What is Zabiha Halal?

Zabiha is the decree of slaughtering an animal to make it halal for consumption. It is considered the most appropriate and correct way to slaughter animals, as per the prescriptions of the Quran. There is a distinct difference between zabiha and halal, which we will cover as you delve deeper into the article.

Table of Contents

• What Does Zabiha Mean?
• What is Halal?
• Zabiha vs Halal
• What is Zabiha Halal?
• How is the Meat Slaughtered at Zabiha Halal?
• What is Haram?
• What is Kosher?
• Kosher vs Halal
• Can Muslims Eat Kosher?
• So is Zabiha Halal?
• FAQs

What Does Zabiha Mean?

Zabiha revolves around the slaughtering of meat products, defining a permissible way of killing or slaughtering animals without causing grave pain and suffering. The rules of slaughtering animals are prescribed in the Quran, which describes and instructs the way one should use a knife with the intent to slaughter or kill the animal. Zabiha ensures that the person performing it must invoke the name of God before slaughtering the animal.

They must make sure that the animal is safe and secure before placing a very sharp knife against the throat of the animal; cutting in a swift motion. The cut is quick and deep in their throat, through their jugular vein, esophagus, and windpipe. They must adhere to the certainty of the animal enduring very little pain as possible.

Zabiha restricts the slaughtering of animals such as horses, locusts and some sea creatures. The animal or the prey which is being slaughtered by a matured and adult Muslim with a sane mind is considered Zabiha. The knife used for slaughtering must be sharp and clean, but must not be sharpened in the presence of the animal they plan to slaughter with it. Zabiha permits the animal to be comfortable and happy before it is slaughtered. It also sets restrictions on cooking the meat slaughtered which has not yet stopped bleeding.

What is Halal?

Halal is an Arabic term which means allowable or permissible. The opposite of halal is haram, which means impermissible or offensive according to Islamic Law specified in the Quran. Halal is not only for meat or slaughtering of living things for consumption but also applicable for the clothes you choose to wear, the way certain words are spoken, and essentially the way you lead a genuine life.

Halal is properly outlined with rules that are specified in the Quran, and Islamic scriptures. Consuming pork is haram, and halal ensures the slaughtering of any living organism with minimum pain and suffering for a systematic procedure during slaughtering.

Halal living is when a Muslim earns in a way that is considered lawful according to Islamic law. Halal is also considered in the food and ingredients used in the preparation. Pork and alcohol are considered haram. Along with selective types of preservatives used for preserving food products such as certain enzymes and food colours, which would also be considered haram if they are produced in a haram way.

Zabiha vs Halal

Zabiha is considered only for meat products, unlike halal. In the Quran it has been specified that the animal must be slaughtered through the jugular vein using a sharp knife in a way that does not cause unbearable pain. It doesn’t allow some creatures like those from the sea, locusts and horses to be considered for human consumption.

Halal is also known as an allowable or permissible way of consumption of other living organisms. This is not limited to meat consumption but also includes wearing clothes and other aspects of human life specified in the Quran. Halal is strictly followed by all Muslims.

What is Zabiha Halal?

Zabiha Halal are a certified company that typically sell halal certified fresh frozen and processed chicken products. They are certified Halal by the Canadian Halal Food Certifying Agency (CHFCA) as well as Halal Monitoring Organisation (HMO). What’s more is that they have achieved the approval of leading Islamic scholars and Islamic organisations such as the Fiqh Council of North America, and The Islamic Centre of Canada. Each individual bird is blessed with an Islamic recitation before it is slaughtered, and there are Muslim workers that rotate with each other throughout the day so that they don’t tire out.

How is the Meat Slaughtered at Zabiha Halal?

There is such high demand and constant need for meat to be ready and placed out for people to drop into the shop and buy at random points of the day. To speed up this process, they use machine slaughtering. The machine cut is very precise and happens to be approved by their certifier. This method is used around the world, now that meat has become so accessible, that you could easily take a quick trip to the nearby butchers for some fresh meat. Without the need to wait a while because each chicken is being slaughtered by one or a few Muslims. There would never be enough meat to go around!

What is Haram?

Haram is an Arabic term translating to “forbidden.” Acts that are haram are prohibited in the religious texts of the Quran and Islamic Hadith. If something is considered haram, it remains prohibited no matter how good the intention or honourable the purpose is. In Islamic law, dietary prohibitions are said to help with the understanding of the divine will.

Muslims are prohibited from consuming flowing blood, meats that are considered haram such as pork, dog, cat, monkey, and more. These haram animals can only be considered halal or lawful in emergencies when a person is facing starvation, and his life has to be saved through the consumption of this meat. However, these types of meat are not considered a necessity or permissible if his society provides other foods. Intoxicants or khamr are considered haram in Islam. It is not permissible for a Muslim to work, or own a place that sells intoxicants.

Nutmeg, asafoetida, vanilla extract and gelatine are also haram, mainly because they contain elements of alcohol, or other forbidden items like body parts of a pig.

What is Kosher?

Kosher is the English term for food that is prepared in accordance with Jewish laws. Kashrut is the body of dietary laws, and sechita is the method of slaughtering according to these laws. Kashrut is much stricter than Islamic dietary laws when it comes to the animals that may be eaten and in the rules of slaughter. There are very detailed requirements of the animals, such as animals that have split hooves and chew its cud, the place of slaughter, shochet – ritual slaughterer, the knife to be used, and more.

Kosher vs Halal

Kosher and halal diets are two common eating patterns based on the principles of Jewish and Islamic laws. Both kosher and halal diets set strict guidelines regarding which foods are allowed and restricted based on religious teachings. Kosher specifies the combinations of foods that are prohibited, with only certain animal products that can be eaten.

Whereas halal is a term used to describe foods that are permitted under Islamic law, and as defined by the Quran – religious text of Islam. Halal diets set strict guidelines on how livestock is raised, slaughtered, and prepared before consumption. Some foods are labelled as certified kosher or certified halal, which means that they adhere to the rules set by each diet.

Both halal and kosher diets have strict guidelines regarding how meat should be slaughtered before its cooked and eaten. For meat to be categorised as kosher, it must be butchered by a shohet, which is a person trained to slaughter animals following the Jewish laws. The meat must also be soaked, ensuring that all the blood has been removed before cooking.

For meat to be considered as halal, the animals must be healthy at the time of slaughter and killed using a specific method, which involves cutting the jugular vein. From the moment when the knife is about the meet the animals throat, the name of God must be recited for the meat to be considered halal.

Can Muslims Eat Kosher?

Muslims are allowed to eat whatever has been made lawful to Jews and Christians. However there are a few underlying debates considering this point such as:

1. Kosher allows food that is considered haram in Islam. In the case of animals, fish, insets and all other living organisms – this is untrue. Kosher is actually quite restrictive when compared to Islamic law. For instance, camels are unlawful to eat for Jews because while they have split hooves they do not ruminate. Their requirements for slaughter are also extremely strict. Then the animal has to go through a thorough inspection for injuries, diseases and abnormalities. Certain parts of the animal are not considered lawful, and must be removed completely.
2. The name of God is not pronounced while performing the slaughter, although a blessing is usually uttered before performing any Jewish ritual, inciting the name of God. This recitation is assumed to cover all the animals that are being slaughtered collectively – not said over each animal individually. This blessing is not considered as an essential part of the slaughter and the meat will still be considered kosher if nothing has been recited.

The main argument that does stand however, is the case of alcohol. Kosher allows the consumption and usage of alcohol which is strictly forbidden in Islam. Any kosher products that do contain alcohol, would be considered haram.

Both Islamic and Jewish laws require that all animal products and derivatives such as gelatine come from zabiha or kosher animals. Utensils and work surfaces must be clean and free of the risk of cross contamination from unlawful sources.

So is Zabiha Halal?

The animals that have been blessed with the name of God, slaughtered with a sharp knife at the jugular vein, are considered halal. Whether it is done with human hands or a machine, the important aspect is the prayer that is supposed to be recited each individual animal as and when they are being slaughtered.

FAQs