While the term Halal food pertains to all and any food that are considered allowed for you to eat, this is also most closely relatedto the meat and the way the animal has been raised and slaughtered.
This is why there are some clear guidelines that should be followed so that meat can be considered Halal. These requirements are all related to the animal’shealth, how humanely it was raised, and the mercy it received during its slaughter.
Etiquette for Halal Slaughter
Below are both the required and the recommended essentials for meat to be qualified as Halal. The highlighted points are requirements that should be met at all times.
- Animals to be slaughtered should never witness other animals killed before them‚ should never see the blade or while it is being sharpened in preparation‚ and must never be put in an uncomfortable position right before the cut.
- Feeding the animal, to the best of your knowledge‚ should have been done in such a way that is nourishing and healthful to them‚ free from detrimental antibiotics‚ hormones, steroids‚ or any unhealthy food just to unnaturally fatten them.
- It is not acceptable to killthe animal by goring, clubbing‚ or other methodsaside from cutting the neck using a sharp knife.
- It is not allowed to cut the spinal cord.
- The animal should have been treated kindly and provided appropriate and clean living conditions to the best of your knowledge.
- The person slaughtering should say “In the name of Allah” (Bismillah) before they issue the fatal cut to the throat that should be carried out using a sharp knife with a single continuous motion to make sure that the animal doesn’t feel any pain. Invoking God’s name is a way to recognize the blessing of the animal by God and signifying gratefulness to Him in providing food to eat.
- The person slaughtering the animal should be a sound-minded Muslim.
- The slaughtered animal should completely bleed out before they are ready for human consumption.
- Underfed, abused‚ or otherwise neglected animals can never be slaughtered for Halal meat.
These guidelines are all consistent with the Quran, which evidently defines what types of animals are off-limits to people and specifies how animals should always be treated with mercy prior to their slaughtering. The final result is that the animal should treated in the best possible way to prevent animal stress before the slaughter.
You see, there are quite strict guidelines followed to ensure that meat can be considered halal. If you are searching for some quality halal meat, why not stop by at your local halal market Los Angeles? Or maybe you can also a visit a Halal restaurant and try out a new eatery for a fun night out.
No matter your reason may be for eating Halal, you can have the full confidence knowing that the food you will be eating will be very beneficial for your health and is slaughtered and prepared in accordance with the laws.
