Halal means lawful, and halal food are food items and drinks prepared under strict Muslim dietary laws.

Haram (unlawful) items include birds and beasts of prey like hawks and tigers, food that has been offered to idols, the flesh of animals that are already dead before slaughtering, blood and certain animals like monkeys and rats. The common non-Muslim food which are prohibited to Muslims include pork, lard and by-products of pork like ham, bacon and liquor.

Halal (lawful) animals, like chicken, sheep, cattle, must be slaughtered by Muslims because a short prayer is said when they are being slaughtered. Also, these animals are slaughtered with very sharp knives and in such a way as to effect quick death and thorough drainage of blood. Aquatic animals like fish need not be slaughtered because they die quickly when they leave water and they do not have much blood as birds and land animals.


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http://www.halaladvisory.ca

Main Office
Halal Advisory Group
250 Yonge Street, Suite 2201
Toronto ON M5B 2L7
Canada
Toll Free: 1-866-211-6606
Direct: 416-451-5917
Fax: 1-866-998-6636