Kosher vs Halal
The main difference between Kosher and Halal comes from their association with two distinct religions. Halal is a widely known concept, even among non-Muslims, and encompasses what is fit and proper for Muslims in various aspects of life. In this article, we will focus on food and how Muslims can consume it, particularly meats. Like Islam, Judaism also has rules and regulations regarding food consumption. These rules, known as Kosher, have many similarities with Halal, as well as some notable differences.
What is Halal?
Halal food refers to food that is acceptable for Muslims to eat. Muslims avoid eating pork, which is considered Haram, the opposite of Halal in Islam. There are also rules on how the animal to be consumed should be slaughtered. A Muslim person must kill the animal, and a prayer to God must be said before the animal is killed. Muslims are required to remember and pray to Allah before sacrificing the animal. The person slaughtering the animal says “Bismillah, Allahu Akbar” before each slaughter, which is an invocation of God’s name before the act.
Halal also dictates the way the knife should be used on the animal’s neck, ensuring a less painful death. The act of slaughtering, known as Dhabh, requires one swift move by a Muslim man or woman to kill the animal. If the hand rises before Dhabh and returns immediately to complete the process, the meat of the slaughtered animal is still considered Halal for Muslims. The animal must be completely drained of blood before it can be eaten by Muslims.
Certain animals, such as rabbits, hens, geese, and ducks, are allowed to be slaughtered in Islam. Wines and alcohols are considered Haram in Islam, as intoxicating substances are prohibited from consumption.
What is Kosher?
Kosher refers to the rules and regulations that Jews must follow when consuming food. Like Muslims, Jews also do not accept pork, as it is not kosher. There are specific methods to follow when killing an animal for it to be considered kosher, and a Jewish person must perform the killing. Praying to God before the animal is killed is not compulsory in the case of Shechita, which is the Jewish way of slaughtering permitted animals in a religious and humane manner. A Jew only needs to remember God’s name once a day, not necessarily before every slaughter. Kosher also requires the knife to be used on the animal’s neck in a specific way to ensure a less painful death. In the case of Shechita, the act must involve one swift and uninterrupted move for the meat to be labeled Kosher.
The blood must be fully drained from the meat after the animal is killed for it to be consumed. In Judaism, animals such as chicken, goose, and duck are prohibited and considered non-Kosher. Wines are, however, considered kosher in Judaism.
Key Takeaways
- Halal refers to the food that is acceptable for Muslims to eat, according to Muslim dietary laws, while Kosher refers to food that is acceptable for Jews to eat, according to Jewish dietary laws.
- In Islam, rendering God’s name is essential before slaughter, while praying to God is not necessary in Judaism.
- Both Halal and Kosher require specific slaughtering processes (Dhabh for Muslims and Shechita for Jews) and the draining of blood from the meat before consumption.
