ISLAMIC STUDIES : MPW 2143

ISSUE ON HALAL LOGO

ISLAMIC STUDIES

MPW 2143

SUBMITTED TO :

USTAZ MUHAMMAD PISOL MAT ISA

SUBMITTED BY :

NOR EDLINA MOHD ROSNI 14551

NURUL IZYANI ZAKARIA 14779

NADHIRAH MOHD NASIR 15063

FATIN NUR AMIRAH MOHD FARIDZA 15065

GROUP :

BIS & ICT

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ISLAMIC STUDIES : MPW 2143

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION………………………………….………………………………………………. 3

BODY/CONTENTS……………………………………………………………………………….. 4

CONCLUSION……………………………………………………………………………………..9

BIBLIOGRAPHY…………….……………………………………………………………..…….. 11

APPENDIX…………………………………………………………………………………..……. 12

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INTRODUCTION

Nowadays, Halal products and services has become one of the serious topics that have

been discussed at the Islamic countries. It has become one of the worldwide challenging for

all the Muslims. In our modern and progressive world, it has become increasingly

challenging for Muslims to determine either the food or drinks that they consume almost

everytime are acceptable or Halal in the point of view of Islam or not. Basically, this Halal

and non-Halal problem is not only specified to food and beverage only but also to other

products and services.

The main topic that will be discuss further details in this study case is about the issues of

the Halal logo that are available in most of the product that can we seen in the market.

There must be challenging for those who are living in a multiracial Muslim country like

Malaysia, even though Halal food, beverage and services are readily available and easy to

find, but there is a need for authority to control and enforce the standards. This is a must to

make sure that the Halalness particularly when the products or services are sold, prepared

or provided by non-Muslims. For Muslims who are living in a totally Islamic country like

Saudi Arabia might have no issue about the Halal products and services.

From overall view of this study case there are two main problems, consumers and

manufacturers, particularly are lack of awareness regarding the Halal logo. As for

manufacturers, they do not refer to any Halal authority before purchasing any raw materials

in order to produce goods or services. Besides that, there is no strict action to be done for

those who are using and release a fake Halal logo. In Malaysia, for those who are using

fake Halal certificated or logos will provide stiffer penalties under Trade Description Ac

1972.

Below are some of the pictures between the fake logos and the original one:

Fake Halal certificates or logos Original Halal certificates or logos

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BODY / CONTENTS

THE AUTHORIZATION OF HALAL CERTIFICATE

As stated in Quran, there are a few guidelines to determine whether the food or any product

that is Halal or not. For example in surah Al-Maidah verse 3:

Translation:

Prohibited to you are dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been

dedicated to other than Allah , and [those animals] killed by strangling or by a violent blow or

by a head-long fall or by the goring of horns, and those from which a wild animal has eaten,

except what you [are able to] slaughter [before its death], and those which are sacrificed on

stone altars, and [prohibited is] that you seek decision through divining arrows. That is grave

disobedience. This day those who disbelieve have despaired of [defeating] your religion; so

fear them not, but fear Me. This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed

My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion. But whoever is forced by

severe hunger with no inclination to sin - then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.

In this verse of Al-Quran, Allah has stated that dead animal, blood, the flesh of swine

and those animals that is not slaughtered with the name of Allah or killed by the wild animal

and have no chance to be slaughtered with the name of Allah consider as the forbidden

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food. However, most of the foods or products that we used are processed from the factory.

It is hard for the Muslim consumer to determine whether it right for them to use them or not.

Hence, the Halal certificate that has been created by the Muslim council in particular area

helps to indentify the products that are permitted. In Malaysia, there is only one recognizes

body that can approve the Halal certificate to any company which is the Malaysian Islamic

Development Department also known as JAKIM. JAKIM also give approval to the

international Halal certificate for the imported product.

There are some strict procedure sets by JAKIM to apply for the Halal certificate as

the issue of Halal is a serious concern for the majority population in Malaysia which are

dominate by the Muslim. Some of the details need to be included by the party that apply for

the certificate are the list of ingredient used for the product, name and address of the

manufacturer or distributor of the ingredient, the type of packing that they used and the

process and procedure of the manufacturing. The Halal certificate can also be apply through

online. JAKIM also has come out with the total number of manufacturer or distributor that

registered for the Halal certificate in Malaysia.

Company : 17

Product : 2141

Food Premises : 235

Menu : 1580

Slaughter House : 6

According to Professor Yaakob Bin Che Man (March, 2011), from the 90 food

manufacturers and marketers operating Klang Valley, only 69 percents of food companies

that obtained Halal certification from JAKIM. Some of them even do not refer to any Halal

authority before purchasing any unconventional raw materials. This shows that some of the

manufacturers and marketers are taking for granted about this serious issue of Halal. There

are also some private companies in Malaysia try to give the Halal certificate to over 100

manufacturers (Megat, 2008). The companies that involved are Bahtera Lagenda Sdn.

Bhd., Islamic Food and Research Council (IFRC), SAS-H Consultancy, Perak Religious

Officer Association, Halal Food Council S.E.A dan IFANCA International.Those companies

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are black listed by the JAKIM after been discovered and all the manufacturers that got the

Halal certificate from them need to apply the new certificate from JAKIM. Allah also has

stated in Al-Quran surah Al-Nahl verse 116 to those who say the untruth about the lawful

and unlawful will not succeed.

Translation:

And do not say about what your tongues assert of untruth, "This is lawful and this is

unlawful," to invent falsehood about Allah. Indeed, those who invent falsehood about Allah

will not succeed.

From the Muslim consumers’ point of view, JAKIM is still lack of action to punish the

manufactures or marketers that used the false Halal certificates since there are still a lot of

restaurants that sells beers still displaying the Halal certificates. Many consumers also

complained that the false Halal certificates need to be demolished as they give confusion to

them.

A serious actions need to be taken towards manufacturers or marketers that used

these false certificates to prevent from confusion to purchase the Halal products.

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LACK OF AWARENESS AMONG CONSUMERS

“…say: I do not find in that which has been revealed to me anything forbidden for an eater

to eat of except that it be what has died of itself, or blood pured forth, or flesh of swine -- for

that surely is unclean-- or that which is a transgression, other than (the name of) Allah

having been invoked on it; but whoever is driven to necessity, not desiring nor exceeding

the limit, then surely your lord is forgiving, merciful…”

An-Anaam (6: 145)

Based on the verse above, it highlights the terms of Halal food must be especially on

slaughtered animal before being served to consumers. The words of Halal is not just

covered on slaughtering, it encompass foods, drinks, goods, utensils and equipment used

by Muslims. In fact, the holy Quran addressed all human being included non Muslim to

search for Halal as for their own benefits. However, not all consumers are aware about this

issue.

Since Malaysia is a country that lived by many races and religions, a study had been

done by Golnaz, Zainalabidin, Mad Nasir and Eddie Chiew to investigate the awareness of

Halal principles and related food products in Malaysia. The study was done onto 400 non

Muslim respondents in the Klang Valley where structured questionnaires were distributed.

The results showed that the respondents were aware of the existence of Halal food, Halal

principles and the advantages of Halal way in slaughtering animals. Unfortunately, both

Chinese and Indians were not really concerned about whether the food that they were

consumed Halal or not. It didn’t affect their consumption pattern. The respondents showed

the positive perceptions generally in Halal food and Halal principles, but negatively on the.

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Halal way in slaughtering animals. They thought of it as cruelty towards animals, believed

that the animals were suffered to bleed to death.

At the other hand, consumers are easily make their first perceptions when purchases

goods. Once they saw the Halal logo on the packets, they already assumed it as a Halal

food without looking the ingredients used. Not only that, it has become a common attitude

among consumers when they are simply enter and order food from restaurants that they

assumed as Halal since there is Al-Quran verse or Halal logo even though the workers are

not Muslim. They simply just sit and enjoy their meals without thinking whether the food is

Halal or not, the utensils are clean or not used in serving non Halal food and yet, without

knowing how the foods were processed.

As for Muslims that lived in abroad country especially in a non Muslim countries find

it is quite hard for them to acknowledge the Halal food since most non Muslim countries

consume Kosher food. Kosher is a term that used to describe what is “fit and proper” to eat

for Jews. Kosher also involve the slaughtering method as used in Halal ways. The

difference is before slaughter, Halal requires the praying to Allah while Kosher does not

require a prayer. The ritual slaughter is known as shechitah meaning to destroy or kill. The

method is a quick, deep stroke across the throat with a perfectly sharp blade with no nicks

or unevenness. Thus, a Muslim should know which one is Halal or Kosher food because

Kosher is not Halal food.

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CONCLUSION

2 issues on Halal logo has been presented and discussed. Based on the discussions,

there are 2 factors that cause this issue to occur. The factors are;

Lack of action from the authorities on the companies who used false Halal logo and

the private sector who gave the false Halal logo to the companies.

Lack of awareness among the consumers.

Here are some suggestions for all the problems stated above in order to solve this issue

and to prevent it from occur again in the future.

For the lack of action from authorities, the authorities really have to be very strict

when it comes to this issue. Because this issue is very sensitive, especially for the

Muslim. It is important for the Muslims to eat Halal food as stated in the Quran;

“Then eat of what Allah has provided for you [which is] lawful and good. And be

grateful for the favor of Allah , if it is [indeed] Him that you worship. He has only

forbidden to you dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been

dedicated to other than Allah . But whoever is forced [by necessity], neither desiring

[it] nor transgressing [its limit] - then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.”

An-Nahl (16:114-115)

All the false Halal logo’s food have to be removed from the market in order to avoid

consumers from having difficulties and done some mistakes while buying the food. If

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it is not Halal, just sell it without Halal logo, then the Muslim will easily notice that the

food is not Halal.

For the lack of awareness among the consumers, sometimes maybe the consumers

do not really updated with the news about Halal food. Therefore, to make them easily

go shopping and buy all the food that they want, they just easily can follow this step

provided by MySMS 15888;

I. To check / review the application :

- Type HALALSTATUSNo. permohonan and SMS to 15888.

- eg : HALAL STATUS 20091231101010

- send to 15888

II. To check / review the Halal certificate holders :

- Type HALALSEMAKNo. Pendaftaran Syarikat (ROC)

- eg : HALAL SEMAK 12345X

- send to 15888

For Halal logo from overseas which means imported food, the consumers can check

the Halal logo that is approved by JAKIM at this link;

- http://www.Halal.gov.my/v3/index.php/ms/senarai-badan-islam-yang-diiktiraf

Lastly, as stated by JAKIM, starts from January,1, 2012, the only approved Halal logo

for Halal food is the JAKIM’s Halal logo. Therefore, it is a must for all Muslims to check the

labels at the plastics, tins, bottles or anything that cover the food to make sure the food is

halal and made from ingredients that is allowed to eat in Islam.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Ahmad Nizam Bin Abdullah (March,2006). Perception and awareness among food

manufacturers and marketers on halal food in Klang Valley, Universiti Putra

Malaysia.

Bernama. (2011, September 29). Only Halal logo issued by JAKIM will be accepted.

Retrieved from http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/09/29/only-halal-logo-issued-by-

jakim-will-be-accepted/ on 20 October 2011.

Bouhdiba, A., and al-Dawalibi, M.M. (1998). The Individual and Society in Islam. France :

UNESCO.

Golnaz, R., *Zainalabidin, M., Mad Nasir, S. and Eddie Chiew, F.C. (2010). Non- Muslims’

awareness of Halal principles and related food products in Malaysia. International

Food Research Journal 17: 667-67. Retrieved on Oct 17 2010 from

http://ifrj.upm.edu.my/17%20(03)%202010/IFRJ-2010-667- 674%20Zainal

%20UPM.pdf

Harvey, M., McMeekin, A., and Warde, A. (2004). Qualities of food. New York : Manchester

University Press.

Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM), (2011). Retrieved on October 24, 2011

from http://www.halal.gov.my

Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM). (2011, February 9). Kemudahan Semakan

Status Permohonan. Retrieved from

http://www.halal.gov.my/v3/index.php/ms/senarai-badan-islam-yang-diiktiraf on 20

October 2011.

Megat Ramli Megat Raof (2008). Retrieved on October 24, 2011

from http://www.kosmo.com.my/kosmo/content.asp?y=2010&dt=0306&pub=Kosmo&

sec=Negara&pg=ne_01.htm

Syed Azauddin Syed Bahaldin (2005). Alternative quality management standards-Islamic

perspectives. Kuala Lumpur : Utusan Publications & Distributor.

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APPENDIX

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