By Gemma Ali, BSc, MSc, DAg, Founder of the Halal Animal Welfare Association
Last weekend, I had the pleasure of speaking at Karimia Institute in Nottingham on a subject very close to my heart: Halal & Tayyib Meat, Rediscovering the Sunnah Diet.
Having spent many years working in animal welfare, livestock science and the halal sector, I value opportunities to have open and constructive conversations with Muslim communities about where our food comes from and what Islam asks of us. The central question of the discussion was simple: What does it really mean for our food to be halal and tayyib?
Halal is more than a label
The Quran tells us: “O humanity! Eat from what is lawful and good on the earth…” Quran 2:168
Halal concerns what Allah has made lawful and permissible, while tayyib describes what is good, wholesome, pure and beneficial. This encourages us to look beyond whether food is technically permissible. We should also consider its quality, how it was produced, how animals were treated, how much is wasted and the wider impact of our choices.
For meat, animal welfare does not begin at the slaughterhouse. An animal experiences farming, handling and transport before slaughter. We should therefore ask whether it was healthy, properly cared for, transported responsibly and ultimately slaughtered in a way that minimised avoidable suffering. These questions are part of the wider Islamic principles of compassion and responsibility.
The Sunnah and moderation
Our relationship with meat was another important theme. Islam permits meat, but permissibility does not mean consumption without limits. The Quran reminds us: “Eat and drink, but do not be excessive.” Quran 7:31
In an age when meat is readily available, perhaps we should ask not only, “Can I eat this?” but also, “How much do I actually need?” Mindful consumption does not mean abandoning meat. It means valuing what we eat, choosing quality where possible, reducing waste and considering the resources and animals involved in producing our food.
Consumers also have influence. Where we have the opportunity, we can ask where our meat came from, how the animal was raised, what halal certification covers and whether there is proper traceability.
Animal welfare is part of the halal conversation
Public discussions about halal and animal welfare often focus heavily on slaughter and stunning. These are important issues, but an animal’s welfare is affected throughout its entire life. As Muslims, our concern should therefore extend to farming conditions, care, transport, handling and slaughter. Animals are part of Allah’s creation. We have been permitted to benefit from them, but that permission comes with responsibilities.
The Islamic principles of ihsan (excellence in conduct) and rahmah (mercy and compassion) provide a strong foundation for how we should approach their treatment. This is why I established the Halal Animal Welfare Association (H.A.W.A.) in 2018: to strengthen the connection between halal principles and animal welfare through education, research, awareness and constructive engagement.
We need greater collaboration between Islamic scholars, scientists, farmers, food businesses, halal certifiers and consumers, alongside better transparency throughout the food supply chain.
A conversation worth continuing
My experience at Karimia Institute was a reminder of the importance of bringing Islamic principles, scientific knowledge and practical realities together. The message I wanted to leave was simple:
- Halal asks whether something is permissible.
- Tayyib asks whether it is good and wholesome.
- The Sunnah teaches us compassion, balance and responsibility.
Together, these principles encourage us to think more deeply about our food, our health, the welfare of animals and our responsibility towards Allah’s creation.
Watch the full video below:
Click HERE to download the full presentation.
