Halal – More than just food الحمد لله رب العالمين، و الصلاة و السلام على خاتم الأنبياء و المرسلين، نبينا محمد و على آله و أصحابه أجمعين . Abu Hurairah reported the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “Allah is good and pure (tayyib) and accepts only what is good and pure, and He has given the same command to the believers as He has given to the messengers, saying, “O messengers, eat of what is good and pure (tayyibaat) and act righteously” (23:51) and also, “O You who believe, eat of the good and pure things (tayyibaat) which We have provided for you” (2:172). Then he mentioned a man who makes a long journey in a dishevelled and dusty state, who stretches out his hands to the sky saying, My Lord, my Lord, when his food, drink and clothing are of an unlawful nature, and he is nourished by what is unlawful. How can such a person’s prayers be granted (Sahih Muslim)? The concept of Halal derived from the holy Quran and prophetic tradition, where it has been a practice for centuries to count. Halal means ‘permissible’ or ‘allowed’ in Arabic, and is the fundamental way of living for Muslim. It does not solely confined to the types of food Muslim is allowed to consume but covers many aspects of life. The Scope of Halal includes… Inter – human relationships, Social & business transactions, Trade and financial services, Investments etc. But When one hears the word ‘Halal’ outside the food industry, it must be understood as a group of permissible practices that guide conduct in all areas of life. These practices will lead to a higher quality of life and a healthier society. However, The term Halal is well known to be associated with food. It’s known for the food preparation of the Muslim community. Muslims are obliged by religion to clearly scrutinize products to make sure they are halal. Halal and haram are the two major terms used in Islamic dietary laws. The concept of “halal”is universal which is essentially a way of life for the Muslims who follow the teachings of Islam which encompasses all aspect of human life, and today this is no longer just a religious obligation or observance but also a standard of choice for Muslims as well as non-Muslims. The established concept of halal, which has traditionally focused on ritual slaughter and pork and alcohol avoidance, has assumed new meanings in terms of what is pure, sacred, appropriate and healthy and have sought information to assess whether all stages of food production is halal. Haram, on the other hand, means: ‘Not permitted, not allowed, unauthorized, unapproved, unsanctioned, unlawful. The broader meaning of Halal is inviting towards that which is good and pure. Just by grasping this broader concept it can be perfectly understood that Halal basically means accepting that which is good for one’s own wellbeing be it physical or spiritual, hence clearly evidences that this does not have to be limited to a certain religion or faith but to be accepted by the entire population in this planet. In a present day context we hear a lot about Halal economy, Halal fashion, Halal tourism and Islamic Finance which have dominated the Muslim majority consumers.. If we widen the scope of halal (permissible and lawful) by transcending the halalness of food and drink and reflecting halal on every other aspect of our lives, we shall soon realize the prime-value halal adds to our lives. It will, indeed, keep us moderate, healthy, hygienically-clean, empowered, and out of trouble. In essence, halal means ‘permissible/lawful’ but at the same time it implies that whatever we do or eat or become involved in must be pure, hygienically-clean, healthy, good, wholesome (tay-yib) and morally-correct. It also makes us environment-conscious, thus eco-friendly and caring persons of all other creations of Almighty Allah. The perceived disconnect between having a successful and prosperous life and being a devout Muslim is a result of a poor understanding of the true essence of Islamic teachings. Islam is a religion of moderation. Allah, swt created everything in this universe in perfect balance. Taking one extreme or the other in anything that we do will disrupt that balance and lead to adverse consequences. Achieving worldly success is an inevitable outcome of correctly understanding and practicing the teachings of Islam. Striking a balance in everything we do is key to being successful in this world and in the hereafter. This includes striking a balance between our bodies and our souls, between enjoying this world and preparing for the next one, between work life and personal life, between utilizing the natural resources God Almighty blessed us with, and preserving it for future generations…the list goes on to include everything that we do in life. A very important balance that we should maintain is the balance between nourishing our bodies and purifying our souls. Our bodies and our souls are companions that cannot be separated. Nourishing our bodies while ignoring our souls will lead to misery in this world and loss in the hereafter. Focusing on our souls while ignoring our bodies will cause our bodies to fail, and we will not be able to carry on with our spiritual obligations. Striking a balance between our bodies and our souls is a must to achieve success in this world and in the hereafter. This is the true spirit of Halal. We would like to conclude our discussion with a hadith narrated on the authority ofNu’man ibn Basheer (radi Allahu anhu), he said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) saying: “Surely, the Halal (permissible) is clear and the Haram (impermissible) is clear and between the two are doubtful unclear matters that many of the people do not have knowledge of. So, whoever abstains from the doubtful matters has saved his Religion and his honor, and whoever falls into the doubtful matters falls into the Haram (impermissible), just as the shepherd who pastures around a sanctuary is likely to indulge freely grazing therein. Truly, every king has a sanctuary, and Allah’s sanctuary is His prohibitions. Verily in the body, there is a piece of flesh that if it is correct then the whole of the body is set aright, and if it is corrupt, the whole of the body is corrupt. It is the heart. (Bukhari & Muslim) و صلى الله و سلم على نبينا محمد و على آله و صحبه أجمعين Sheikh Mohammad Amir, FIANZ Ulema Council Published in 10th Edition – 2020