السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
It’s Saturday 2nd May 2020. My topic today is ‘Ramaḍān and Eating Ḥalāl‘.
Readers will recall the video clip I sent out yesterday, in which Mawlānā Tāriq Jamīl Ṣāḥib mentions 4 major sins which we must all avoid at all times. One of which is the consumption of Ḥarām.
Approximately 20 years ago, my very close colleague Mawlānā Rafīq Ṣūfī and I, together with a small group of concerned individuals, carried out detailed research of the Ḥalāl market of the UK مَا شَآءَ الله. This was done under the auspices of the Lancashire Council of Mosques (LCM).
Our findings were absolutely shocking to say the least. From Non-Muslims slaughtering, to the stunning of animals, we witnessed everything. Suffice to say that the meat and chicken we were consuming at that time could at best be termed as ‘doubtful’.
The biggest problem we identified was that the Ḥalāl meat industry was completely unregulated. There were no checks or inspections taking place at all, at any point, to verify that what we were told was Ḥalāl, was genuinely Ḥalāl, to the extent that there was no clear definition of what is termed as ‘Ḥalāl’.
We at the LCM clearly identified the problem but did not have the solution. We made a few temporary fixes but nothing long term, or concrete.
You can imagine our happiness when, in 2003, Shaykh Muḥammad Ibn Khalīfah, an Algerian, established the Ḥalāl Monitoring Committee (HMC) with a group of individuals, especially from Leicester. Now we had a solution to the problem.
In 2005, we started promoting the HMC here in Blackburn and Lancashire. It has now been over 15 years since the establishment of the HMC. Although not 100 percent perfect yet, it is the best and most trusted Ḥalāl monitoring organisation in the UK.
The HMC adopted the criteria of Ḥalāl with the lowest common denominator so that it’s criteria can be universally termed as Ḥalāl. Today مَا شَآءَ الله, HMC certified outlets can be found in nearly every town and city which has a Muslim presence.
It is compulsory on each and every Muslim to ensure that whatever they are consuming is Ḥalāl according to the SharīꜤah. This relates to all types of food, not just meat and chicken.
For meat and chicken, look for HMC certified outlets. The yellow window sticker is the official recognition of a HMC certified outlet together with a certificate clearly displayed inside, with up to date stickers every month.
As regards other items, please check the ingredients. Most of us look for the V for Vegetarian sign. That is not sufficient. Non meat and chicken items should be ‘suitable for vegetarians and free from alcohol’. Read the ingredients as well. There is no point eating HMC meat and chicken if the dessert that follows, contains animal gelatine.
The issue of consuming Ḥalāl is a fundamental part of our faith, moreso in Ramaḍān. My humble request to all brothers and sisters is to convince their local butchers, takeaways and restaurants to become HMC, if they are not already certified.
My humble request to the HMC management is that, please do ensure you fulfil your religious obligation by ensuring all the promises you have made to the masses out there are being fulfilled. We are relying on your certification.
Almighty Allāh give us all the ability to consume genuine Ḥalāl at all times, Āmeen.
جَزَاكَ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا
Request for DuꜤās
وَالسَّلَامُ Hanif Dudhwala