Islamic Food

We probably all enjoy good food, but we must make sure the food we eat is permissible and safe for us. That means making ourselves familiar with what is allowed and what is not allowed according to Islam.

The Qur'an makes it quite clear as to what is halal and haram. Basically, all food is halal except for the following:

Meat from swine

Pork-based products and by-products

Animals improperly slaughtered, or already dead before slaughtering is due to take place

Animals killed or sacrificed in the name of others than Allah (swt)

Intoxicants/alcohol

Most carnivorous animals, birds of prey and land animals without external ears (i.e., snakes, reptiles, worms, insects etc.)

Blood and blood by-products

Foods contaminated with any of the above products

{foods which are forbidden}: The Holy Qur'an, 5:3 - Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been invoked the name of other than Allah (swt); that which hath been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by being gored to death; that which hath been (partly) eaten by a wild animal; unless ye are able to slaughter it (in due form); that which is sacrificed on stone (altars)...

As per islam What is in Our Food…?

As Muslims, we are constantly striving for perfection in all facets of life. As a result, we are constantly trying to gain knowledge so that we may further progress. The reality is that while we aim to perfect our relationships, our roles at work, and our habits as students, we sometimes fail to realize that there is a catalyst that will help facilitate this quest for perfection, and that is food. While our bodies are nourished by the food we consume, our souls too are nourished by the permissibility and purity of that same food. Those who strive to consume only that which is halal (lawful) and tayyib (pure) are blessed with their bodies striving towards that which is halal and tayyib. As a result, as Muslims, we need to make a conscious effort to answer the question, "is what we buy and consume everyday really halal?"

IFANCA, an internationally recognized halal certifying organization, is staffed by a qualified scholars, technical staff and administrators. It is registered as a not-for-profit organization in Illinois and is recognized by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and several halal regulatory agencies in countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and the UAE. During the last three decades, IFANCA has certified thousands of products and ingredients, including processed food; meat products; pharmaceuticals; nutraceuticals and cosmetics for more than 2,200 companies world-wide.

The mission of the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA) is to promote the concept of halal and educate Muslims regarding mashbooh (doubtful) ingredients, including those that are present in food; nutritional supplements; pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

IFANCA serves the Muslim community worldwide by conducting conferences and seminars, responding to consumer and industrial inquiries about ingredients and products and assisting correctional facilities to establish partial halal kitchens in the prisons to satisfy the dietary needs of Muslim inmates. IFANCA has recently resumed educational workshops and presentations in various Islamic institutions in the Chicagoland area and will soon offer these services to neighboring cities and states. The focus of these presentations is to create awareness of the permissibility of foods. A description of the important points will be discussed in the paper below. Readers are also encouraged to visit www.ifanca.org and www.halal.com frequently for the current information about certified products and halal news and resources. Furthermore, if you are interested in organizing an informational session in your local community please contact IFANCA.

1. Responsibility Of Muslims:
   Our main goal is to please ALLAH (Subhanahu wa ta'ala) alone by obeying HIS commands on all matters including issues of halal and haram, as well as following the sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (salla ALLAHu alaihi wa sallam). Several verses of the Noble Quran have been revealed regarding food. A quick look at a few verses allows us to see the importance HE has put on the consumption of food:
   "O you who believe! Eat of the good things from what WE have provided you, and render thanks to ALLAH if it is HE whom you worship." (2:172)
   "O mankind! Eat of that which is lawful and wholesome in the Earth, and follow not the foot-steps of the devil. Lo! he is an open enemy for you." (2:168)
   "O you who believe! Forbid not the good things which ALLAH has made 'lawful' for you and transgress not. Lo! ALLAH loves not transgressors. Eat of that which ALLAH has bestowed on you as food 'lawful' and good, and keep your duty to ALLAH in whom you are believers." (5:87-88)
   There are many more verses in the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet (salla ALLAHu alaihi wa sallam) that speak about other aspects of halal and haram. We should look into such commandments and understand them for our own betterment.