In Islam, the concepts of halal (lawful) and haram (unlawful) are fundamental, especially concerning food. The Quran and the Sunnah (teachings and practices of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him) provide clear guidelines on what is permissible to eat and drink.
The primary sources for these rulings are the Quranic verses that explicitly list forbidden foods. The Quran states: "He hath forbidden for you only carrion and blood and swineflesh and that which hath been immolated in the name of any other than Allah..." (The Meaning of the Glorious Koran, 16:115). This verse is further elaborated in other parts of the Quran. For instance, Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:3) lists additional forbidden items: "Forbidden unto you (for food) are carrion and blood and swineflesh, and that which hath been dedicated unto any other than Allah, and the strangled, and the dead through beating, and the dead through falling from a height, and that which hath been killed by (the goring of) horns, and the devoured of wild beasts, saving that which ye make lawful (by the death-stroke), and that which hath been immolated unto idols." (The Meaning of the Glorious Koran, 5:3).
The term halal generally refers to anything that is lawful and permissible in Islam. This includes most foods, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, and permissible meats. The term haram refers to what is forbidden. The core forbidden items are:
- Carrion (Maytah): Animals that die of natural causes or are not slaughtered according to Islamic rites. (Buhârî, el-Câmiu's-Sahîh, s. V05/P2107–V05/P2109; The Meaning of the Glorious Koran, 16:115).
- Blood (Dam): Specifically, flowing blood. (The Meaning of the Glorious Koran, 16:115).
- Swineflesh (Laham al-Khinzir): Pork and its by-products. (The Meaning of the Glorious Koran, 16:115).
- That which is immolated in the name of other than Allah (Ma uhilla li ghayri Allah bihi): Animals sacrificed or dedicated to deities or idols other than God. (The Meaning of the Glorious Koran, 16:115).
- Strangled, beaten, fallen, or gored animals: Animals that die from these specific causes before proper slaughter. (The Meaning of the Glorious Koran, 5:3).
- Devoured by wild beasts: Unless the animal is found alive and properly slaughtered. (The Meaning of the Glorious Koran, 5:3).
The Quran also emphasizes that "all good things are made lawful for you" (The Meaning of the Glorious Koran, 5:4). This principle indicates that the default state for food is permissibility unless explicitly forbidden.
An important exception is made for those who are compelled by extreme hunger (ikhtirar) to consume forbidden food. In such dire circumstances, if there is no permissible food available, a person may eat from the forbidden items to the extent necessary to survive, provided they are not doing so out of defiance or transgression. The Quran states: "...but he who is driven thereto, neither craving nor transgressing, lo! then Allah is Forgiving, Merciful." (The Meaning of the Glorious Koran, 16:115). (See also Imam Shâfiî, el-Üm, s. V02/P251–V02/P253).
Furthermore, the food of the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) is generally considered lawful for Muslims, and vice versa, as stated in the Quran: "This day are (all) good things made lawful for you. The food of those who have received the Scripture is lawful for you, and your food is lawful for them." (The Meaning of the Glorious Koran, 5:5).