Brunei - Importance of consuming halal food in the family

THE family institution needs to be educated on the importance of consuming halal food for the well-being of the entire ummah (Muslim community).

The spiritual and physical self will be strengthened through consuming halal food, he said, and a strong spiritual and physical sense of self is a factor of excellence within a family, said Hj Abdul Rahman Pengarah Hj Mokti from the State Mufti Department.

He was delivering a presentation during the "Development of the Muslim Family for Couples" seminar held at the International Convention Centre (ICC) yesterday morning.

"The synchronosity of the spiritual and physical self will reflect the stability of a household, and a stable household will prevail through the storm," he said. "A stable household will produce excellent husbands, wives and children."

This is the reason why Muslim couples need to realise the importance of eating food in the halal or haram (forbidden) aspect.

A family that emphasises the importance of eating halal food and stays away from food or rezeki (sustenance) that is haram, will become a family that is healthy.

Hj Abdul Rahman said that according to hadith, the role played by husband and wife is important in shaping the syakhsiah (character) of their children.

This is especially highlighted when it comes to consuming of halal foods where Hj Abdul Rahman shared specific guidelines that Muslim parents should adhere to such as the husband and wife need to work together to ensure what type of food the family consumes.

The guidelines include reminding the wife to prepare halal food, reminding the husband not to be involved in haram deeds such as corruption and gambling as well as monitoring the food the children eats.

Parents should also teach their children to look for the halal logo every single time they buy ingredients and should also stay away from restaurants or eateries that are highly doubtful in its halal/haram classification.

"A head of family that emphasises on eating halal rezeki, will get praise from Allah SWT," he said.

Consuming only halal food is an obligation and was clearly written in the Quran, he added.

Hj Abdul Rahman also identified various characteristics of halal food that included slaughtering the animal according to syara' (Islamic laws) conditions, food that would not harm the body, non-intoxicating food substances, food that is not najis (ritually unclean substances) or substances mixed with the ritually unclean, and food that is not haram by dalil (evidence) such as hadith and the Quran.

Eating food that is halal also has its positive effects which include, a healthy life according to Imam Syafi'ie who proved that consuming halal food was a cure and a tip for healthy living and that eating food that was haram was a contributing factor to disease.

"Islam prioritises the importance of its ummah's (community) physical health as a healthy body will assist a Muslim individual to carry out his godly duties," said Hj Abdul Rahman.

"Islam's attention towards the health of its ummah is clearly stated in the Quran so that the (Muslim) individual avoid going towards the mire of destruction."

According to research, animals that are slaughtered according to syara' will release accumulated blood in the body.

"It is this accumulated blood that can cause diseases," he said.

In other studies, pork contains worms that can cause dangerous diseases as the said worms can multiply within the human body and at the same time, eat it, he added.

He related a sabda by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), it was stated that those who consumed halal meat for a total of 40 days, will be blessed by Allah SWT with light and wisdom in their heart and speech.

"When the individual's heart shines, he will steer towards devotion of his body. He will grow to love worship and despise evil, producing an individual that is responsible, pious and devoted," said Hj Abdul Rahman.

He continued to say that prayers are a weapon of Islam, but not all prayers performed by individuals who consume haram food will be accepted by Allah SWT.

"Eating halal food is amongst one of the reasons that prayers are answered by Allah SWT," he said.

Hana Roslan

The Brunei Times

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