Halal barbeque is a type of outdoor meat grilling done in accordance with Islamic dietary regulations. This refers to the type of meat being cooked, as well as the method by which the animal was killed and how it was prepared prior to cooking. While halal dietary rules are flexible in emergency situations where no other food is available, principles of Dhabihah, or ritual slaughter, must be followed in all other cases or the meat will be considered forbidden, or haraam.
Followers of Islam are prohibited from eating any type of pork, as well as any remaining animal blood, according to the Islamic law of Dhabihah. This goes against the grain of traditional barbeque. Halal barbeque differs from traditional barbeque in that it does not involve cooking raw pork. Other animals prohibited as food sources under Islamic law include birds of prey and other carnivorous animals, as well as any land animal without external ears, such as reptiles and amphibians.
Halal barbeque also prohibits the use of meat from an animal that has already died, regardless of how it was obtained. The animal must be ritually killed, with Allah’s or God’s name being pronounced throughout the process, and the creature’s throat slit with a sharp knife to ensure a quick and painless death. Other slaughter restrictions include the requirement that the animal be conscious during the execution and that it be bled completely dry before being butchered.
Instead of being a Muslim, the Islamic people allow the person who slaughters the animals for halal barbeque to be a member of The People of the Book. This includes all religions that have a revealed scripture as their foundation, such as Jews, Christians, and Sabians, who are considered another offshoot of Abraham. This precept permits Christians and Jews living among Muslims to prepare animals for consumption that comply with Islamic law, as long as they are slaughtered in God’s name. As a result of this practice, Jewish kosher meats are now an acceptable substitute for halal barbeque prepared by Muslims.
Due to the rules that must be followed for the halal diet, halal barbeque tends to have a higher quality on average than traditional meats. This includes the requirement that any animals raised for meat be fed natural feed free of animal byproducts like animal fats, which is similar to kosher requirements. Other types of meat from sanctioned animals, such as the hindquarters of animals, are also prohibited as halal barbecue or in other halal meals. Other exceptions to the overall Dhabihah rules for animals include camels, insects such as locusts, and fish and other sea life, which cannot be prepared in the traditional halal-certified manner in most cases.