Rethinking Islam with Sultan Shahin

Urdu Section

25 Nov 2010, NewAgeIslam.Com

The distinction between halal and haram in Europe

Recently a food chain in the suburbs of Paris has declared itself fully halal. Before that a famous burger chain had already announced the supply of halal burger. Not only that, they have also put up certificates on the walls of these chain stores stating ‘Beef of halal cows are used here’. Surprising is the fact that this is all happening in a country where the Parliament has passed a law against the hijab (The law was being debated during that time). Not only that, an American company famous for chicken has also claimed that they have been supplying only halal chicken for the last few years. But the issue being discussed was burger and beef. The arrangement was made because out of a population of 63millions in France, Muslim population is 5 million. And the number of people consuming halal food is increasing by 15% every year. It is obvious that the businessmen will give importance to the things in great demand or giving great business. -- Mosarrat Jabeen

The distinction between halal and haram in Europe

By Mosarrat Jabeen (Translated from Urdu by New Age Islam Edit Desk) It is said that money is the greatest teacher. In other words, economic concerns or the concern for bread and butter overshadows all other concerns. There was a time when Muslims migrating to Europe had to restrict themselves to fish and chips due to their preoccupation with what is halal and what is haram. Even then there was always the apprehension about the oil, ghee or fat being used for frying. Later, as their population increased they made things easier for themselves and gradually became self-dependent. However, while dining in hotels and restaurants, the worry always haunted them as barring purely Asian areas, there were few places where the distinction between halal and haram was made. God bless the people with business acumen who started making the distinction between halal and haram considering the growing market of the Muslims promising good business. Recently a food chain in the suburbs of Paris has declared itself fully halal. Before that a famous burger chain had already announced the supply of halal burger. Not only that, they have also put up certificates on the walls of these chain stores stating ‘Beef of halal cows are used here’. Surprising is the fact that this is all happening in a country where the Parliament has passed a law against the hijab (The law was being debated during that time). Not only that, an American company famous for chicken has also claimed that they have been supplying only halal chicken for the last few years. But the issue being discussed was burger and beef. The arrangement was made because out of a population of 63millions in France, Muslim population is 5 million. And the number of people consuming halal food is increasing by 15% every year. It is obvious that the businessmen will give importance to the things in great demand or giving great business. This makes one thing clearer. Our perception that the Jews, Christians and followers of other religions are our enemies and want to obliterate us does not hold much water. The question is only of one’s survival and interests. As a European Charlemagne has expressed his apprehension that the speed with which the Muslim population was increasing in Europe and America, they would be in majority in near future and the native population would become the minority. His thinking and apprehension might be true in the sense that other communities insist on birth control in order to be ahead in the race for progress but perhaps Muslims consider population growth their sole source of strength. Even during the devastating floods recently, one must have observed that with every group of four or five adults there were at least fifteen children. This must be the case in Europe, America and other countries as well. However, where economic and financial benefits are at stake, religion and country assume secondary status. Only developed nations can realize this point. That is why they do not allow these two factors to govern their interests. The ban on hijab did not harm their economic interests but everything is fine where money and business is concerned. Here the issue was only halal meat which is good for health in every respect. Source: Jang, Karachi URL: http://www.newageislam.com/NewAgeIslamUrduSection_1.aspx?ArticleID=3724