ON KNOWING HALAL AND ZABIHAH

Knowing that technically speaking:

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. To Allah belongs the endowments, befitting perfection, and commendations. We ask Allah to raise the rank of Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam, his Al (Family), and Sahabah (Companions), and to protect his nation from what he fears for it. Ameen. Thereafter:

The opposite of halal is haram — i.e. forbidden. Anything that is forbidden to consume or do or watch, etc., is haram: e.g. gambling and drinking are haram (forbidden).

Zabihah/Dhabiha (or zabihah/dhabihah) is a specific word related to meat that is permissible eat. Zabihah meat is meat that has been hand slaughtered according to Islamic guidelines.

Halal is simply the Arabic word for permissible. i.e. that something is permissible to do or consume or listen to, or watch, etc.

The distinction between these terms can be better understood with this example:

Beef — the meat from cows — is halal. i.e. generally permissible to eat.

Pork — the meat from pigs — is haram. i.e. strictly forbidden to eat.

But for beef to be considered acceptable to eat by Muslims, the cow must be killed via zabihah (Islamic slaughter) standards. Then and only then can a Muslim eat that meat.

Conversely, a pig, even if it were to be slaughtered by zabihah standards, could NEVER be considered permissible (halal).

So know that certain animals (cattle/fowl/sheep/etc.) are allowed (halal) for meat consumption and others (carnivores, etc.) are forbidden (haram). However, there are conditons under which the "halal" animals have to be slaughtered (zabihah) before their flesh can be "halal / allowable" for consumption. In short, halal in this context means which land animals that are permissible to be slaughtered in the name of Allah.

Now, if any name other than Allah has been pronounced on the animal when it is being slaughtered, it is automatically forbidden for Muslim consumption. If the halal animal died in a fall or is gored to death and it is not slaughtered according to Islamic protocols whereby the name of Allah is pronounced over it at the moment its throat is cut allowing blood to fully drain, it becomes haram to consume. The throat cannot be cut after it is dead; the animal has to be alive and healthy at the time of slaughter (zabihah).

The animals that live in water are halal for consumption by Muslims and it is not required that they be slaughtered (zabihah). There are some differences of opinion regarding which animals that live in water are halal but that is for another time to discuss. Insha Allah. 

Thus, if the cow is NOT killed via zabihah standaards then it should not be consumed by Muslims.

Zabihah is a specific term for Islamic slaughter of animals.

The (possible) confusion that may arise for some people is with the use of the term "halal meat". i.e. going to the halal meat store to get some meat.

In this context, "halal meat" refers to Islamically hand slaughtered meat — i.e. by zabihah standards. It's a bit of overloading of the term halal, and as a result the term ges abuse and misused by businesses and/or people.

Also, some grocery chains carry "halal" meat in their freezer aisles or butcher sections. That of course should mean that the meat has been Islamically slaughtered (i.e. zabihah).

In the US, the term "halal meat" has been in use by grocery store owners for decades, but as Muslims are becoming more educated in Islam, they've begun to question and rightly so "halal" because most assumed that if one travels to a special grocery store to buy "halal meat" then it would be dhabihah/zabihah (hand slaughtered using Islamic methods). However, in some cases, it has been found that the "halal meat" store, carts, and restaurant owners may have been serving "non-zabihah" meat and just claiming it halal which is a play on words. So now, the stores, carts, or restaurants should specifically mention "zabihah" meat which means it's guaranteed to be hand slaughtered using Islamic methods.

One thing to note, and this is important. Zabihah meat (e.g. Islamically slaughtered meat) must be cooked/prepared in such a way that it remains halal to consume. So if you use zabihah chicken to make bourbon chicken, the fact that bourbon is used (which is haram for Muslims) means that the dish is no longer permissible to eat for Muslims.

In reference to eating halal and/or haram, the Prophet, sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam, taught us:

"Whoever eats haram (his morsel is haram), his salah would be accepted but without rewards for 40 nights and his du'a won't be granted. Flesh grown from haram meal deserves to be burnt in Fire. And whoever eats one morsel of halal food, Allah ta 'ala will illuminate his heart." [at-Tabarani in Mu'jam al-Awsat (no. 6495); Safinat ul-Bhiar, v. 1, p. 24; and Bahara al-Anwar (63/314)]

Now the question may arise regarding eating Halal and/or Zabihah from Ahl al-Kitab (People of the Book).

Some people in the non-Muslim countries like the US use the term Zabihah for meat slaughtered by a Muslim. And the term Halal for meat that many purchases from the regular markets under the assumption that it is from the People of the Book (Ahl al-Kitab) and thus halal even through not hand-slaughtered by a Muslim.

Allah says, which means:

"Today I have made permissible for you pure things and the food of those were given the Book (Ahl al-Kitab) is also Halal for you." [HQ: Al-Ma'idah 5:5]

"Do not eat unless Allah's name has been taken and this (not taking Allah's name) practice is transgression." [HQ: Al-An'am 6:121]

In light of both of those verses, it is understood by most of the Ulama (scholars), and there are some differences of opinion, that the Zabihah of the Ahl al-Kitab is permissible only if the name of Allah is taken at the time of hand slaughtering. The Ahl al-Kitab used to take Allah's name when slaughtering an animal, therefore, their Zabihah was also Halal for Muslims. It is for this same reason that an animal slaughtered by the Mushrikeen (those who practice shirk) is not permissible. The Ahl al-Kitab of today is recognized by name, less faith. There is no guarantee that they take the name of Allah when slaughtering an animal. Furthermore, with all due respect, they cannot be trusted in matters pertaining to Halal / Haram. And Allahu 'alam (Allah knows best).

Now you know what are Halal and Zabihah. And knowing is half the battle.

Allah says, which means:

"And say: 'Haqq (Truth) has come and Batil (falsehood) has vanished. Surely! Batil (falsehood) is bound to vanish." [HQ: Al-Isra 17:81]

We ask Allah ta 'ala to show us the truth and make it our lot to follow it, and teach us that which is false and make it easy for us to avoid it. Ameen.

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. To Allah belongs the endowments, befitting perfection, and commendations. We ask Allah to raise the rank of Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam, his Al (Family), and Sahabah (Companions), and to protect his nation from what he fears for it. Ameen.

wal-hamdu lillah (praise to ALLAH)