This is the first of a five part series dwells into several aspects relating to halal including what it means, what is halal certification and why it is important for Muslims in the country to tackle issues relating to halal.
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 8 (Bernama) -- On and off Muslims in the nation are startled by claims that the Halal status for some of the products that they consume were doubtful, and the immediate reaction is Muslim consumers become more circumspect in buying the related products.
Many deliberate on the issue and quick to point fingers at those entrusted with the enforcement of Halal.
However, they fail to reflect on themselves, their Achilles heel in making the right choice when buying.
Previously there has been reports that the halal status of certain bread and sausages, toothpaste and cutleries, were ambiguous. There were also reports that several healthcare products were not halal as the capsules contained gelatin from pigs.
NO ONE QUESTIONS
And when the dust settles down, some of the Muslim consumers go back to their old ways. The concern over halal status wanes and they carry on consuming anything that pleases their palate even at outlets that do not exhibit the halal logo or certificate.
They purchase whatever that attracts their attention without taking the time to read the product label, its contents or the details of the manufacturer.
"When I was studying overseas, I was very careful when purchasing food products. Back in Malaysia, I just buy anything, more over don't tell me that Malaysian products are not halal," replied Nor a private sector employee when asked on her views on halal.
"When it is written halal, then it definitely has to be halal?" noted a makcik who sells sweets and snacks to school children.
Among the makcik's items that is in high demand is the yogurt flavoured coloured powder in elongated plastic packets. The product from the Philippines has the 'halal' word printed on it.
The attitude of Nor and the makcik is probably the reflection of the attitude of a considerable portion of Muslims in the country. Whether they don't know or they don't bother to know, at the end many end up cheated!
MANY SEE IT AS TRIFLE
According to Saimah Mukhtar, the Halal Hub director for the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim), it is surprising that at present many find the halal issue a trivial matter.
"In non-Muslim eateries, they just paste the halal label or employ Muslim waitress or cashiers wearing headscarf to entice Muslim customers.
"The same happens when a trader wears a white skull cap, consumers immediately assume that the person is a Muslim and buy from him without any reservation.
"This is the attitude of some Muslims who see issues relating to halal as a trivial matter," she told Bernama in an interview recently.
She also touched on some Muslims who patronise non-Muslim eateries just because of the "pork free" or "alcohol free" labels.
"This is confusing. Just because pork or alcohol is not served it doesn't mean the food there is halal," explained Saimah.
She also pointed out that some Muslim consumers do not give serious consideration to the `thoyiban' aspect like nutrition, cleanliness, quality and safety.
There are also cases of Muslims frequenting non-Muslim eateries just because the food there is tasty but the halal status is ambiguous.
Amri Abdullah, Assistant Director, of the Monitoring and Enforcement branch of Jakim's Halal Hub Division told Bernama that during an operation at an eatery he asked a Muslim customer why he patronises the place, the customer brazenly replied "the food is good ustaz" though fully aware that the restaurant is operated by a non-Muslim.
DALIL HALAL
Other than a healthy lifestyle, food is considered as an important factor in maintaining good physical and mental health.
As for Muslims, the choice of food is not restricted to its nutricious value only.
This is because Islam has its own standards relating to food and diet that is 'halalan thoyiban' (halal, good and safe).
This has been emphasised through the words of Allah SWT and the traditions of the Prophet.
Among the words of Allah SWT is the Sura Al Baqarah verse 168: "O ye people! Eat of what is on Earth, Lawful and good; and do not follow the footsteps of the evil one, for he is to you an avowed enemy."
In Sura al-Nahl verses 114-115 it is mentioned:
"So eat of the sustenance which Allah has provided for you, lawful and good; and be grateful for the favours of Allah, if it is He Whom ye serve. He has only forbidden you dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and any (food) over which the name of other than Allah has been invoked. But if one is forced by necessity, without willful disobedience, not transgressing due limits, - then Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful)".
HOW HALAL CAN HELP
The halal status on food has great influence on the development of a Muslim personality.
As stated by the Prophet (the hadith of al-Tarmizi), which means "All flesh that grow on things or food that is haram thus the hell is greater for them."
This means any of the non-Halal food eaten by a Muslim will be part of their blood and flesh and will impact on their character development.
Therefore, the good and bad character of a Muslim is highly dependent on whether the food entering his stomach is halal or haram.
WHAT HALAL MEANS
Halal originates from the Arabic word that means 'permissible' or 'allowed' by the laws based on Islamic teachings.
Jakim outlines that the laws encompasses Islamic laws from the Syafie laws or any of the Maliki, Hambali or Hanafi laws that has been agreed upon by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
The Halalan Thoyiban concept is not limited to being free from pork or other contaminants but takes into consideration wider aspects in whatever is consumed or used.
This includes the way it is obtained which must be through halal means and not by stealing, robbing or illicit means and includes the processing and storing methods. The whole Halal process starts from the field and goes right up to the dinner table.
THE DEFINITION UNDER TRADE DESCRIPTION ACT
Apart from this, the 'Halal' definition is also described under the Trade Description Act (APD) 1972.
According to the Trade Description Order (Use of Expression Halal) 1975, the 'Halal' definition covers things not made of, or containing any part or substance from animals which are forbidden to be consumed by Muslims, according to Islamic laws.
It also means that anything halal should not contain any substances that is declared as filth according to Islamic Laws.
At the same time it is not prepared, processed or manufactured using equipment which are not free from filthy substances as directed by Islamic Laws.
THE IMPACT OF THE WORDINGS
The order also outlines regulations during preparation, processing or storage, where it should not come into contact or be in close proximity with any food or substance declared as being filth according to Islamic law.
The 'Halal' definition under Trade Description Act Order (Use of Expression Halal) has a number of implication that the consumers and manufactures may not be aware of.
According to Saimah, it has a big impact even though at present there is no law that makes it mandatory for the products or industries to use the term halal whether in logo or the word.
She gave example of the many different symbols that can be construed as halal including the word halal (romanised or Jawi), Quranic verses, the term Allah, Muhammad or Bismillah, the picture of Kaabah, woman with headscarf, and men with songkok.
"When the industry, premises or any of the parties use such wordings, and if is proven that they are actually not halal, action can be taken with fines up to RM250,000 can be imposed," she said.
Source : BERNAMA
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