The main difference between these two terms is “Slaughtering.” While Halal means permissible, i.e., lawful to eat, Zabiha implies the method of slaughtering; therefore, Zabiha meat is halal (permissible) meats that are slaughtered in a specific process that follows the Islamic guidelines.

Even though both terminologies describe the permissible consumption of meat within the Islamic faith, these terms drastically mean different things.

 

Key Takeaway

• The difference between halal and zabiha is the “slaughtering method” of the animal.
• Halal means food is permissible by Islamic dietary law
• Zabiha is the humane way of slaughtering halal animals according to Islamic right

What is Halal?

Halal – an Islamic term permissible in English, is used to justify if a consumable substance or habit aligns with the Islamic right. This word (Halal) is best known for food items; halal foods are believed to be the best and the safest foods to consume.

 

Halal is interwoven with “Haram” – an Islamic word that is the opposite of something permissible, i.e., prohibited.

 

Halal and Haram may be extended not for food alone but for a way of living. For instance, fornicating, drinking alcohol, or other unlawful food substances like pork or dog are considered sinful, which can also be called Haram.

What is Zabiha

While halal describes if a food or consumable substance is permissible following Islamic law, Zabiha, also known to most people as Dhabiha, is used for meat. In Islam, for beef to be acceptable, it has to go through Zabiha, a humane process in which animals are slaughtered.

 

Difference between Zabiha and Halal

The main difference between these two terms is “Slaughtering.” While Halal means permissible, i.e., lawful to eat, Zabiha implies the method of slaughtering; therefore, Zabiha meat is halal (permissible) meats that are slaughtered in a specific process that follows the Islamic guidelines.

 

Regarding eating meat following Islamic dietary law, Zabiha, and Halal become interchangeable as Zabiha Halal meat is confirmed Halal.

 

The humane way of slaughtering a Halal animal (Zabiha), according to Islamic law, includes taking the animal to a clean space and taking a swift, deep cut toward its jugular vein of the animal. It is considered the best way of slaughtering animals.

 

Below are tabled differences between a Halal animal and Zabiha slaughtering.

Halal Animals and Zabiha Slaughtering Based on Islamic Dietary Guidelines and Practices.

 

Criteria	Halal Animal	Zabiha Slaughtering
Diet	Well-fed with vegetables and clean, pure water	Animals must be healthy at the point of killing
Treatment	Treated with respect	Must be killed by a Muslim who understands the importance of Zabiha and Halal
Healthcare	Given ethical medication	Blessings must be said before slaughtering.
Growth Chemicals	Not allowed	Razor sharp blade/knife is best used to slaughter an animal as it reduces pain.
Feeding Unlawful Substances	Not tolerated	Blood must be left to drain completely

 

 

Halal Animal:

• The animal must be well fed with vegetables and clean, pure water
• Zabiha animals must be treated with respect
• The animal must be well taken care of, giving them ethical medication
• Feeding or injecting growth chemicals is not allowed as it is perceived to be unethical
• Feeding them najis (alcohol content, weed, unlawful foods) is not tolerated

 

Zabiha Slaughtering:

• Animals must be healthy at the point of killing
• Must be killed by a Muslim who understands the importance of Zabiha and Halal
• Blessings must be said before slaughtering.
• Razor sharp blade/knife is best used to slaughter an animal as it reduces pain.
• Blood must be left to drain completely.

 

Quran Verses that talk about Zabiha

Surah: Al-an’am : 121

 

وَلَا تَأْكُلُوا۟ مِمَّا لَمْ يُذْكَرِ ٱسْمُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَفِسْقٌۭ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينَ لَيُوحُونَ إِلَىٰٓ أَوْلِيَآئِهِمْ لِيُجَـٰدِلُوكُمْ ۖ وَإِنْ أَطَعْتُمُوهُمْ 

إِنَّكُمْ لَمُشْرِكُونَ. ١٢١

English Translation:

“Forbidden to you are animals that are not slaughtered in the name of Allah. For that would certainly be “an act of” disobedience. Surely the devils whisper to thou “human” associates to argue with thou. If thou were to obey them, then thou “too” would be polytheists (unbeliever).”

 

Quran Verses that speak about Halal

 

ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ ٱلرَّسُولَ ٱلنَّبِىَّ ٱلْأُمِّىَّ ٱلَّذِى يَجِدُونَهُۥ مَكْتُوبًا عِندَهُمْ فِى ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةِ وَٱلْإِنجِيلِ يَأْمُرُهُم بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَىٰهُمْ 

عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمُ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْخَبَـٰٓئِثَ وَيَضَعُ عَنْهُمْ إِصْرَهُمْ وَٱلْأَغْلَـٰلَ ٱلَّتِى كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ فَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَعَزَّرُوهُ وَنَصَرُوهُ وَٱتَّبَعُوا۟ ٱلنُّورَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ مَعَهُۥٓ ۙ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ

 

English Translation:

“There are the ones who adhere to the Prophet of the Unlearned, the Messenger, whose description they can read in their own Torah and Gospel. Only those who believe in him, honor and support him, and follow the light sent down to him will succeed. He commands them to be righteous, forbids them from evil, “permits for them what is lawful and forbids to them what is impure, ” and releases them from their burdens and the chains that bound them.

 

Importance of Halal and Zabiha to Muslims

Muslims strongly follow the teachings of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH). In Islam, the Holy Quran is believed to be the guide to a good way of living.

 

Muslims need to eat Zabiha meat and Halal foods to stay holy and obey what Allah (GOD) has made lawful and what is unlawful. It is also vital because zabiha and halal helps promote good health and reduce the potential contact with food or meat bacterias.

 

What type of food are Muslims not allowed to eat

Because of the strict bound in Islamic dietary law, Muslims are not allowed to eat foods that contain unlawful substances such as Alcohol, Toxicated plants like weed, food ingredients that include illegal substances, and more.

 

What animals are Muslims not allowed to eat

It is well-known that Muslims are not allowed to eat certain types of food. The most common food substances commonly known to be prohibited in the Islamic faith are pork and alcohol; these two primary foods are considered najis (impure/unclean) and strictly prohibited.

 

Here are categories/lists of foods that are prohibited in Islam

Hunting/Animals that eat Carrion

• Pigs
• Dogs
• Snakes
• Lion
• Tiger
• Cheetah
• Hyenas
• Alligator
• Crocodile
• Monitor Lizards and more

 

Hunting/Birds that Eat Carrion:

• Vulture
• Falcon
• Sparrow
• Raven and more

 

Benefits of Eating Halal and Zabiha

Eating Halal and Zabiha meats helps promote good health and strengthens the immune system. Listed below are the benefits of eating Halal foods and Zabiha meats:

1. They are free from harmful bacteria that cause illness in humans, such as E.coli
2. Halal/Zabiha foods are good sources of nutrition and hygiene
3. They are free from blood since the “Zabiha Killing Method” requires draining blood completely
4. Zabiha meats are tastier, and tenderer
5. Eating Halal/Zabiha shows the obedience and how disciplined Muslims are to what God has made lawful.

 

Conclusion

Zabiha and Halal are different but are mainly used interchangeably in meat consumption. Halal is an Arabic word that means permissible, while Zabiha is a slaughtering process of Halal animals.

 

Muslims should follow Islamic dietary rules, eat only pure, and abstain from unlawful foods or other consumable substances. By doing this, you are living a life that pleases God and is all that matters.

 

Allah (God) has made things permissible to us, from eating vegetables and legumes to eating animals and beverages. Indeed we (Muslims) are permitted to eat only what Allah has made lawful and forbids what is not.