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Halaal / Haraam

Food Awareness

Dear muslim brothers and sisters!!,

Its an attempt being made to educate all Muslims living in the western or non muslim countries, about the Islamic concept of Halaal/Haraam food and about what items sold in supermarkets and elsewhere are permissible for use. It's our duty of every muslim to do the right thing and inform other muslims of it too.

The article below gives a general background on Halaal/Haraam as pertaining to food.

(Questions from this may also be included in the competition). There is no question that food and drink are necessary for the maintenance of our bodies. To put it simply, we will cease to live if these vital necessities have been denied. But not only are our bodies affected by what we consume.

Other vital aspects of our nature are also affected. One of these is our minds. The health and clarity of our minds depend on the health of our bodies and thus also on what we eat and drink. Food together with drink then, can lead a person to vice (or virtue). For instance, a man under the influence of alcohol easily looses control of his abilities to reason. He can then utter the vilest phrases, behave in the most despicable manner, and indulge in activities the loathsomeness of which would have been unthinkable before.

Food also affects our spiritual nature. The spiritual potential of a human being can lead him or her to attain lofty heights of nearness to Allah, ineffable peace of mind, and profound understanding of the truths that lie behind the veils of nature. Wrong food, however, can inhibit this spiritual development. The Holy Prophet seems to have alluded to this derogative effect when he was reported to have said that the prayers of forty days of someone who has eaten unlawful food would not be accepted.

As we can see then, the right types of food contribute to the overall advancement of our total selves our bodies remain healthy, our minds become refined, and our souls progress unhindered.

Allah, in His mercy to us, in His desire for man to develop fully, has instructed us as to the types of food that are beneficial and those that are harmful. (Certain types of food are also probihited for reasons that are not easily discernable by us. Allah in His wisdom, is fully knowledgeable about these reasons, however). The food that is beneficial is lawful for us and is called Halaal in Arabic. The unlawful food is called Haraam.

Let us look at what types of food are Haraam. Haraam food comes under several categories according to Mishkat. The first comprises of those mentioned in the Quranic verse 6:122 which states: And dont eat of that on which Allahs name has not been mentioned. That is surely a transgression.

According to commentators of the Holy Quran, this verse indicates that the meat of a lawful animal or bird which is not slaughtered in the name of Allah cannot be eaten by a Muslim. Thus, for example, the meat of a chicken, turkey or cow cannot be eaten unless that bird or animal had been killed Islamically.

The way of slaughtering an animal to make its meat permissible has been explained in greater detail in the Hadith of the Holy Prophet. It is called Zabah in Arabic. Except in abnormal circumstances such as when an animal is being hunted down, Zabah is performed by first reciting Bismillah hir Rahmaanir Raheem or Bismillah Allahu Akbar three times and then cutting 4 vital organs in the region between the throat, head and breast bone of the animal.

The four vital organs to cut are: the wind pipe, the gullet, and the 2 jugular veins. Very important to note is that the knife should not touch the spinal chord. This means that the head of the animal should not be cut off or the neck broken during slaughter.

The second category of food is everything that is offered to idols. In some cultures people offer food, for example milk, to idols and then drink it. This milk is not permissible for us to drink if it is offered to us.

In the third category are all animals which die of themselves without the name of Allah being recited. This would include all animals strangled or beaten to death, or killed after being attacked by beasts or after falling.

In the next category are all beasts and birds of prey. In this category are all four legged creatures that use their teeth to seize their prey and all birds that seize their prey with their talons.

In the final category are all things injurious and repugnant to our health, life, morality, and intelligence. These would include unclean animals such as pigs, domesticated donkeys, cats, dogs, and also intoxicants like alcohol and drugs.

The Quranic verse 5:3 summarizes some of these categories. It states: Forbidden to you is that which dies of itself, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that on which any name besides Allah has been mentioned, and the strangled animal and that beaten to death, and that killed by being smitten with a horn, and that which wild beasts have eaten except what you slaughter.

The prohibitions mentioned above affect us in America by the fact that ingredients for food and other items we purchase may contain alcohol or may originate from animal sources. Because of this, knowledge of ingredients and how they are derived is very important.

Information for the article was gathered largely from the books:
Al-hadis of Mishkat-ul-Masabih

A Guide To What Ingredients to Avoid and How to Select A Halaal Food Product

[Information extracted from the book titled A Comprehensive List of Halal Food Products in

the U.S. Supermarkets by Syed Rasheeduddin Ahmed]

Kosher symbols written on food items:

The symbols K, KD, U, UD, K PARVE, CRS, or KMH indicate that the product is Kosher.

This means that in many cases the food may be good for use (for further confirmation, however, one should contact the manufacturer). In a few cases the item may not be Halaal even though the Kosher symbol is written.

Two examples are:

Kosher symbols written on beverages

Kosher symbols written on beverages does not mean that these commodities are Halaal. This is because alcohol may still be an ingredient.

Questionable ingredients

If the following items contain any of the ingredients stated below them, they may not be good for use. (The manufacturer can be contacted for confirmation).

More information about Ingredients:

(A) Dual Status(Halal/Haram) Ingredients

The Following Ingredients most commonly found in the food product has a dual status. They could be Halal or Haram depending upon the source and use of enzymes. They will be halal if a Kosher symbol appears on the food package or inquiry with manufacturer about theirsource.

Milk Byproducts:

Fat-Based ingrediends:

(B) Absolutely Haram Ingredients:

(C) Halal Ingredients:

Acetic acid, amylase, ascorbic acid, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), baking powder, benzoic acid, BHA, BHT, bran, cacao, caramel powder, carob gum, carrageenin gum, cellulose, carbixymethyl cellulose, chocolate liquor (despite its name, chocolate liquor has no alcoholic content whatsoever- this is a roasted crushed cacao beans nibs), chocolate butter,cider, citric acid, high fructise corn syruo, corn syrup solids, cream of tartar, dextrose, disodium inosinate, EDTA (ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid), farina, fructose, flour, glucose, gluten, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, iron, lactic acid, leavening (sodium aluminum sulfate, calciumacid phosphate, sodium bicarbonate, ammonium bicarbonate, sodium aluminun phosphate, mono calcium phosphate, sodium acid pyrophosphate, tartaric acid, dicalcium phosphate, glucono delta lactone), lecithin, lysine, malt malto dextrin, maltase, maltose, molasses, monosodium glutamate(MSG), niacin, nitrides, nitrate, papin, pectin, phospates, sodium or calcium propionate, vegetable protease, riboflavin, sodium benzoate, sorbate, sorbic acid, soya flour, soya protein concentrate, starch, sucrose, tapioca, thiamine, vinegar, yeast, zein, modified food starch, rice solids, oat fiber, zanthan gum, alginate, guar gum, methyl cellulose, wheat germ, triticale, and potassium bromate, Agar, algin, alum, ammonium hydroxide, annatto, annatto extract, aspartame, azodicarbonamide, beeswax, beet extract, bomelin, buckwheat, bulgur, calcium silicate, carbauba wax, chicle, chives, chocolate, FD&C colors, guar gum, karaya gum, kelp, licorice, locust bean gum, mailc acid, malted cereal syrup, maltol, oleoresin, paprika, polydextrose, psyllium, saccharin, semolina, silicon dioxide, sodium citrate, sorbitol, tarragon, textured vegetable protein, tofu, tragacanth, worcestershire sauce, soy sauce.

A Brief Informative List:

Company, Product--------------------------------------------------- Good/Bad

Carnation, Nonfat Dry Milk, Evaporated Milk, Malted Milk, Milkman, GOOD

Instant Breakfast Chocolate, Coffee & Variety Pack Low fat Dry Milk Products, BAD

Sugar Free Hot Cocoa Mix, Hot cocoa Mix, Hot Cocoa Mix with Marshmallow, BAD

Pet, Evaporated Milk, GOOD

Borden, Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk, GOOD

Meyenberg, Evaporated Goat Milk, GOOD

Alba, Fitn Frosty, Hot Cocoa Mix, GOOD

Sport Shake, Shapely shake, GOOD

Dairy Shake, Chocolate, Vanilla Strawberry Flavors, Shake Mix, BAD

Snowcrest, Vanilla Flavored syrup, Strawberry Flavored Syrup, GOOD

Coffee Time, Coffee Syrup, GOOD

Hershey, Cocoa, Strawberry Syrup, GOOD

Chocolate Mix, Genuine Chocolate Flavor, BAD

Ovaltine, Rich Chocolate, Classic Ovaltine, Traditional Chocolate Malt Flavor, Original Malt

Flavor, Hot Cocoa Mix 50 Calorie Sugar Free Mint Hot Cocoa Mix, GOOD

Swiss Miss, Sugar Free Hot Cocoa Mix, Lite Hot Cocoa Mix, Milk, Chocolate, Hot Cocoa

Mix, BAD

Sun Glory, Chocolate Flavored Syrup, BAD

Nestle, Quik Real Chocolate Flavor Syrup, Quik Real Chocolate Flavor, Rich Chocolate

Flavor, Hot Cocoa Mix, Quik Artificially Strawberry Flavor, Quik Strawberry Milk, GOOD

Rich Chocolate, Flavor Hot Cocoa, Mix with Marshmallow, BAD

Foxubet, Chocolate Flavored Syrup, BAD

Choco Good, Chocolate Drink, BAD

Autocrat, Coffee Flavored Syrup, GOOD

Food Club, Nonfat Dry Milk, Evaporated Milk, GOOD

Chocolate Flavored Syrup, CocoaMix, Cocoa Marshmallow, BAD

Stop&Shop, Instant Nonfat Dry Milk, Evaporated Milk, Instant Chocolate Flavored Mix just

add Milk, Chocolate Flavored Syrup, GOOD

Instant Hot Cocoa with Marshmallow, Instant Hot Cocoa Mix, just add water, BAD

Chocolate Flavored Syrup, Nonfat Dry Milk, GOOD

Shoprite, Nonfat Dry Milk, GOOD

PathMark, Nonfat Dry Milk & Evaporated Milk with U or KD symbols, GOOD

COLD CEREAL

Nabisco, 100% Bran, 100% Bran with Oat Bran, Team Flakes, Shredded Wheatn Bran, Fruit Wheat, Spoon Size, Shredded Wheat with Oat Bran, Shredded Wheat, GOOD

Breakfast Bears, Teddy Graham Honey, Cinnamon, Chocolate Frosted Wheat Squares, BAD Sunshine, Shredded Wheat, GOOD

Ralston, Multi Bran Chex, Honey Chex, Chex, Oat Chex, Wheat Chex, Purina Rice Chex, Corn Chex, Batman, Almond Delight, Fruit Mesli Oat Bran Option, Cookies Crisp, Dinnersaurs, Dunkin Donuts, Nintendo, Jetson, Juniours, Honey Graham Chex, New Morning Oatios, GOOD

Turtles Cereal, Bill&Ted Excellent, BAD

Kelloggs, Rice Krispies Ready Eat Cereal, Rice Krispies Oven Toasted, Cereal Apple Jacks, Fruit Loops, Corn Flakes, Nut & Honey, Cocoa Krispies, Frosted Flakes, All Bran, Fruitful Bran, Just Right, Product 19, Heartwise, Nutrigrain, Crispix, Raisin Bran, Honey Smacks, Pops, Common Sense Oat Bran, Bran Flakes, Big Mix, Kenmei Rice Bran, Rasin Squares, GOOD

Variety Cereal, Mueslix, Frosted Miniwheat, Oatbake Raisin Nut, Oatbake Honey Bran, Craclin, S.W. Grahams, Oat Bran, BAD

General, Crispy Wheatn Raisin, Raisin Nut Bran, Apple Cinnamon Mills, Cherrios, Cherrios, Cherrios Oat Bran, Honey Nut Cherrios, Golden Graham, Trix, Wheaties, Total Cornflakes, Total Raisin Bran, Total Clusters, Fiber One, Oatmeal Raisin Crisp, CocoaPuffs, Body Buddies-Natural Fruit, Clusters, Corn Frosties, Corn Total, Country Corn Flakes, Kix,Triple, Oatmeal Raisin Crisp, Quick Total Oatmeal, Rice Crunchins, GOOD

Lucky Charm, Oatmeal Crisp, Count Chocula, BAD Post, Cocoa Pebbles, Fruity Pebbles, Honey Bunches of Oat with Almond, Oatflakes, Grape Nuts, Raisin Grape Nut, Raisin Bran, Alphabits, Honey Comb, Sugar Golden Crisp, Fruitn Fiber, GOOD

Alphabits with Marshmallow, Dino Pebbles, BAD

Quaker Crunchy Bran, Quaker Oat Squares, Life Cereal, Puffed Rice, Puffed Wheat, 100% Natural Cereal, GOOD

Ohs, Captain Crunch, BAD

REFRIGERATED DOUGH

Pillsbury, Crusty French Loaf, Pipin Hot Loaf, Soft Bread Sticks, Pizza Crust, Crescent Dinner Rolls, Best Chocolate cookies, Buttermilk Biscuits, Country Biscuits, Hungry Jack Butter, Milk Flaky Biscuits, Big Country Biscuits, Danish Rols, Cinnamon Rolls, BAD

CHEESE

Kraft, Natural Swiss Cheese Slices, Swiss Deli Thin Slices, Philadelphia Cream Cheese, Whipped Cream Cheese, Grated-Parmesan Cheese, Italian Style, Neufchatel, GOOD

Velveeta, Single Swiss, American, Lightn Lively, Cheese Whiz, Fat Reduced Swiss Cheese, BAD

Borden, American Single, BAD

Land o Lake American Singles& All Cheeses, BAD

Shedds, Country Crock Fresh Ceddar, BAD

Sorrento, Ricotta Chese, GOOD

Shredded Mozzarella, Cheese String, BAD

Sorgento Polly O, Ricotta Cheese, Louis Bien, Natural Spiced Cheese with Garlic&Herb, GOOD

All Cheeses, String Cheese, BAD

Philadelphia Cream Cheese, Creem Cheese with Chives, King Smothee Imitation Cream Cheese, Axel Rod, Whole Milk Ricotta cheese, GOOD

Calabro, Whole Milk Ricotta Cheese, Whole Milk Mozzarella, GOOD

Migdal, Migdal Cheese Slices, GOOD

ShopRite, Soft Cream Cheese, Cream Cheese, Whipped Cream Cheese, Ricotta Cheese, No Salt Ricotta Cheese, Park Skim Ricotta Cheese, GOOD

Shredded Mozzarella, Mozzarella, BAD

Finast, Light Cream, Cream Cheese, Whipped Cream, Ricotta Cheese, Park Skim Ricotta Cheese, GOOD

Temptee, Whipped Cream Cheese, GOOD

Miller, American Cheeses, GOOD

Formagg, Mozzarella Flavored Cheese Substitute, GOOD

A&P, Cream Cheese, Ricotta Cheese, GOOD

Ched-o Bite & Melo Bit Cheese Slices, BAD

Tofutti, Better Than Cream Cheese, GOOD

Stop&Shop, Cream Cheese, Ricotta Cheese, GOOD

Single Slices Cheese, BAD

Grand Union, Grand Union Cream Cheese, Ricotta Cheese, GOOD

Single Slices Cheese, BAD

Alouette, Horsradish&Chive, Garlic&Spices, Garden Vegetable, GOOD

Waldbaum, Cream Cheese, Ricotta Cheese, GOOD

Single Slices, BAD

PathMark, Cream Cheese, Ricotta Cheese, GOOD

Single Slices Cheese, BAD

Friendship, Farmer Cheese, GOOD

Purity, Muenster, Caraway Muenster(w/hotpepper), Farmers Cheese, Company Burie(imported), Camembert, Romano, Parmesan, GOOD

Clearfield, Natural Cheese Kosher, Bland, GOOD

McCadm Co. Newyork State, BAD

TOOTH PASTE & MOUTHWASH

Colgate, Tartar Control, Colgate Great Regular Flavor, Colgate Winter Fresh, Colgate Junior, Colgate Tartar Control Gel, Ultrabrite Original Flavor, Ultrabrite Whiter Teeth Fresh, Breath, Ultrabrite Gel, Close Up New Improved, Close Up New&Improved, Close Up Tartar Control Gel, Aim Extra StrengthGel, Aim Regular Strength Gel, Pepsodent Fluoride,Aquafresh Tartar Control, Aquafresh for Kid, Aquafresh for Kid bubblemint Flavor Aquafresh Extra Fresh Pearl Drops Tooth polish, Pearl Drop Stain Fighting Tooth Polish, Topol Stain Fighting, Topol Stain Fighting Great, Viadent Original Flavor, Dentagard, New Taste, Colgate Peak with Natural Soda, Dental Care The Baking Soda, Crest Fresh mint Gel, Crest Tartar Control Original Flavor, Crest Tartar Control Fresh Mint, Denguel(Crest), Sensodyne(Crest), BAD

Viadent Fluoride, Aquafresh Triple Protection(tube only)), Peppermint Flavor (Toms of Maine), Cinnamon Flavor(Toms of Maine), Crest Regular Flavor, Crest Mint flavor, Sparkle Crest for Kid New with Sparkles, Sparkle Crest Wow Clear Tube, Crest Cool Mint Gel, Fix-A-Dent(Vicks Chem. Co.), GOOD

Toms of Maine, Natural Mouthwash, GOOD

Scope Original Mint, Scope Peppermint, Colgate Tartar Control Formula, Cool Mint Flavor, Peppermint Flavor, Lavoris, Cepacol, Cepacol Mint, Signal Mouth Wash, Listermint, Listerine(Contains alcohol, no glycerine), BAD

BAR SOAP

Procter & Gamble Lava, Kirks Castile, Zest, Coas, GOOD

Lever Brothers, Irish Spring, Dove, Lux, Shield, Lever 2000, Caress, BAD

Colgate, New Gold, Palmolive Gold&Green, Cashmere Bouquet, BAD

Palmolive Andrew Jergens, New Gentle Touch, BAD

Jergen Co. Others, Aloe & Lanolin, BAD

100 % beef fat only New Spirit, pure Nature, Tone, Mountain Fresh Dial & All. liquid and bar Dial soaps, BAD

NFCs Cruelty Free, Vitamin Soak, Aloe vera and other varieties (available in Nature Foods Stores or Nutritional Food Stores in Malls), GOOD

FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS

Burger King, (According to Their Nutrition Guide 1990) Bagel&Cream cheese, Bagel&Egg, Salad side(lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, carrots, celery & radish), salad dressing, ranch, reduced calorie, Light Italian, Biscuit, ocean catch fish fillet(request without bun and tartar sauces but bagel), cream cheese, ketchup, mayonnaise, Mustard, Bulls eye Barbecue Sauce, Mushroom Topping, barbecue Dipping Sauce, Honey Dipping Sauce, Sweet & Sour dipping sauce, Tartar dipping sauce, Burger king AM Express Dip, Hash browns, Egg Mix, French Fries, Onion Rings, tartar tenders, GOOD

McDonalds, ( According to their nutrition guide 1990 ) Butter milk biscuits, Entemanns Baked products, McDonaldland cookies, Buns(North eastern US only) Filet o Fish without cheese(Northeastern US only) Hash browns, french fries, tea, coffee, soft drinks, chocolate shake, Big Mac Sauce, Butter(for cooking egg), Biscuit spread, cake cones, red french Redued calories, grape jam, Grapefruit Juice, Orange Juice, Dehydrated Onion, Peanut for Sundae Topping, Hot Fudge Sundae Topping, Hot cake Syrup, Hot Caramel sundae topping, hot chocolate drink Base, hot mustard Sauce, ketchup, Mayonnaise, Mustard, Strawberry preserve Strawberry Sundae Topping, Sweet and Sour Sauce, Tartar sauce, GOOD

Pizza hut, Thin crisp Crust, cheese (from microbial), GOOD

Domino Pizza, Cheese pizza(call to confirm status of cheese) (In New England, New York City, New jersey enzymes used are made from kosher DNA, Illinois from microbial, Michigan microbial, California microbial), GOOD

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