Islamic dietary laws

The Quran, which is the divine source, along with the life and teachings of Muhammad (sunnah), explicitly state foods that are prohibited (haram) and permissible (halal). These rules of living are believed as essentials for religious observances, practical life, and the health and well-being. Etymology The Arabic word halal literally translates to 'lawful' or 'permitted'. In Sharia law, this refers to what is lawful by Allah. The word haram translates to prohibited and one who breaks this are considered sinful. ==Rules==

Based on Islamic scriptural injunctions, Islamic dietary laws are classified as halāl (permissible), harām (forbidden), and mashbūh (dubious). Islamic jurisprudence states that all things are essentially halal unless Sharia law states otherwise. Some Hanafi scholars are in disagreement over whether or not prawns and shrimp constitute as true "fish"; comparatively, many scholars do agree that crocodile, crab, lobster, or any mollusk is not. Mushbooh Foods whose halal status is uncertain or debated may be classified as (; 'doubtful'). This includes foods that are seemingly halal but of an unknown source and ingredients for which the halal status is subject to differing interpretation, such as extract from brewer's yeast, which is nonalcoholic but derived from the production of alcohol. Ritual slaughter In Islamic law, '''' () is the prescribed method of slaughter for halal animals. It consists of a swift, deep incision to the throat with a very sharp knife, cutting the wind pipe, jugular veins and carotid arteries on both sides but leaving the spinal cord intact. The carcass should be hung upside down for long enough to be free of blood. Slaughtered animals must be acknowledged as sentient beings and slaughtered painlessly while reciting the Basmala and Takbir., China Haram A variety of substances are also considered unlawful (haram) for humans to consume and therefore, the consumption of them is forbidden by the Sharia (Islamic law). • Animals incorrectly slaughtered Some scholars have interpreted this as limiting the named animals for riding and show only, prohibiting their consumption. Predatory animals, such as lions, tigers, falcons and hawks are forbidden as well. However, a person would not be considered guilty of sin in a situation where the lack of any alternative creates an undesired necessity to consume that which is otherwise unlawful, such as a famine. notifying that sales of beer are for non-Muslim customers only ==Islamic dietary laws during Ramadan==

During Ramadan, the ninth month on the Muslim calendar and considered the holy month of fasting, Muslims take time for introspection, prayer, and reading of the Quran. During this period, Muslims focus on self restraint or sawm (Arabic: to refrain), which is one of the five pillars of Islam. During Ramadan, between dawn and dusk, worshippers abstain from food, drink, sexual activity, and immoral behavior. After dusk, Muslims break their fast during a meal called iftar with family and friends. Sawm can be negated by breaking fast, however, the lost can be made up with one extra day of fasting. The end of the Ramadan fast is the celebration of Eid-al-Fitr (Feast of Fast-Breaking), one of the two major religious holidays on the Muslim calendar. ==Food certification==

, Kazakhstan. Yurta (potatoes with meat) and kumis are made of ingredients considered halal. Since the turn of the 21st century, there have been efforts to create organizations that certify food products as halal for Muslim consumers in the US. Since 1991, some mainstream manufacturers of soups, grains, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, prepared foods, and other products, as well as hotels, restaurants, airlines, hospitals, and other service providers have pursued the halal market. These companies purchase halal-certified products. This can allow companies to export products to most Middle Eastern countries and Southeast Asian countries. The oldest and most well-known halal certifier in the United States is called the Islamic Services of America. In Europe, several organizations have been created in order to certify the halal products. A 2009 survey published by a French association of Muslim Consumers (ASIDCOM) shows that the market of halal products has been developed in a chaotic way in Europe. The European certification organizations do not have a common definition of "halal" nor agreed upon control procedures and traceability. The controls implemented by individual agencies are all very different: they can go from an annual audit of the slaughterhouse, to checking each production with permanent controls in place and on-going independent monitoring. In Singapore, halal certification is managed by Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS), also known as the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore. They are the sole custodian of Halal Certification in Singapore. In Malaysia, the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) is the agency responsible for halal certification in Malaysia. ==Availability of halal food in non-Islamic regions==

In 2013, the halal market was estimated to be 26% of world food trade. The Global Halal Institute has a list of Halal certifiers that are approved by most Muslim countries with dietary import restrictions for companies. Europe and Asia In the United Kingdom, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, or Singapore, halal fried chicken restaurants having thousands of outlets, some but not all of which, serve halal foods such as the Nando's, Brown's Chicken, and Crown Fried Chicken companies. ==See also==