Halal guides
Short answers to the questions people ask most about halal and zabiha food, each with its sources. Where Muslims differ, the guides set out the views and who holds them.
What is zabiha?
Zabiha is meat slaughtered the Islamic way: by hand, with God's name said, cutting the throat so the blood drains. What it means and where views differ.
Halal vs zabiha: what is the difference?
Halal means permissible. Zabiha means slaughtered by hand the Islamic way. Why a halal label does not always mean zabiha, and how to tell which you are getting.
Hand slaughtered vs machine slaughtered halal
Hand slaughtered halal means a Muslim cuts each bird with a knife. Machine slaughter uses a rotating blade. Which certifiers accept which, and how to check.
Is halal meat stunned?
Often, yes. In England and Wales 88% of halal chickens were stunned in 2024. Which halal certifiers allow stunning, which forbid it, and what the law says.
How to tell if a restaurant is really halal
Check the certifier's own online list, read what the certificate covers and its date, and ask about the supplier. A practical checklist with sources.
Halal certifiers: HMS, HFSAA, HMA, HMC and HFA
What each major halal certifier in the US, Canada and UK checks: hand slaughter, stunning, inspections and public lists. Compared from their own standards.