What is zabiha?

This page gives an overview of zabiha, halal and kosher food. For detailed references from the Quran and sunnah, please read this.







What is kosher?


Can Muslims eat kosher?

Muslims are allowed to eat of what has been made lawful to Jews and Christians. However, kosher as we know it today is a point of contention among Muslims. There are a couple of points of debate:

1.       Kashrut allows food that is haraam. In the case of animals, fish, insects and all other living things, this is not true. Kashrut is at least as or more restrictive than Islamic law. For example, camels are unlawful to eat for Jews because while they have split hooves, they do not ruminate. Their requirements for slaughter are also extremely strict. Then, the animal has to undergo a rigorous inspection for injuries, diseases and abnormalities. Certain parts of the animal are not considered lawful and must be removed completely. The list goes on.

However, where this argument does stand ground is in the case of alcohol. Kashrut allows the consumption and usage of alcohol which is strictly and completely forbidden in Islam. Any kosher products that do contain alcohol, therefore, would be considered haraam.

2.       The name of Allah is not pronounced while performing the slaughter. A blessing is usually said before performing any Jewish ritual, inciting the name of God. This blessing is assumed to cover all the animals that are being slaughtered at the time and is not said over each animal individually. However, this blessing is not an essential part of the slaughter and the meat will still be considered kosher if it is left out.

Other than that, both Islamic and Jewish laws require that all animal products and derivatives such as gelatin come from zabiha/kosher animals, utensils and work surfaces must be clean and free of the risk of cross contamination from unlawful sources.

Under these rules, I believe kosher products are fit for Muslim consumption as long as products containing alcohol are avoided. The shochet is expected to say a blessing, and we can assume that all kosher slaughters were blessed. Just like we do not witness every Muslim slaughterer saying Takbeer over every single animal, but we assume it to be true. But again, to avoid kosher under this pretext in order to please Allah might be a better course.

What about Christian dietary laws?


Is the USDA method of slaughter acceptable?

Some Muslims believe that because all the blood is drained out of the animals, and no other god’s name is pronounced over the slaughter, that it is acceptable for Muslims. I don’t believe this is supposed to be a case of ‘best of three.’ Pronouncing Allah’s name during the slaughter is an essential step.

Moreover, they think that because the animals are drugged, that it is more humane and causes the animals less pain. Interestingly, Jews absolutely reject this method and Muslims are divided. I have to side with the Jews on this. I believe that no person in this world could ever have the compassion and mercy that Allah has for His creation, and so the method prescribed by Allah must be the best.

5 Responses

  1. Br. Paul
    Br. Paul / 2-23-2015 / ·

    as a convert from a Christian background I would like to add a different point of view. The author states “most Christians today do not follow the dietary laws of the Old Testament.” Christian scholars throughout history have hotly debated what if any dietary restrictions are required. The only potential guidance was given by a council of the apostles: The decree of which is found in Acts 15:20. Early leaders of the church interpret these prohibitions to prohibit the eating of blood or of animals which had excessive blood in their meat. (St. John Chrysostom) in the eastern church (based in Constantinople) there prevailed a tradition of blessing the animals and draining the blood before slaughter. While in the Western church (based in Rome) as early as the 3rd or 4th. Century C.E. There was no prohibition on eating either blood or meet with blood in it. At no time in any part of the church was there a prescribed slaughter ritual as in Judaism. Therefore, at the time of the revelation of the Qur’an The food of the Christians meant to different things – and this was known to Allah. If Allah had so wished he could have limited acceptable meat that slaughtered by Greek or Arab Christians, but he did not do so. As such, all of the food of the people of the (except when elsewhere prohibited) is lawful to us.

  2. FarazR
    FarazR / 8-28-2014 / ·

    I eat kosher meat all the time. Their laws are stricter. I feel if it is beef or chicken and it is kosher there is no problem. Not only that they have nice kosher delis that serve excellent sandwiches that we miss out on. I know some Jews (not all) but some eat Halal when kosher is not available. Halal is not kosher but they claim that at least it is better than eating meat from a grocery store.

  3. fehmida khan
    fehmida khan / 9-29-2012 / ·

    comprehensive factual presentation

  4. Imraan
    Imraan / 9-29-2012 / ·


    Great compilation. Depending on what opinion one follows, #2 on the kosher list would make the meat impermissible, so I am glad you mentioned it. From what I understood and what you stated, a blessing will be said on a flock of animals but not necessarily on each individual animal at time of slaughter. When I emailed a major kosher supplier about saying gods name at the time of slaughter, they did not respond.

    Also it would be beneficial to know about the ‘controversy’ regarding mechanical slaughter of meat (namely chicken). The following information from a scholar in the west should elucidate some key aspects.


    May Allah swt put barakah into this effort, it is very nice to see a website that addresses key points and encourages eating proper meat!

    Wa salaam

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