What is all this fuss about Halal and Haram?
Posted on February 24th, 2013
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Ernest PereraƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
Judging by the flow of articles in praise of the peaceful nature of Islam and the peaceful co-existence of Muslims the general inference is that all the issues have been created by the Buddhist ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-extremistsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. Having read a few articles I realize the issue is becoming misunderstood because the Muslims are evading answering what the Buddhists are asking and ignoring the comparisons they are giving about Muslim expansionism historically and even currently.
Looks like the best mode of defence is to use the media and a whole waiting list of anti-Sinhala Buddhist groups and individuals to ridicule the Buddhists citing quotes from Buddha demanding they be tolerant and compassionate ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” yes, so that the country can be run as they see fit and Buddhists should just meditate and hope for nirvana.
But there is a bigger story.
I can understand when Buddhists ask why Muslims are using loudspeakers even after the Supreme Court interim order. It is not only a noise pollution but irritating as well.
I can also understand why Buddhists are complaining about mosques springing up like mushrooms ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” you wonƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t find any Muslim nation allowing such.
I do empathize with the fact that having shown a clear majority population throughout history and the nation being led by Sinhalese Buddhist Kings, the Sinhalese do have greater claim to Sri Lanka than other faiths.
I also feel very upset about the brutal way animals are slaughtered and when I read that animal slaughtering was forbidden during the times of the Sinhala kings I was greatly stressed about the horrors that prevail in the manner animals are being slaughtered by Muslims. Whatever the excuse given ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” it is an ugly sight to see cattle that is used for agriculture and other services put to death and blood pouring everywhere. To me it borders the inhuman whatever scientific reasons given.
I also agree with the Buddhists who are asking a very simple question ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” in fact I am asking the same question myself. Why are Muslim women going back to wearing tribal attire ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” the women did not dress like this 20 years ago? There were no women in black at all. I think the Borah dress has never seen a sea-change so I too wonder why and when I look a bit closer I realize it is not the elite Muslim women but the poor and middle class. It is not the elite Muslim in the Arab menƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s dress but the poor and middle class ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” are we missing something! Like the Buddhists I am wondering if the Muslims say they want to live in peace with the communities in Sri Lanka why are they differentiating themselves and distancing themselves ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” because the whole list of changes we see in them are taking them towards that path and they cant deny that by portraying anti-Muslim slogans. Every person has a right to know where these Muslims plan to take their ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-extremismƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” I certainly want to know because it started with the mosque going ritual, then more mosques, then changing attire, then fortifying Muslim areas by buying land/property, then Sharia banking systems, then halal labels and certificates ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” so as a citizen I want to also know what Muslims will be asking next!
What many wonder is what all this fuss is about halal ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” these certificates did not exist neither did any halal labels and Muslims ate and drank. Who has started this new halal mania?
In my quest to find out about halal I realized that if Halal labels on meats in non-Muslim countries have no value and is considered Haram because it is not slaughtered by a Muslim (even if it is slaughtered according to Muslim customs) ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” there is no basis for Halal certification in Sri Lanka or any other country.
I am really surprised that the non-Muslim companies in Sri Lanka in their greed for profits thinking that the Muslims would boycott their products did not show any concern about divulging their ingredients to a private Muslim company (intellectual property rights) or even bother to question how they test the items for halal compliance?
The halal issue appears to be a nice way of generating employment for Muslims and building up their base globally.
I personally disagree to a Government accepting a minority religion beliefs overlooking the majority and giving them the authority to dictate how every item is purchased. ThatƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s a bit too haughty.
These are a few points I noted for all those wanting to understand what this halal/haram is:
Food Groups for Muslims are divided as
Plants:- Fruits, Vegetables, Grains
Animals: Land creatures, sea creatures, birds
List of Halal and Haram foods are divided as:
| HALAL FOODS | HARAAM FOODS |
| Plants, Fruits, Vegetables & Grain | Fish without scales (Whales, Shark, Lobsters & Crabs) |
| Prawns & Shrimps | All Reptiles |
| All Fish that have scales/removed alive from the waterƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ (how are Muslim consumers to verify this especially when they buy from groceries or fishermen arriving at their door?) | Dog, Rabbit, Elephant, Monkey |
| Domestic animals that have hoof / cloven hoofE.g. goats, cows, camel & sheep | Lice |
| Locusts, Fleas | Donkey, Mule, Horse |
| Birds that have a crop or gizzard, spur on back of feet ex: hen, ostrich, peacocks , chicken, turkey, | Birds such as eagle, hawk, vulture, raven & crow (birds that glide) |
| Pigs (swine, hog etc) are considered unclean and eating pork is forbidden. | |
| The following parts of Halal animals are Haram:
Blood of halal animals, excrement, penial glands, parts of the brain, marrow, gall bladder, spleen, eyeballs, reproductive organs. |
|
Animal Slaughter:
Muslims can only eat food that has been classified Halal Foods by the Prophet and has to be slaughtered by a Muslim. If the meat is classified as halal but not slaughtered by a Muslim it is Haram to eat.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This means Muslims realistically speaking cannot purchase foods from a non-Muslim company in view of non-halal items availability. This also nullifies the insistence on halal labels/certification because it is produced by non-Muslims.
How many slaughter houses actually follow the halal animal slaughter rules (Islamic Shariah (Zabiha) rules? All these mechanical details does no justice to the animal whose rights to live are being denied.
- Weapon has to be sharp to cut the four tubes (4arteries on the neck ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” vein, jugular artery, gullet food pipe and wind pipe)?
- The tubes have to be cut simultaneously if not it is haram
- If weapon made of iron is not available and animal is dying pointed objects like glass or sharp stone can be used to kill.
- When slaughtering the name of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-AllahƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ (Bismillah) has to recited.
- Sharia rule says to give animals water before slaughter ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Is this being done?
- Sharia rule says to inflict less pain by using the sharpest weapon ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Is this being done?
- Sharia rule says animals cannot be skinned before its death ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Is this being done?
- Sharia rule says animals cannot be slaughtered on Thursday night or Friday before Dhohr ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Is this being followed?
- Sharia rules that animals cannot be slaughtered in front of other animals of its own kind ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” How many Muslims follow this especially in abattoirs and how practical is this in terms of demand and supply for meat industry?
- If the package of meat is produced by non-Muslim countries/companies even though label says it is ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-slaughtered to Islamic lawsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ it is Haram even if the meat falls into halal meat category. Meats in groceries though with halal labels does not guarantee that it has been slaughtered according to halal methodology by a Muslim ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” but Muslims are allowed to eat so long as the Muslim slaughtering the animal says ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-AllahƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ throughout slaughter in the machine.
Alcohol
Any form of alcohol is prohibited ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” those that drink liquor are considered not Muslim! I can count a lot of Colombo Muslims into this list ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” probably we need to expand the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-othersƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ in country population statistics to include them!
The Prophet cursed the person who grows grapes to prepare liquor, who crushes grapes to distil liquor, who sells liquor, who passes a glass of liquor to someone and one who profits in any manner from a transaction of liquor ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” the person who sits with those that drink liquor is also cursed. Non-Alcoholic beer is also prohibited. Please count the Muslims that fall into this category ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” how many Muslims do not eat Christmas cake (which as brandy) ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” getting a halal certificate for the cake shop which also prepares cakes with even the smallest quantity of liquor still is Haram ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” lesson is the Halal Certificate is worth nothing.
GELATIN
Gelatin can be eaten if the doubt is whether it has been extracted from an animal or vegetable. If it known to be from an animal it is Haram to eat unless animal has been slaughtered according to halal method (ie by a Muslim)
Alcohol in medication ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” though dosages of alcohol is used in drugs and medication it is permissible to take.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ PreservativesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
- If one does not know the origin of the preservatives it is still permitted to take the preservative
- If a list says it has an animal source (but is not ascertained) it is still permitted to take the preservative
- If the preservative does not retain original form and transforms into another substance it is still permitted to take preservative.
All these new items designed to add flavour to foods did not exist when Prophet was born therefore much of these new ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-dosƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ and ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢tsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ look like things that which Islamic religious leaders have created.
I am really interested to know which Muslim follows all of these halal/haram lists to the word!
If people look at the issues in a sane way it is not hard to see that Muslims are making a lot of demands and expecting all non-Muslims to agree to what suits their religion. That is a bit unfair of Muslims. They must learn to be tolerant of other faiths.
Non-Muslims never serve pork if a Muslim friend is coming for a dinner or even at weddings people go out of their way to exclude pork from the menu ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” but given that the cow is viewed as a sacred animal by both Buddhists and Hindus, do Muslims ever reciprocate?
I think it is time the Muslims seriously introspect ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” the boundaries have been crossed and Muslims know it but donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t seem to want to admit it. But it is something the Muslims now need to do.
I believe if the areas that the Buddhists have highlighted as reasons for their anxiety are removed by the Muslims if as they say they wish to live in peace ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” then everyone can get back on track ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” itƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s the most sensible thing to do. Companies should not take sides of religions for profits!
February 24th, 2013 at 1:21 pm
Very true They have nothing to say and doing it purposely to show their power same as Tamils tried during British time.
Govt. is not taking any a ction because they want muslim votes.
If they want HALAL they should make them in their own places and keep them ought sight from the other 92%
HOW DO THEY REMOVE BLOOD FROM FLESH. IT IS GOOD IF THEY CAN SHOWA MUSLIM SCIENTIFIC WAY TO DO THAT
MUSLIMS ARE TRYING TO CONQUER THE WORLD .IT IS THEIR DREAM
THEY ARE NOT FIT TO LIVE IN THIS CENTURY–DRESESS, LAWS , EDUCATION ETC.. ARE ALL PRIMITIVE. SEE HOW THEY TREAT WOMEN? ONLY BARBARIC PRIMITIVES CONVERT OTHERS BY FORCE OTHERS JUST PREACH TO ENLIGHTEN OTHERS
BUDDHISTS ARE IN DANGER IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY WITHOUT A REAL KING WHO CAN ASK THEM TO GO TO ARAB IF THEY WANT TO HAVE AN ARABIC LIFESTYLE . WE GAVE THEM LANDS AND NOW WE CAN TAKE THOSE LANDS BACK IF THEY TRY TO BEHAVE LIKE . –“”The CAMEL.’
February 24th, 2013 at 2:09 pm
in fact I am asking the same question myself. Why are Muslim women going back to wearing tribal attire – the women did not dress like this 20 years ago? There were no women in black at all.
– YoniBilla should be stopped by Law.
Yes. I know a woman dress like this and she is not rich at all. Rich Mulsims do not wear YoniBilla.
February 24th, 2013 at 2:27 pm
When they were 2% they all ate what we all ate. No muslim died or nobody missed the bus to their mythical heaven eating what we all ate. But with the increased numbers they feel their time has come. Muslims quadrupled quietly while Sinhalese and Tamils fighting. With the increased numbers they secured ministerial, deputy ministerial, mayors, deputy mayors, etc. etc. in the country same time taking over every time. They got into the government and made the it dance to their tune thanks to two major parties’ bickering. Now they feel, they are strong and powerful enough to impose their will on the rest of the country. While Sinhalese and Tamil working make it difficult to bring up large families, muslim woman stay at home giving birth year after to swell their numbers. So they know their numbers going up all the time, they want expedite the islamisation of Sri Lanka. This is what they done to all the countries they went into in the world. Pakisthan, Afganisthan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Egypt, Iran, Malaysia, Indonesia. They outbred and outnumbered the natives eventually making them islamic countries. Still they have the nerve to complain to the President that they are being persecuted. The Sinhalese and Tamils are fed up with their demands, actions and want this menace curbed. How Islam is spread throughout the world? Simple answer is outbreeding. It is laughable their diabolical claim it is the fastest growing religion. Anybody else would say fastest breeding religion!
February 24th, 2013 at 2:55 pm
Animal torture under the guise of religious ritual MUST be stamped out immediately. Even non-Buddhist countries have laws against animal cruely, why then must Sri Lanka a majority Buddhist country permit animal slaughter in the name of religion? If we allow this, it becomes part of OUR actions and we will also suffer the reaction
February 24th, 2013 at 10:48 pm
Meat and by-products of meat are not the only thing the halal cert is issued on. Even toothbrushes are halal certified. Halal is in essence an illegal tax imposed by this shrewd Muslim group- the same extortion that LTTE carried out to raise money. The two objectives are to raise money for the Islamisation of Sri Lanka and the industrial espionage aimed at eliminating Sinhala industries. Ullama takes the full list of ingredients for the product and steals the recipe for a Muslim to produce a rival product.
February 25th, 2013 at 2:45 am
What about the air the muslims breathe? Can that also be categorised as either Halal or Haram. If pigs are bad for muslims the air that pigs breathe out also should be bad or Haram. Since all pigs breathe out into the same atmosphere from which we all breathe from, then all Muslims should wear special filters to clean out the air in the atmosphere before breathing to make it Halal!
These Ulamas can lie through their teeth to get what they want. They have no pride for they can descend to any level without a second thought!
February 25th, 2013 at 7:44 am
As ancient Sinhalaya said, when numbers were small, Muslims ate what we ate. Halal certification is a big business and will allow Muslims to expand. When the numbers are sufficient, Muslims will do a Nalanda on us so that Muslims can go to heaven. I do not know of a single Buddhist country that has been able to withstand Muslim aggression. There is enough evidence of Muslim aggression winning over Buddhist countries. Now Sinhala villages are converted to Muslim, by Muslims buying land of Sinhalese. Once converted, to a Muslim village, they do not allow Sinhala Buddhists to lift their head.
Sinhala Buddhists are very good at blaming everyone else for their downfall, without looking at their own conduct. and belief systems. Let me explain:
Muslims are aggressive, they know what they want, they want to be number 1 in economic and finance fields, they want to be competitive. In contrast, Sinhala Buddhists are passive, they want to run away from challenges, saying it is ‘Dukke’ and to escape suffering they want to seek Nirvana or extinction. Competitiveness and winning is not in the culture of Sinhala Buddhists, as they want to have the easy way out. The law of nature is survival of the fittest. You do not need to be a rocket scientist to work out who will Win. Even Indians have dumped Buddhism after the Nalanda debacle, as it is too dangerous for the believers. Halal issue is just a start. The Sinhala Buddhists are too passive. and it is questionable if the Sinhalese can defend themselves. Already it may be too late.
Time to ask if it is healthy to blindly to follow Ancient Indian myths that even Indians have dumped. Most writers to this forum will not look at our own shortcomings, but blame everyone else.
February 25th, 2013 at 3:07 pm
When I asked my Muslim and Sinhala friends living in Sri Lanka as to the reason for the protests by Buddhists, I never got a direct reply reply from my Muslim friends other than sending me propaganda articles and you tube videos against the BBS and the other Buddhist organizations. Sadly some of my Sinhala friends too blamed them. No one really wanted to blame the Muslim extremist for starting the Halal BS. All these years every one in the country ate the foods that were available without any question and now demand Halal label. This there way of saying that now Muslims are a power reckon with. They waited till the war was over to raise their ugly head. They never demanded Halal when the LTTE was active.
The Sinhalese people never discriminated against the Muslims and that is why they were able to prosper and become rich. The Sinhalese did not boycott their businesses but did trade with them.
I have said this before, we Sinhalese need to unite,,and assist and encourage our businesses and hit the people ,who do not want to abide by the existing laws of the country and live peacefully with majority,respect the ways of the majority, financially. If the majority do not patronize, they they will not have the finances, without which they will not be so arrogant and and make unjust demands. These people will show you a good face and be friendly most of them work secretly work against us. They only want our money.They will show a friendly face, offer you more money for your property and build enclaves and will never sell them back to Sinhalese again. This is sad but true. The good intentions and peaceful co-existence is one sided. Only on the side of the majority.
If they want Halal,they can have all they want but do not force it on the others. No one tries to force pork on them. Now the Halal, then Sharia . If they want sharia, they can move to the countries with sharia. Many Muslims living in Muslim countries move to other countries because they don’t like sharia except for a few who want the freedom of those countries and sharia law, especially the control over women.
February 25th, 2013 at 3:15 pm
Looks like ever “concerned” Ben Silva is back!
One can only wonder why Ben Silva (living in London) with a highly selective memory (conveniently ignoring the defeat of the LTTE by the (nearly) 100% non Buddhist and non Sinhalese military of Sri Lanka, the very fact that King Dutugemunu, KIng Walgamba, etc. who fought wars against invaders were a non-Buddhist), suddenly pops up out of the blue when the 100% non-Buddhist Bodu Bala Sena and 100% non-Buddhist Sinhala Ravaya are leading the campaign against enemies of the nation?
Nevertheless Ben Silva don’t you have more worrying things back home? Like 9 year old Aaron Dugmore committing suicide after being bullied by Muslims in school for being white, also people are leaving Newham, Barking and Dagenham, Redbridge of London. Slough, Luton, Birmingham, Leicester, Reading etc. because they are being taken over by Sharia! So can you find anything without a Halal label in Britain?
Aren’t you concerned about the things happening in your own country (the UK)?
If I were you I would definitely be concerned. After all (unless you are already on the dole yourself), by the time it comes for you to retire, I doubt the UK will have any money left to help you through your retirement with all those “immigrants” of a particular doctrine on welfare!
So get down and do something. Already it may be too late for the UK (the credit downgrading may just be the beginning).
February 26th, 2013 at 2:49 am
1. Agreed, the face cover is not needed for the Hijab (you ppl. are still saying that word) ,a shawl around the head covering the hair would do fine. Like someone said, if the female species (sorry!) of the other faiths wore their all-covering dresses in black, would it not look like the Hijab?
2. Like I said somewhere, we did use Halal products right thru’ out. From as far as I can remember, the butcher was always a muslim,and his merchandise we assumed was Halal. With the advent of the open market , with many new things being avaiable in large numbers , in the market, we had to have someone to tell us which is permitted and which is not. Anything originating from a haram thing is prohibited for us.
3. Muslim population in SL overtake the Non-MuslimS in SL? What Rubbish! Muslims in SL are about 10% of the PPL.
If my non muslims brothers practiced strict celibacy for the next 500 years or so, and my people do it like rabbits, yes, then at the end of 500 years,we may over take you.
We only need to live in peace with all communities in SL,like we have always done for the past hundreds of years.
Practicing our religious rites,and being useful citizens of SL.
mjaya, in your 1st para you start out by saying “100% non-buddhist,non sinhala Military of SL” there were a few Malay Intelligence officers ,but not what you say! You go on to say 100% non-buddhist BBS and Sinhala Ravaya,
you mean to say the SL Military,BBS and SR are Non Buddhist and non Sinhala? You make me happy and proud to know that the Sri Lanka Nation was saved by Non Buddhists and non sinhalese! Alhamdulillah!
E & O E !!!
February 26th, 2013 at 1:16 pm
If my religion says kill non-believers, and I’m in a non-believers country, what should I do? Change religion or leave the country?
February 26th, 2013 at 9:08 pm
Ancient Sinhalaya ! Assalaamu Alaikum! Read in what context the Quran says “Kill the non believers” Ok, even in strictly Islamic countries, how many non believers are being killed on a daily basis? Ok, In SL, in muslim dominated areas , how many non believers are being killed? Ok, in Colombo there are Muslim areas, How many non believers have been killed in the past 10 years? Become a 21st century Sinhalaya, where knowledge is just a button – press away! and learn about the people around you.
To the question you have posed, …..well…. there is only one answer ……….!
February 28th, 2013 at 9:22 am
Dear Fazara,
Yes, no non believers are killed in Sri Lanka. This is because the non believers are still in the majority. Also the armed services are to be reckoned with. From what is seen in the world, the Sunnis kill the Shiites in Pakistan, Iraq. Sunnis kill Alhowites in Syria, Salafi Radicals kill the moderates. There are so many different sects in Islam and the followers are not at peace with each other.Although may have happened in the past, non of the people of other religions do that in the modern world. The violence is only seen in the followers of Islam. It appears that there is something not right withe teachings of Islam or it is being interpreted incorrectly and the interpretations are blindly followed.