Historical background

The dietary laws for Muslims are defined in the Qur’an and the Sunna. They are based on the regulation of the eleven causal impurities – pork, carrion and blood are the most common.

Islamic law forbids the consumption of these eleven impurities and such goods, which came into contact with these impurities.

Muslims may eat only animals, which are permitted for consumption, were slaughtered according to the rules of Sharia, had not already died or were sacrificed to another god but Allah.

Basically, all foods are allowed as long as they are not explicitly prohibited (Qur’an, 5:3).

Meanwhile, Muslim scholars have confirmed that stunning the animals is consistent with Islamic law and the meat may therefore be considered halal (International Islamic Fiqh Academy IIFA, 101/3/10 resolution in Sharia Rules Of Slaughtering, 28/06/1997).