The Importance of Halal in Islam
6th April 2007
Allah (swt) says in Qur’an: “O you who believe! Eat of the lawful things that we have provided you with, and be grateful to Allah (swt), If it is He whom you worship” (S2,v172)
“O Messengers! Eat of the Tayiyyibat (Halal foods) which Allah has made lawful (meat of eatable animals, milk products, fats, vegetables, fruits, etc.) and do righteous deeds”’ (S23,v51)
In both the ayats Allah (swt) orders the Messengers and all Muslims to abstain from eating Haram food, in the same way Halal food and pure things are emphasised for consumption whilst showing thanks (shukr) for this blessing. By eating Haram food bad characteristics are borne in an individual, the desire to perform good deeds disappears and du’aas are not accepted. By eating Halal food, nur (spiritual light) is created. This results in good characteristics and an attraction to do good deeds. A person starts to hate evil deeds. His du’aas are accepted.
Abu Hurairah (ra) states: ‘For one of you to fill his mouth with the dirt of the earth is better for you, than to put a morsel of Haram food in your mouth.’ (Al Kabair, Ahmed)
Ibn Ka’b bin Ujra (ra) states that Rasulullah (saw) said: ‘That body will not enter Jannah which was nurtured by Haram substances.’ (Tirmidhi)
Abu Hurairah (ra) states that Rasulullah (saw) said: ‘A time will come upon the people that they will not care for that which is being taken/earned, if it is from Halal or Haram sources.’ (Bukhari)
Ibn Umar (ra) states that Rasulullah (saw) said : ’Four characteristics are such that, if they are within a person, they are enough for him, (1) the care of a trust in your possession, (2) to speak the truth, (3) good characteristics, (4) to care for Halal and Haram in eating and drinking. ‘ (Al Targib wal Tarhib)
Many people are such that in matters of eating and drinking they do not think whether there is a Haram ingredient in the food, or whether the meat has been slaughtered according to Shari’ah or not, i.e. Halal. There are also people who take care of the food being Halal but they do not care about the income that they use to buy the food. Whether it is Haram or not, in both instances, it is not permissible and the food will be regarded Haram. Some individuals open bank accounts to use the interest to assist the poor, but after a while they forget the needy and use the interest for personal gain and enjoyment.
A trustworthy trader’s status in Islam
Abu Said Al Khudri (ra) states that Rasulullah (saw) said: ‘The merchant/trader who is completely honest & truthful in his trade will be with the Prophets , the Truthful and Martyrs on the Day of Qiyamah.’ (Tirmidhi)
Ibn Masood (ra) states that Rasulullah (saw) said: ‘The worry and striving to earn Halal is Compulsory (Fardh) after the major Fardh acts (salaat, saum, etc.) (Baihaqi)
Umar (ra) said: ‘Do not give up earning from Halal sources, and do not say that Allah (swt) provides an earning, for Allah (swt) does not send gold and silver from the skies, he has the ability to do that, but Allah (swt) has the habit of using different means to sustain his creation.’ (Aksir hidayat)
Abdullah bin Mubarak (rah) said: ‘ I prefer to return one dirham (silver coin) due to suspicion more than giving 100,000 dirhams in Sadaqah.’ (Al Kabair)
My dearest friends! Everyone has to die and will be placed in their own grave. We should be ashamed that we say ‘the time is such that we can’t differentiate between Halal/Haram’. May Allah (swt) save us from that. Eating Haram food will cause immodesty, shamelessness and disregard for the laws of Allah (swt). If children are nurtured with Haram food, they will be rebellious and have the worst of characteristics. It is plainly evident that from purity comes good and from dirt comes evil.
My Brothers and Sisters! Let us think whether our earnings are Halal or Haram, and let us ensure that we eat only Halal food. May Allah (swt) grant us the means to live according to His orders and attain His pleasure. Aameen.
Mufti Yusuf Danka (CMIC)