The term “Halal” is researched a great deal, especially in terms of food, when it comes to Muslim-friendly travel.
What does it mean, though, and why is it so important?
Literally meaning ‘permissible’, it applies – with great importance – to food because Muslims have a specific way of slaughtering meat, with the name of Allah mentioned while doing so. In addition to the method of slaughtering, there are other factors that ordain whether a meal is permissible for Muslims, namely if it doesn’t include pork or alcohol, both of which are stated unlawful in Islam.
When it comes to traveling and food, determining the permissibility of a meal is not the easiest task, being in a foreign land and all, so here are five ways to help you decide:
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Most countries have a Muslim board that take it upon themselves to publish a list of Halal restaurants and food items available in the country. While food items sport the Halal logo, restaurants pay for a certificate that lets a customer know that their food is Halal, benefitting from that transaction in the form of more sales. With the board taking on the task of inspecting the sources of food and the kitchens, all the customer has to do is ensure that the Halal certificate is not expired when dining at a certified restaurant.
Eateries are required to renew their Halal certification every year to assure the public that their Halal services are up-to-date.
Some restaurants might not have a certificate to prove that they serve Halal food – perhaps because they use alcohol in their dishes, they can’t afford to pay for a certificate, or maybe because the certification turns away some customers! They might be sourced from Halal meat, though, so it is always a good idea to ask.
Those who are not Muslim do not generally understand the depth of the meaning of the word “Halal” and restaurants have been known to respond with: “Our pork is Halal too.” Be specific in your questions and always ask about which meals contain alcohol, if any.
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In a Muslim country, there is no trouble finding a Halal restaurant, as by law, they are expected to stay within the limits and don’t necessarily need a Halal certificate. The difficulty arises in a state that isn’t run by Muslims, but this is where Muslim neighborhoods share similarities with Muslim countries.
The concentration of people from the same religion means that they more or less abide by the same standards, so finding a Halal meat shop or eatery proves not so difficult as they cater to the public in that area. As always though, it doesn’t hurt to ask before you dine!
Moving out of a Muslim neighborhood means you have to be more alert with your food options and question more thoroughly as the cushion of a Muslim community isn’t available. Even in a sea of restaurants that use non-Halal meat and alcohol though, will be the few that cater to the Muslim public, as they are owned by Muslims.
Do your research in such neighborhoods and find the ones that gratify your needs – they are generally easily noticeable by their Arab-sounding names!
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Last, but not least, is when you let everyone else do the work for you! The HalalTrip App conveniently has a Halal Food Spotter option that allows people to check in their Halal meals – making sure that you find what suits your tastes closest to you. So while websites don’t always give you the information you need, the manpower of the local community is sure to help!
You can use the Halal Food Spotter feature on the official HalalTrip Mobile App to discover Halal dishes at restaurants around the world. Click on the below links to download the free App:
