How Can a Newly Muslim Convert Handle Difficulty Finding Halal Meat?

Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Weltch

Question

I am a 21-year-old Muslim convert from Croatia, following Hanafi fiqh. I’ve been Muslim for a few years, but sometimes I find it difficult.

For example, I recently learned that meat (besides pork) can be haram, so now I try to eat only halal. However, it’s hard to find halal meat here, and my family struggles to prepare it.

At the canteen, I only eat vegetables and canned fish, but there’s a chance it’s cooked in non-halal meat oil. What should I do?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I personally, only came to know about Halal meat, about one year after I became Muslim. I previously thought that pork was the only prohibition. Thereafter, I also struggled with finding Halal meat and dealing with non-Muslim families and restaurants that may have cross-contamination.

That being said, do not be discouraged. There is certain advice from my experience that I will share that may make this situation easier for you.

Temporarily Pescatarian

It is a great sacrifice but there are always many non-meat options available that may offer a temporary solution to some of the issues you are facing. Not the least of which is eating together with non-Muslim family members.

Kosher Meat

Secondly, being that they are a much older community – many European countries have large Jewish populations. If you can find legitimate kosher meat (i.e., that which was slaughtered by a Jew who mentioned the name of God over the slaughter), it is permissible to eat in the Hanafi school. [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

Dealing With Cross-Contamination

This is indeed a difficulty that Muslims around the world are dealing with. However, due to the increase of vegetarians and vegans, people are slowly becoming more cognizant of cross-contamination.

As you alluded to, fried foods are the main point of caution for cross-contamination. Aside from this, you are not obliged to investigate every possibility of cross-contamination – unless you are reasonably sure that there is a high likelihood of cross-contamination. The mere hypothetical possibility is not grounds for caution or investigation

The Solution

Many of the Muslims in non-Muslim countries began to find food solutions when they took it upon themselves to gather resources and provide Halal meat for their families and communities.

Perhaps a group of Muslims can contact some of the farmers in your area and request to do the slaughter themselves and then the meat can be distributed and frozen for future needs.

These are merely some suggestions and I pray that you find ease in this regard. Do not lose hope. Your struggle will definitely be rewarded by Allah (Most High).

Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a teacher of Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he went on to study at Darul Uloom Seminary in New York and completed his studies at Darul Mustafa in Tarim, Yemen.

There, he completed the memorization of the Quran and his study of Islamic Sciences. Throughout his years of study, he was blessed to learn from many great scholars: Habib Umar bin Hafiz, Habib Kazhim al-Saqqaf, Shaykh ‘Umar bin Husayn al-Khatib, and others.