What Are The Differences Between Halal And Haram?
Many Muslims have heard the words, halal and haram. Islam as a whole guides us through life. Islam tells us what we should and should not do, what is allowed and what is not allowed, or what is halal and what is haram.
Before we proceed with the differences between halal and haram, we will briefly cover the meaning of the two terms.
The Arabic word, halal, translates to “permissible” in English. Anything that is lawful or permissible to us is considered halal .
In contrast, the Arabic word, haram, translates to “forbidden” in English. Anything that is unlawful or forbidden to us is considered haram.
Halal and haram apply to all aspects of our lives. This includes how our money is made, how we get into relationships, what we eat, and much more.
Many examples highlight the key differences between the two. We will list out a few here.
- Stealing money for personal use is haram. That money is considered haram and can’t be used.
- Entering a relationship through Islamic marriage is halal.
- Eating meats such as lamb and chicken are halal while eating pig meat is haram.
The terms halal and haram are particularly associated with what we, as Muslims, are permitted to consume. There are certain foods and drinks that are deemed as halal or haram. Generally, all foods are halal unless mentioned in the Quran or Hadith as being haram. The two most notable consumables that are haram are pork and alcohol.
Simply put, anything that’s good is halal and anything that’s bad is haram.
