Can Orthodox Christians Eat Kosher Food? Can an Orthodox Christian eat halal products, blood sausages, dog meat, pigeons, and some insects? Features of halal products

Many have not come across this concept and do not know the meaning of the word halal (halal), having seen it on the packaging of different products. This term came to us from Islam, in which this concept includes self-care, relaxation, entertainment, and food. Almost everything related to human activity, his life in the religion of Islam falls under halal, so for people it is a way of life.

What is halal

This is an Arabic word, which in translation means “permissibility” or “freedom. Halal is a food permitted by Islam, which is produced in accordance with Muslim rules. We are mainly talking about meat products, because the faithful are forbidden to eat meat with blood and pork, monkeys (according to the Koran, these are people cursed by Allah). The method of killing the animal is also taken into account, it must be carried out in compliance with a special ritual: you need to calm the cattle, be sure to pray, kill it very quickly and painlessly. Such meat is called halal.

Halal products

Orthodox Islamists use products that are made according to special rules. There is a list of allowed and prohibited foods. Halal products are as follows:

Berries, vegetables, fruits and their derivatives.
All food options that do not fall under "Haram" (forbidden).
Sea and river fish: eel, catfish, sturgeon.
locust
Dairy products, milk. The only exception is some prohibited components: yogurt with gelatin in the composition, which is obtained by digesting animal bones.
Ice cream.
Margarine from vegetable fats.
Drinks without alcohol, including reasonable kvass, non-alcoholic beer.
Soy, beans.
Halal meat.
Cauliflower.
Nuts, cereals.
Cheeses.
Sweets, sweets without alcohol content. The exception is products that use pure alcohol, and not rum, cognac, etc. Pure alcohol in the Islamic faith is not considered bad.

List of prohibited products

The Qur'an contains all the types of food that believers should not eat. Halal food is prepared according to certain rules. The following are examples of what faith is forbidden to consume:

animal blood;
emulsifiers and dyes;
the meat of animals slaughtered according to non-Islamic traditions, eating haram foods;
any endocrine glands of animals, gall/urinary bladders, genitals;
animals that died from suffocation, falling, shock, lightning or current, died of natural death;
additional raw materials from fat, bones, meat of haram animals: gelatin thickeners, casings of sausages, sausages;
alcohol as a drink or component in the preparation of a dish;
fish that died naturally;
any birds of prey with claws;
halal products that come into contact with haram;
sweets with alcohol in the composition;
lizards, hedgehogs, turtles, snakes, scorpions, cats, dogs, mice, rats, hyenas.

Halal meat

When people talk about halal in everyday life, they often mean meat. Halal food implies a special preparation procedure, which includes some ritual and must comply with two important conditions: it must not be haram and the animal must be slaughtered according to the canons of the Koran. Muslims have learned to cook excellent dishes from such meat. The following rules must be observed during slaughter:

You need to read a prayer first, then immediately cut the carotid artery. The knife at the same time, which is used for slaughter, must be smooth, without notches. The cattle must bleed out completely. Those residues that are in the carcass after all these procedures are considered permissible.
Then the nerves and some tendons are removed.
When preparing a homemade dish, for example, pilaf, you must first salt the meat, then rinse it to get rid of blood residue.

What types of meat are halal

There are tangible differences from ordinary meat, especially with regard to the rules of production. Allowed varieties include the following options:

chicken, turkey;
rabbit;
beef;
camel meat, goat meat, lamb;
quail, heron, duck;
geese, partridges, ostrich meat;
buffalo, antelope, venison.

Features of the industrial production of halal meat

Food from the halal menu is not just a religious component, but also pure products that meet the necessary requirements. In industrial production, the following rules are observed:

Careful control is carried out at each stage so that all sanitary and hygienic standards are observed.
Special treatment for animals before slaughter, during and after.
Fattening is carried out only with natural food (GMOs, additives, hormones are prohibited).
The animal must be absolutely healthy.
A short prayer must be held before slaughter.
Slaughter is carried out exclusively by cutting the carotid artery.
The blood is removed as completely as possible only by a natural method in order to obtain a pleasant and delicate taste. The same procedure helps to significantly reduce the likelihood of bacterial growth.

There are still rules that must be observed during production.

Tradition halal raised serious questions among Christians. Is it permissible to eat the meat of an animal over which the name of Allah was pronounced? What biblical principles will help you make the right decision?

In the UK, all shops, restaurants and supermarkets sell meat halal. We can find it on the menus of school and hospital canteens. It is offered at sporting events. If we go to visit Muslims, then the meat that will be offered to us, most likely, will also be halal. It is difficult to avoid eating halal meat, especially since the consumer cannot always find enough information on the packaging.

Meat halal prepared according to the rules established in Islamic law - Shariah. The term " halal" means "permitted", that is, food halal- this is what Sharia allows to eat. Animals are slaughtered in a special way: blood is shed on the ground from a still living and usually conscious animal, at the same time a prayer is said.

“O you who believe! Eat the good things We have provided for you and give thanks to Allah if you worship Him. He forbade you only carrion, and blood, and the meat of a pig, and that which was slaughtered not for Allah.” (Quran 2: 167-168).

“And do not eat anything on which the name of Allah is not mentioned.” (Quran 6:121).

Tradition halal raised serious questions among Christians. Is it permissible to eat the meat of an animal over which the name of Allah was pronounced or a festive sacrificial meat? In what cases can this be done, and in what cases not? What biblical principles will help you make the right decision?

MARK 7:1-23 / MATTHEW 15:1-20
In the Gospels, Jesus Christ teaches that nothing that enters a person from outside can defile him in the eyes of God. A person is defiled by what comes from within, because everything that comes from the mouth comes from the heart, and such evil thoughts make communication with God impossible.

Christ's teaching is given in the context of a dispute over Jewish food laws. These laws forbid Jews from eating certain foods and accepting them from non-Jews because they consider them "unclean." But by saying that food cannot defile one standing before God, Jesus (according to Mark 7:19) declared all food to be “clean.” His disciples can eat any food and it will not defile them.

1 CORINTHIANS 8-10
In these chapters, the apostle Paul answers the controversy that arose among the Christians of Corinth regarding the eating of food offered to idols. Some of them claimed that this was the worship of other gods. Others declared that there were no other gods, and therefore they were free to participate in pagan celebrations, during which sacrifices were made to idols.

Paul agrees that "an idol is nothing in the world" and the food offered to it has no religious significance. The earth and everything that fills it belongs to God, and hence the food is from Him and therefore cannot be defiled.

But Paul also speaks of specific cases in which food offered to idols should not be eaten. It is unacceptable to participate in the celebration if they take place in a pagan temple, since an offering to idols actually means an offering to the demons who are behind this ritual. Eating food in such an environment means making friends with demons.

In addition, there are believers who believe that it is wrong to eat things offered to idols. We should not defend our point of view if it can become a stumbling block for such Christians.

ROMANS 14:1 - 15:6
Here Paul is trying to resolve a disagreement that arose between Jewish Christians, who felt it was necessary to keep Jewish traditions, and Gentile Christians, who claimed to be free from them. He urges those who strictly follow dietary restrictions not to judge others, for all will be accountable to God alone.

At the same time, Paul insists that those who do not adhere to food prohibitions should not despise those who observe them, but be tolerant of them and give no reason to stumble. In fact, nothing can be impure by itself. But if a person considers something unclean, then for him it is so. If, by eating meat, we force other Christians to do what they think is wrong, we are pushing them into sin.

ACTS 15 AND REVELATION 2
In Acts 15, a letter to the Jerusalem church instructs the Gentile believers in Antioch and others to abstain from food sacrificed to idols. In Revelation 2, God accuses the two churches of condoning those who teach others to eat food offered to idols.

1 TIMOTHY 4:1-5
This passage confirms that everything created by God is good, and that He allows any food to be received with thanksgiving by all who know the truth. It also says that nothing received with thanksgiving should be rejected because it is sanctified by prayer and the Word of God.

PRINCIPLE
The background for Jesus' utterances was Jewish religious injunctions. He laid down the principle that it is not food that defiles a person, but what is inside him. Thus, He opposed the Jewish tradition of distinguishing food on religious grounds. Jesus Christ states that food in itself is not unwholesome.

Paul confirms this in the context of paganism. Usually, the meat of an animal killed during a sacrifice in a temple was sold openly in the market and anyone could buy it. Again, Paul affirms the principle that all food is fit to eat.

PRACTICE
However, there are situations when we must decide for ourselves how to apply this principle in practice. One such situation may be idolatry. Although the idols themselves do not mean anything, there are demonic forces behind them. Therefore, Christians should avoid participating in such activities and not consume food on this occasion.

Another case may be the presence at the table of a Christian who follows the tradition of not eating meat that has been dedicated to idols. One should respect brothers and sisters who have similar problems and refrain from eating such food in their presence.

According to Pavel, it is allowed to eat meat at a party if its origin is unknown. However, if it becomes known that the meat is idolatrous, it is necessary to abstain from food, taking into account the commitment of the owner (1 Cor. 10:27-29). If a person warns us about the origin of meat, therefore, he wants us to abstain.

A non-Christian may try to win us over to his side by offering meat sacrificed to idols, so that we participate precisely in the sacrifice. Acts chapter 15 and Revelation chapter 2 state restrictions on the consumption of idolatrous meat and blame churches for encouraging such practices.

There are two main food concerns halal. The first lies in the method of killing and causes controversy over the fact that the animal being killed suffers unnecessary suffering. The second problem is the prayer that is said over the animal being slaughtered: it may be bismillah(in the name of Allah) or shahada(there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger). This is the religious aspect of what ordinary meat does. halal. Besides, halal It is an integral part of Islamic Sharia law.

Voluntarily or not, large chain supermarkets take into account the attitude of Shariah to meat products. As a result, much of the meat consumed in the UK and many Western countries comes from animals that are cruelly slaughtered and prayed over in accordance with Islamic law. Is it possible to eat it in this case? I repeat, the principle is that any food is good. If it is sanctified by the thanksgiving prayer of a Christian, then there is no reason for a Christian not to eat it. This is how this problem is solved in many Muslim countries, where only halal meat is available in stores.

However, the question of food cannot be separated from the context in which it arises. By rejecting Jewish dietary ordinances, can we Christians accept Islamic law? The production of halal products is part of the process of Islamization, in which some Muslims are trying to extend the requirements of Islamic law not only to their adherents, but to the rest of society. Should we, as Christians or other non-Muslims, put up with the dictatorship of Islamic law, which is already firmly rooted in the British food industry and supermarket chains? It is quite possible to say that Christians and other non-Muslims, by eating halal meat, contribute to dawa (Islamic mission), the Islamization of society and the rule of Islamic law.

There is another factor that requires attention - participation in the Muslim celebration of Eid al-Adha. This holiday is based on a story from the Koran about Abraham's readiness to fulfill the will of Allah and sacrifice Ishmael. The Quran says that Allah "demanded a ransom in the form of a precious sacrifice" (Quran 37:100-107). This is a blood sacrifice, although many modern Muslims do not recognize this. Is it permissible for Christians to eat meat that is a sacrifice of blood? Some, of course, will consider this celebration a purely social event, but we must not forget the main reason for it and why the slaughtered animal receives such attention. In some Muslim countries, Christians abstain from meat offered after this celebration.

While most Christians believe that eating meat halal fundamentally wrong, the context in which it is proposed should make us prudent in our choice.

Dr. Patrick Sucdeo
International Director of the Barnabas Foundation

Asked by: Website reader, Moscow

Answer: Archpriest Nikolai Dyakov

Hello! Please tell me, is it possible for an Orthodox Christian to eat halal products, pork, blood sausages, dog meat, pigeons, some insects that are cooked in Asian countries, such as cockroaches? Thank you.

Hello dear reader!

It is definitely possible for a Christian to eat halal products, since there is halal, nothing more than the slaughter of an animal according to the Muslim rite (bleeding of blood). This method of cooking meat is not sacrificial, which means that we can safely eat it.

We can eat the meat of any animal and even insects. John the Baptist ate locusts in the desert, see: Mark 1:6, the Apostle Peter received a message from God, in which he was offered to eat “unclean”, according to the Old Testament, animals, with the words: "what God has cleansed, do not call unclean!" (Acts:10:15). Saint Basil the Great writes: "Someone promised to abstain from pork meat: he is ridiculous, because he makes a pledge and a promise foolishly, for no creature of God is swept aside, with thanksgiving is acceptable (1 Tim. 4, 4). So, we must forgive him the use of meat, from which he promised to abstain, but at the same time teach him not to make foolish vows to God. (Second Canon. Epistle of V.V. to Amphilochius)

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Halal or kosher food is food that is allowed for consumption in Islam or Judaism, respectively. But can Orthodox Christians eat it? Let's figure it out.

What is Halal and Kosher

The word "halal" comes from the Arabic "al-halal", which means "allowed". Basically, this concept among Muslims refers to meat. For example, Islam forbids eating pork, meat with blood, the meat of animals that have died a natural death or strangled, and those who have been slaughtered without pronouncing the name of Allah. You can also not eat the meat of land predators - for example, a tiger or a wolf. Under the ban is the use of some parts of the bodies of animals, such as the genitals, endocrine glands, gallbladder.

Kosher (kosher) food in Judaism is called food corresponding to kashrut - a system of ritual rules, in turn, corresponding to the commandments of the Torah. So, it is allowed to eat the meat of herbivores, which are both ruminants and artiodactyls. These are, for example, cows, sheep, goats. But the meat of a pig, a hare or a camel is forbidden. As for the bird, according to tradition, the Jews eat only domestic birds - chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and pigeons. The slaughter of livestock and poultry must also be carried out in compliance with many rules. It is forbidden to eat blood, so the meat must be bled. A fish is considered kosher if it has scales and fins. Therefore, some types of fish (catfish, sturgeon, eel, shark) are not kosher, and their caviar, too. Whales and dolphins are also not kosher because they don't have scales, any molluscs and crustaceans because they don't have scales or fins. It is strictly forbidden to eat insects, amphibians and reptiles (the Torah calls them sheretz - evil spirits).

Today in Russia, you can often find on sale products labeled "kosher" or "halal". And they are sold not only in specialized outlets. Many Orthodox are interested in whether it is possible to buy and eat such products.

"Idolized"

Here is the opinion of Priest John Sevastyanov: “Those or other procedures and rituals that are performed during the preparation of this ritual food are associated with the corresponding religion - Islamic or Jewish. Both confessions are extremely hostile to Christianity. Any enmity towards Christ comes from the devil. Therefore, all objects that are “sanctified” in these religions can be considered for a Christian nothing more than idolatrous. And there is a direct apostolic ban on eating idolatrous things... Therefore, I believe that we cannot eat such products, which we know for certain, that certain non-Christian rituals were performed on them... But on the other hand, if we have nothing If the origin of the products is not declared, and we do not know if certain ritual actions were performed on them, then they are allowed to be eaten by Christians: “Eat everything that is sold at the auction!”

"Spiritual Danger"

In turn, Hieromonk Job (Gumerov) believes that "the prescriptions for kosher food ... are nothing more than the fulfillment of ritual rules based on Old Testament rites." “The New Testament abolished all prescriptions regarding food,” states the clergyman. - This was confirmed by the Apostolic Council in Jerusalem (see: Acts 15:6-29). It was forbidden only to eat blood and strangled. The prohibition for Christians to eat blood was confirmed by the 67th canon of the VI Ecumenical Council (680-681) ... Since the preparation of kosher food does not go beyond the Old Testament rites, for us Christians, the question of kosher or non-kosher of this or that food has absolutely no significance . We can prayerfully eat it like any other food.”

Protodeacon Dimitry Tsyplakov holds somewhat different views: “Jewish “kashrut” and Islamic “halal” are not food sacrificed to idols… I think there is no special ban on eating it… But there is a spiritual danger in the desire to buy this food.” Tsyplakov means that halal and kosher products are often of higher quality than conventional ones, are considered environmentally friendly, and are good for health. And this may suggest that another religion is better than the Christian one.

Most priests are of the opinion that an Orthodox Christian can eat halal or kosher food only if it is not possible to purchase other products or if he is visiting Muslims (Jews) and there is no other food there. He should also not buy these foodstuffs from the mosque or synagogue.