Halal Encyclopedia

Seven Differences Between Halal and Non-Halal

1. Animals: Animals can be divided into two categories.

1. LandAnimals. All land animals are halal for food, except for the following: animals not slaughtered according to Islamic law; pigs; animals with long, pointed teeth or tusks used for hunting prey, such as tigers, bears, elephants, cats, and monkeys; birds with claws or carnivorous birds; vermin, such as rats, centipedes, scorpions, and similar animals; animals prohibited in Islam from being killed, such as bees and woodpeckers; and disgusting animals, such as lice and flies.

2. Aquatic animals. These are animals that live in water and cannot survive outside of it, such as fish. All aquatic animals are halal, except those that are poisonous, intoxicating, or dangerous to health. Amphibians that can survive both in water and on land, such as crocodiles, turtles, and frogs, are not halal.

2. Fungi and Microorganisms

All types of fungi and microorganisms (like bacteria, algae and fungi) and their by-products or their derivatives are halal unless they are harmful to health, intoxicating or dangerous.

3. Plants

All types of plants, plant products and their derivatives are halal unless they are harmful to health, intoxicating or dangerous.

4. Natural Inorganic and Chemical Substances

All natural inorganic and chemical substances are halal unless they are harmful to health, intoxicating or dangerous.

5. Genetically modified foods

Food and beverages containing genetically modified organisms or ingredients derived from genetic material from animals that are not halal according to Islamic law are non-halal.

6. Beverages

All water and beverages are halal unless they are harmful to health, intoxicating or dangerous.

7. Harmful aquatic animals or plants

Halal dietary law allows such products to be halal when toxins or harmful substances are removed during processing.