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The Non-Muslim Halal Business
By Sahar Kassaimah
08/06/2001
The issue of "halal" meat companies being owned by non-Muslims has attracted much attention in North America. How can Muslims be ensured that the meat they are buying, even if it is labeled
"halal," is really genuine "halal zabiha?" How can Muslim minorities in North America, or anywhere else, protect themselves against possible meat scams?
What is the meaning of "Halal" in Islam?
"Halal" (lawful) is the Arabic word meaning: "permitted, with respect to which no restriction exists, and the doing of which the Law-Giver, Allah, has allowed."* However, the word
halal has also become a symbol for "profit."
Some traders take advantage of the potential "halal market" (roughly 6-7 million American Muslims) without following the proper standards and methods of preparing those products. If they label the meat with the
halal stamp and claim that it has been slaughtered according to Islamic law, they can sell their goods to the Muslim consumers who do not have the ability to differentiate whether or not it is really the
zabiha meat they are seeking. The word zabiha itself merely means
"slaughtered".
Is there any way to protect Muslim consumers from those seeking to cheat them?
How can Muslims get help against halal meat scams?
It is quite easy to label a product halal and extract profits from the rapidly growing market. But, it is extremely difficult to prove that the meat is being misrepresented as
halal, and therefore, the only way to convince Muslim customers of halal meat's authenticity is to have a trustworthy organization approve the product and certify those responsible for it.
Minnesota has become the second state to pass a law regulating halal food. Its law came on the heels of the first "Halal Consumer Protection Act," passed by the State Senate of New Jersey last June. Illinois has also passed
halal legislation similar to those of N.J. and Minnesota.
"On behalf of the Islamic Food and Nutrition of America (IFANCA), we congratulate the Muslim community in Minnesota for initiating this process and helping make it a reality and we commend the legislature of the State of Minnesota for responding to the needs of the local Muslim community. This continues the momentum towards nationwide consumer protection for the
"halal" consumer," said Dr. Muhammad M. Chaudry, President of IFANCA.
Chicago Consumer Services Commissioner, Caroline Schoenberger, has been investigating complaints from Muslim cabdrivers who assert that some stores peddle
non-halal meat as halal, in order to benefit from the growing Muslim population. They just stamp
halal on any butchered meat regardless of whether or not it is zabiha.
"Many concerned Muslim consumers have investigated slaughtering houses and found that many do not follow Islamic guidelines," said Samira Sabri, president of the Palos Hills-based United Muslim Americans Association.
The New Jersey law dictates that all businesses that produce and distribute halal meat register evidence of its authenticity through a certified Islamic agency, and with the Director of Agriculture.
"The legislation would make it easier to prosecute people misrepresenting food as
halal," said Schoenberger.
"One of the provisions indicates that they would have to prove it is halal, rather than having us prove it's not. But, it will still be hard to determine whether the information provided by producers is accurate without a laboratory inspection," said Sabri.
Can Muslims eat animals slaughtered by the People of the Book?
In Surat al-Maidah, Allah says, "Today whatever is good is made lawful to you. And the food of those who were given the Scripture (before You) is permitted to you and your food is permitted to them" (Verses 5-6).
The Islamic scholar, Sheikh Yussef al-Qaradawi, has explained this verse by saying,
"...Since Allah did not prohibit it, the food of the Jews and the Christians is permitted to you on the basis of the original permissibility of things, and likewise you can share your food with them. Accordingly, you can eat the flesh of the animals they have slaughtered or hunted, and they can eat what you have slaughtered or hunted."*
Is it necessary that the method of slaughter of an animal employed by the People of the Book so that it is
"halal" in their religion be the same as ours? What if they slaughtered the animals by electric shock and other methods?
A majority of jurists stipulate this as a condition, while a number of Maliki jurists have ruled that it is not a condition. Qadi Ibn al-Arabi, in explaining the verse (5-6) of
Surat al-Maidah, says:
"He, the Most High, has repeated it twice in order to allay doubts and to seal the mouths of those mischievous objectors, who would raise questions and prolong the discussion. I was asked: 'if a Christian kills a chicken by cutting off its head and then cooks it, is it permissible to eat with him or to partake of his food?' I said: 'Eat it, as this is his food and the food of his priests and monks. Although this not our way of slaughtering the animal, yet Allah has permitted their food to us unconditionally, and also other things in their religion excepting those which Allah says they have falsified.' Our scholars have said: They give us their women in marriage and it is permissible to engage in sexual intercourse with them. In matters concerning
"Halal" and "Haram," sexual intercourse is of graver import than eating; how then does it make sense to say that their food is not
"halal?"
Also, Qaradawi says, "in the light of this ruling, we know that imported meats, such as chicken and canned beef, originating with the People of the Book are
"halal" for us, even though the animal may have been killed by means of electric shock or the like. As long they consider it lawful in their religion, it is
"halal" for us."*
Although the People of the Book (the Jews and Christians) are essentially believers in one God, some Muslims nevertheless suppose that, in matters related to food, they should be treated in the same manner as idolaters. Still others believe that if they accept the
zabiha of the People of the Book, it should at least be slaughtered according to Islamic methods.
Therefore, they believe that the term "halal zabiha" only refers to the process of slaughtering an animal according to the Islamic method. Hence, providing
halal meat became one of the first businesses Muslims established in North America.
What's the story behind al-Safa?
The story of Al-Safa Halal being owned and operated by a non-Muslim has shocked many American Muslim consumers. How could any one believe that the company, which has a Muslim name, a logo containing the Arabic word
"halal," a date palm tree, and a masjid, is not a Muslim company?
Who could believe that the "halal" meat they buy and eat from al-Safa is actually owned by Jewish private investors who are intent on cashing in on the North American Muslim meat market?
Al-Safa has taken advantage of the halal market without even disclosing their true identity.
Al-Safa emerged from MGI Pakers, which is based in Ontario, Canada and had been in business as a slaughterhouse since 1987.
Al-Safa and ISNA break ties
First, al-Safa was under the supervision of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) in Canada. In August 1999, ISNA withdrew its
"halal certification" from Al-Safa and MGI because they had not been able to meet the requirements for ISNA Canada's certification standards.
Nevertheless, Al-Safa claimed that ISNA Canada did not certify the hand-slaughtered poultry.
"Unfortunately, it sounds from the ISNA Canada announcement, that something has changed in the
"zabiha" at MGI," reads an Al-Safa Halal announcement. "The zabiha at MGI has not changed. MGI continues to be, as it has been since 1991, an entirely
zabiha plant, with slaughter performed correctly by Muslims."
On the other hand, ISNA declared that it has never refused to certify any hand-slaughtered
zabiha. "We were willing to certify, but they [Al-Safa] put the condition that they would pay a low salary to the Muslim slaughter men," said ISNA.
What IFANCA says about al-Safa
Al-Safa received their halal certification from the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA)** based in Chicago. In its report, IFANCA says that Dr. Munir Chaudry, its President, in consultation with other IFANCA advisors and Board members, agreed to certify Al-Safa products. He visited Al-Safa production facilities and held meetings with the government inspectors, plant management, and Muslim workers in its affiliated companies. They hired a local Muslim to carry out full time inspections of all Al-Safa products.
They confirm that according to this setup, there is no chance of mixing non-halal with
zabiha halal products. They have also announced that IFANCA is well aware of the Muslim consumer's belief in and adherence to
zabiha and will never make any compromises in its standard for producing meat.
In its report released in May 18, IFANCA has also declared that it puts the name of the Muslim supervisor right on the certification and that Al-Safa products meet the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's (CFIA) safety requirements, which are established and documented under their Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) programs.
Can Muslims eat halal meat made by companies owned by non-Muslims?
According to IFANCA, the issue of Al-Safa being owned by non-Muslim investors is not a problem that could break the conditions of Islamic
zabiha, as long as the organization certifying them ensures the necessary investigations.
Recognizing the importance of the Muslim market, many non-Muslim [according to ISNA Canada report] owned businesses are involved in large-scale processing, packing, marketing and distributing of meat products because they have realized the commercial potential of products carrying a label that certifies the food as
halal.
"However, when the producers are not directly known and especially when they are not Muslim, then a well-known independent certifier must do the necessary investigation and set-up the process to give confidence to Muslim consumers that the
halal label is properly based," explains ISNA in its report.
Although the Islamic fiqh does not dwell on the ownership issue of halal meat, can the Muslim consumer accept being deceived by a non-Muslim company that claims or gives the impression of being Muslim?
And finally: Should Muslim consumers buy halal meat from investors or owners who have misinformed them and who did not respect their trust?
References & Notes:
*al- Qaradawi, Yussef. The Lawful and the Prohibited in Islam.
**IFANCA was established in 1983 to promote halal products. It is recognized as a leading source of information about
halal food manufacturing standards.
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