Halal (حلال, Halāl, Halaal) is an Arabic term designating any object or an action which is permissible to use or engage in, according to Islamic law.
It is the opposite of haraam. The term is widely used to designate food seen as permissible according to Islamic law (Sharia) - ( (الشريعة الإسلامية).
The use of the term varies between Arabic-speaking communities and non-Arabic-speaking ones.
In Arabic-speaking countries, the term is used to describe anything permissible under Islamic law, in contrast to haraam, that which is forbidden.
This includes human behavior, speech communication, clothing, conduct, manner and dietary laws. In non-Arabic-speaking countries, the term is most commonly used in the narrower context of just Muslim dietary laws, especially where meat and poultry are concerned, though it can be used for the more general meaning, as well. Islam has laws regarding which foods can and cannot be eaten and also on the proper method of slaughtering an animal for consumption, known as dhabihah. However if there is no other food available then a Muslim is allowed to eat non-Halal food.
Surah 2:173 states:
He hath only forbidden you dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that on which any other name hath been invoked besides that of Allah. But if one is forced by necessity, without wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits,- then is he guiltless. For Allah is Oft-forgiving Most Merciful.
Explicitly forbidden substances. A variety of substances are considered as harmful (haraam) for humans to consume and, therefore, forbidden as per various Qu'ranic verses:
- Pork meat (i.e., flesh of pig)[Qu'ran 2:173].
- Blood [Qu'ran 2:173].
- All carnivores and birds of prey.
- Animals slaughtered in the name of anyone but Allah. All that has been dedicated or offered in sacrifice to an idolatrous altar or saint or a person considered to be "divine"[Qu'ran 2:173] [Qu'ran 5:3].
- Carrion [ Qu'ran 2:173].
- An animal that has been strangled, beaten (to death), killed by a fall, gored (to death), savaged by a beast of prey (except that which you may have slaughtered while it was still alive)[Qu'ran 5:3].
- The fish must die out of water and because of natural suffocation in the free air, on the ground or on the deck of the fishing boat.
- Food over which Allah's name is not pronounced[Qu'ran 6:121 ].
- Alcohol and other intoxicants[Qu'ran 5:90-91 ].
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