What is Halal Food

The word halal in Arabic means permitted or lawful. It is used to reference any behavior or object that is permitted under Islamic law. Therefore, halal foods are foods that are allowed to be consumed under Islamic dietary guidelines. The foods that are not permitted are called haram, meaning “forbidden” in Arabic.

The word kosher is Hebrew for “proper” or “fit” which is similar to the Arabic word halal. However, whereas Jews do not speak the name of God each time they slaughter an animal, Muslims perform a prayer over the first and last animal in any given slaughter.