Beware of Halal products Halal
Certified by some group like Chicken Hotdogs, Chicken Ham, Chicken Bacon,
Chicken Lechon or Lechon Manok and non alcoholic beer among others including Halal
Hotel and Halal Resort can never be Halal Certified. The HALAL DEVELOPMENT
INSTITUTE OF THE PHILIPPINES (HDIP) is firmed and consistent on its policy not to certify any
products/services that touches or affect
the culktural sensivity of the Muslim community. These are misleading and
deceptive or illusory words not accepted in Halal Standard. Muslims should sensitive to the PRODUCT NAME, SHAPE AND
CHARACTERISTIC / SENSORY PROFILE may not be likely to the Haram product or
whatever that have been stated as Haram.. Source : World Halal Food Council
.HDIP member of WHFC ...
The Term LECHON
is a pork dish in several regions of the world, most specifically Spain and its
former colonial possessions throughout the world. The word lechón originated
from the Spanish term lechón, referring to a suckling pig that is roasted. During Spanish colonial period, native inhabitants of the Philippines when visited by the Spaniards and found did not prepare pork dish specially lechon will be suspected to be still Muslim and eventually persecuted or will be thrown for exile.
HAM - is a meat from the upper part of a pig's leg
salted and dried or smoked.
BACON- IS A cured meat from the sides and belly of
a pig, having distinct strips of fat and typically served in thin slices.
HOTDOG? the term itself is not acceptable...are you
a Muslim and eat food named after a dog? These are illusory words that have appropriate
alternatives
We also reiterate the position of the Halal
Development Institute of the Philippines (HDIP) -Member of the World Halal Food
Council that "NATIVE A KAPI" being sold in the market and
deliberately consume by our folks is doubtful.Adding alcoholic wine or makalangot
/makaberg after roasting the coffee bean is very common to some coffee makers
and it renders the product QUESTIONABLE or
not consumable in accordance to HALAL STANDARD adopted by HDIP because it was deliberately
contaminated with KHAM'R.or intoxicating substance.
The word khamr
refers to all kinds of intoxicating drinks, whether it existed in the past or
exists at present or will exist in the future, and whether the drink is made
from grapes, barley, dates, corn or anything else.
That is indicated by the words of the Prophet
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him): “Every intoxicant is khamr and
every khamr is haraam.” Narrated by Muslim, 2003
Khamr is a word that applies to any kind of drink
that causes intoxication.
See: Ma‘aalim as-Sunan by al-Khattaabi, 4/264
 |
| The official Halal Logo of HDIP |
*** H.Abdulatif Chef Tato Sangcupan is a Food Technologist, well trained
International Halal Auditor and President /CEO of Halal Development Institute
of the Philippines, a Halal Certifying Body in the Philippines and a member of
the World Halal Food Council. Visit
us: www.hdiphilippineshalal.com
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