Din 3
Din 1
Minhaj Din
Professor Ruzgar
RS 365 – Islam
November 12, 2021
Differences Between Halal and Haram in Islam
In Islam, halal represents lawful aspects of the religion permissible by God, while haram describes the forbidden things in the religion. The two terms are particular in food and drink reference, where Muslim faithful are guided on what to consume and avoid. Halal and haram are significant to Muslims because it documents techniques of food preparation. Analyzing the distinction between halal and haram in Islam indicates the effects of religious beliefs on the believers’ way of life. The basis of the study lies in comprehending the main elements that lead to healthy living and promote peaceful co-existence in society. Evaluating halal and haram features highlights the importance of Islamic teachings globally. Therefore, proper comprehension of halal and haram laws in Islam is vital because they uplift the living standards among the Muslim faithful and regulate human activities and habits.
Miskam et al. describe halal as a Qur’an meaning legal or permitted. The shari’ah indicates all halal and haram issues should be referenced from the Qur’an or the Sunnah. The term halal is applicable in all areas of life that affect humans. Halal pertains to actions, conduct, or objects that an individual has the freedom to choose. The word halal has gained prominence in the food industry, with member countries of the United Nations documenting acceptable guidelines on food consumption. Halal food is consumable that is allowed in Islam and should fulfill specific conditions. The food must not contain anything unlawful under Islamic laws. They must be prepared, stored, and transported in the regulations allowed by the religion. Besides, the food should not have been in contact with any other form of food that defies any Islamic law.
Halal refers to particular foods that is allowed in Islamic. Muslims can consume all kinds of foods except meat from pigs, boars, snakes, monkeys, and dogs. Muslims cannot eat meat from carnivorous animals with fangs and claws, such as lions. The Islamic laws forbid consuming pets, lice, frogs, and crocodiles. Muslims cannot eat donkeys or horses. Besides, the Islamic laws outlaw drinking alcoholic drinks or any intoxicating substances. Kwag and Young Dae (212) states, “Allah permits specific food to the people because it is beneficial. The Islamic religion believes God is the ultimate lawmaker and requires no human assistance. As such, no individual is allowed to change the laws regulating halal practices for Muslims.”
Halal is universal in that it guides all sectors of Muslim believers. Muslims engage in economic activities perceived as halalpreneurship. Abdullah and Md Siddique inform halalpreneurship is inscribed in the shari’ah that ensures businesses follow the Islam guidance on business. Halalpreneurship is the duty of the caliph here on earth. The caliph is tasked with worshiping Allah and making the world proper through development. An entrepreneur is tasked with contributing to the good of society and humanity. Halalpreneurship is significant because it adopts a humanistic model. Abdullah and Md Siddique outline the Ghazali model that indicates the motivation for Halalpreneurs. Islamic businesspeople protect faith and religion by practicing religion and rituals. The businesspeople follow the guidelines by assisting people of all religions with financial support.
Halalpreneurs are obligated to protect life by producing goods and services that align with Islamic laws. The businesspeople on tourism are guided on the correct business model by promoting activities that protect human dignity. Besides, businesspeople are required to produce goods that do not compromise human reasoning. The halalpreneurship follows the laws by obligating businesspeople in zakat and charity work. Wealth should be evenly distributed to protect people. Haram is the opposite of halal as it outlines the aspects of Islamic life that are prohibited. Through the Qur’an, Allah has guided the people on what should be avoided. For instance, the Muslim faithful should refrain from consuming certain foods and harmful substances (Abdullah and Md Siddique). In business, Islamic law forbids businesspeople from hoarding goods, taking interest on loans, deceiving customers, or any other infidelity in business.
Muslims apply their faith and religious guidance in all their life aspects. The Islamic principles are widely applied in the pharmaceutical industry. Muslims believe Islam guides everyone, and whatever Allah has advocated in the holy Quran is the correct route for believers. Zakiullah et al. indicate that whatever Allah has sent for people is the best for humanity, and what is forbidden will remain until the end. The Muslim related pharmaceutical scientists should follow the outlined principles and be knowledgeable that the documented haram things are limited, and halal has vast options. Good intentions change the life routines into acts of worshipping Allah. However, haram is haram and cannot be accepted despite the intentions.
In medicine production, haram items are prohibited. Muslims believe Allah sends diseases and provides a cure, and people should use them lawful things for treatment. The medication containing haram items is only permissible if no halal substitute is available, or the patient may die when denied the treatment. Also, the medicine is acceptable if prescribed by a practicing Muslim physician with the consciousness of what God requires in treatment. Pharmaceuticals should never use intoxicants in medication because it fogs the mind, and it is haram. Professionals should not allow guesswork in making medication because uncertainty deviates from Allah and his messenger’s teachings. Therefore, no amount of haram is allowed in any form of medication for Muslim believers. The Islamic guidance on disease and treatment is that only Allah cures, and there is no cure from haram things. Humans have the freedom to use any worldly things for their benefit if it is halal. Besides, every disease is curable because people may have the knowledge for the proper cure. Therapeutic treatments should be rational and established on reliable data. Therefore, treatment is halal but should adhere to Islamic teachings.
The Islamic Halal and Haram aspects affect human life differently. Halal practices complement human life and improve its standards. The five pillars of Islam are significant in life because they promote healthy and quality living. The pillars require the faithful to pray at least five times daily, observe fasting in the holy month, attend a pilgrimage once in a lifetime, commit to charity activities, and believe that Mohammed is the last prophet and Allah is the only God (Vanany et al. 1). Therefore, the five pillars mirror the halal features because they outline all parts of life. The halal guides the faithful on the acceptable dress code, source of livelihood, feeding habits, and levels of live interaction with other people. Comprehending halal is crucial to observing God’s requirements for his creation.
On its part, haram outlines the undesired practices that God perceives as impurities to the soul and the well-being of the Muslim faithful. Since its inception, Muslims have had a unique way of life from other religious communities. Muslims follow the religious practices universally for breaking them offends Allah. Therefore, the specification of haram affects the lives of Muslim believers and diminishes their quality of life. The prohibition of certain practices is justified and backed by the Qur’an. For instance, the consumption of intoxicants compromises the reasoning of a person and eventually affects their health. Other aspects like prohibition from consuming dead animals reduce the risk of death from poisoning (Hamzah et al. 866). Life is sacred, and only Allah has the authority to give or take it. Therefore, refraining from haram improves the life quality.
The Islam religion has prerequisite guidelines that help the followers to live a meaningful life. The believers must distinguish halal from haram, for it helps fulfill Allah’s wishes and enhances life. The lack of knowledge on the two aspects compromises health and the meaning of life. Human beings are prohibited from changing Islamic laws because God provided them. In the view of halal and haram, their differences outline the quality of life for Muslim believers.
Halal and haram are complementary features in Islam, for one guide on the acceptable while the other describes the taboos. Muslim believers follow the guidelines for they complement their life. Each halal and haram specification improve the quality of life. Eating the recommended food and in the acceptable mode of preparation preserves the dignity of all living’s things. Consuming prohibited foods violates the Qur’an teaching on sacristy of life. Halal and haram impact human life because being faithfulness reduces conflicts and promotes unity.
Works Cited:
Abdullah, Moha Asri, and Md Siddique E. Azam. “Halal Entrepreneurship: Concept and Business Opportunities.” Entrepreneurship. IntechOpen, 2020. https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/73553
Hamzah, Muhammad Iskandar, et al. “The relationship between halal factors and purchase intention of food products as moderated by word-of-mouth communications.” International Journal of Business and Society 21.2 (2020): 865-882.
Kwag, Sung Il, and Young Dae Ko. “Optimal design for the Halal food logistics network.” Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review 128 (2019): 212-228.
Miskam, Surianom, et al. “An Analysis Of The Definition Of Halal: Shari’ah Vs Statutes.” (2015). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/287336009_AN_ANALYSIS_OF_THE_DEFINITION_OF_HALAL_SHARI’AH_VS_STATUTES. accessed on Nov 12,2021.
Vanany, Iwan, et al. “Determinants of halal-food consumption in Indonesia.” Journal of Islamic Marketing (2019).
Zakiullah et al. “Applying Islamic Principles of Halal and Haram to the field of Pharmaceutical Sciences.” Department of Pharmacy, University of Peshawar. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236015894_Applying_Islamic_Principles_of_Halal_and_Haram_to_the_field_of_Pharmaceutical_Sciences#:~:text=Thebriefexplanationofthe,isforbiddenunlawfulorillegal.&text=Allahdoesnotlikethetransgressors8
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