When it comes to choosing Halal food, Muslims are primarily concerned about the Halal assurance of meat and alcohol use in the food preparation. From an Islamic perspective, Meat can be broadly categorized into three types: 

• The Meat from animals that are forbidden to be eaten.
• The Meat from animals, other than the forbidden animals, that are not slaughtered according to Islamic law.
• The Meat from animals, other than the forbidden animals, that are slaughtered according to Shariah law (Islamic law).

The Meat from animals that are forbidden to be eaten.

Under Islamic rules, several animals are not permissible to be eaten. These include:

• Pigs/wild boar
• All carnivores with long teeth such as lions, tigers, bears, elephants, cats, and monkeys.
• Dogs
• All winged creatures which have claws such as birds of prey, hawks, vultures, and falcons. 
• Domesticated donkeys, 
• Rodents and reptiles such as mice, scorpions, centipedes, and snakes
• Amphibians such as frogs, salamanders, and turtles.
• Ants, bees, and woodpeckers.

The Meat from animals, other than the forbidden animals, that are not slaughtered according to Islamic law.

Animals who do not fall into the category of forbidden animals, but

• are not slaughtered according to Islamic law.
• has died before being slaughtered.
• or were slaughtered in the name of other deities other than The One God (Allah)

are also not permissible (not-Halal) for Muslims to consume

The Meat from animals, other than the forbidden animals, that are slaughtered according to Shariah law (Islamic law).

Animals who do not fall into the first category and are slaughtered according to Islamic law are the Meat that is Halal for Muslims to consume.

Parts of animals that are not permissible for Muslims to eat

The blood of animals cannot be consumed by Muslims.

Some Muslims also consider the following animal parts to be highly disliked to be consumed:

• Penis
• Testicles
• Vulva
• Glands
• Urinary bladder
• Gall-bladder

Zabihah - The Islamic method of slaughtering animals

Islamic law requires that animals intended for human consumption be slain in a prescribed manner. This is known as Zibah or Zabihah.  Muslims consider this method of slaughter as the most humane method to take the life of an animal for human consumption.  

Some of the conditions of Zabihah :

• animal to be slaughtered must be from the categories/species that are permitted for Muslims to eat.
• must be alive at the time of slaughter.
• slaughtered only by the use of a sharp knife and by a Muslim.

Humane treatment of Animals

On the authority of Abu Ya'la Shahddad ibn Aus, the Prophet Muhammed (May peace and blessing upon him) said: “Verily Allah has prescribed proficiency in all things. Thus, if
you kill, kill well; and if you slaughter, slaughter well. Let each one of you sharpen his blade and let him spare suffering to the animal he slaughters” 

Narrated Ibn Umar: “The Prophet (pbuh) cursed the one who did Muthla to an animal (i.e. cut its limbs or some other part of its body while it is still alive.“

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