# What is the name of the Islamic system of dietary laws? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 14, 2014, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-islamic-system-of-dietary-laws/688419 "2014-05-14T08:13:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-islamic-system-of-dietary-laws/688419/1 "2014-05-14T08:13:58Z")
Hi Judaism has Kashrut dietary laws. Food is either kosher or its opposite treif. What is the name of the Islamic system of dietary laws? I know the terms halal and its opposite haram but I’m not sure if the dietary laws are called Halal or Al-Halal. I look forward to your feedback davidmich ---
**Author:** ![Pjen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Pjen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pjen)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-islamic-system-of-dietary-laws/688419/2 "2014-05-14T08:32:26Z")
They are widely referred to in the UK as Halal. ---
**Author:** ![Chihuahua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dec6dc/32.png) [@Chihuahua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chihuahua)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-islamic-system-of-dietary-laws/688419/3 "2014-05-14T08:34:44Z")
My understanding is that Sha’riah specifies what is halal and what is haram. I have not heard of a word that specifies dietary laws as opposed to other Islamic laws. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-islamic-system-of-dietary-laws/688419/4 "2014-05-14T13:31:26Z")
Halal means “permitted.” So halal food is what is allowed under dietary laws, but “halal” does not mean dietary laws per se. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-islamic-system-of-dietary-laws/688419/5 "2014-05-14T15:07:47Z")
Kosher also means something like “fit for use” and can refer to many things other than food. However in the the most commonly heard constructions in reference to food, both kosher and halal mean that the food is correct for an adherent to eat. Here in NYC we have a kind of food cart widely called a “halal cart” which always sells a dish of chicken and rice (sometimes lamb and rice) and generally claims to be halal. My muslim friend, who isn’t even very strict, finds their halal-itude a little dubious. Kosher and halal are not the same but they have some rules in common. Kosher food is also usually Halal, the reverse isn’t always true because halal doesn’t separate foods into milk/meat/neutral. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-islamic-system-of-dietary-laws/688419/6 "2014-05-14T15:27:55Z")
Also, halal doesn’t generally have a problem with seafood. Or stuff like rabbits etc. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-islamic-system-of-dietary-laws/688419/7 "2014-05-14T19:19:48Z")
> [@](#): > > Kosher food is also usually Halal, the reverse isn’t always true because halal doesn’t separate foods into milk/meat/neutral. IIRC, there’s an official ruling somewhere in the Islamic writings that if certified halal food isn’t available, then kosher food is acceptable. ---
**Author:** ![Hector\_St\_Clare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5ac83/32.png) [@Hector\_St\_Clare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hector_St_Clare)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-islamic-system-of-dietary-laws/688419/8 "2014-05-15T01:36:59Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Also, halal doesn’t generally have a problem with seafood. Or stuff like rabbits etc. Shia Muslim halal codes\* do prohibit the same kinds of seafood as the Kosher laws. I.e. mollusks, crustaceans, fish without visible scales. Sunnis (IIRC) generally allow those food items. Not sure about the Shia view of rabbits. \*At least, among the Khoja Shia- I don’t know about other Shia cultures but I assume it’s the same. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-islamic-system-of-dietary-laws/688419/9 "2014-05-15T05:01:05Z")
There does not appear to be a separate word for the dietary rules of Islam; there is only _ahkam_, which refers to the Islamic commandments as a whole (it’s the plural of _hukm_, a law or ruling of Shari’ah). ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-islamic-system-of-dietary-laws/688419/10 "2014-05-15T05:29:56Z")
> [@Hector\_St\_Clare](#): > > Shia Muslim halal codes\* do prohibit the same kinds of seafood as the Kosher laws. I.e. mollusks, crustaceans, fish without visible scales. Sunnis (IIRC) generally allow those food items. Not sure about the Shia view of rabbits. > > \*At least, among the Khoja Shia- I don’t know about other Shia cultures but I assume it’s the same. Dead wrong. Dietry restrictions are about the same allover. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-islamic-system-of-dietary-laws/688419/11 "2014-05-15T07:56:15Z")
> [@Hector\_St\_Clare](#): > > Shia Muslim halal codes\* do prohibit the same kinds of seafood as the Kosher laws. I.e. mollusks, crustaceans, fish without visible scales. Sunnis (IIRC) generally allow those food items. Not sure about the Shia view of rabbits. > > \*At least, among the Khoja Shia- I don’t know about other Shia cultures but I assume it’s the same. According to a Shia workmate of mine, the “no visible scales” thing actually varies from mosque to mosque, and Imam to Imam, and yes, some folks DO go mosque-hopping on account of it. My friend claims not to, but last I heard was eagerly awaiting an upcoming ruling from his Imam on the matter. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-islamic-system-of-dietary-laws/688419/12 "2014-05-15T08:21:38Z")
> [@Hector\_St\_Clare](#): > > Shia Muslim halal codes\* do prohibit the same kinds of seafood as the Kosher laws. I.e. mollusks, crustaceans, fish without visible scales. Sunnis (IIRC) generally allow those food items. Not sure about the Shia view of rabbits. Aaah, yes, most South African Muslims are Sunnis, and IME have no problem with lobster, abalone or rabbit. And, of course, camels are halal, but not kosher ---
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-islamic-system-of-dietary-laws/688419/13 "2014-05-15T08:45:40Z")
> [@TheLoadedDog](#): > > > [@Hector\_St\_Clare](#): > > > > Not sure about the Shia view of **rabbits** > > According to a Shia workmate of mine, the “no visible scales” thing actually varies from mosque to mosque, and Imam to Imam, and yes, some folks DO go mosque-\*\*hopping \*\*on account of it. My friend claims not to, but last I heard was eagerly awaiting an upcoming ruling from his Imam on the matter. Interesting choice of words.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2014, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-islamic-system-of-dietary-laws/688419/14 "2014-05-17T11:50:00Z")
See: [Do Jewish and Islamic dietary laws have anything in common? - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2105/do-jewish-and-islamic-dietary-laws-have-anything-in-common) ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2014, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-islamic-system-of-dietary-laws/688419/15 "2014-05-17T14:55:15Z")
> [@TheLoadedDog](#): > > eagerly awaiting an upcoming ruling from his Imam on the matter. And there is another interesting word. Imam = prayer leader. Imam = Religous leader. It’s as uncertain as Rabbi or Minister. ---
**Author:** ![Hector\_St\_Clare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5ac83/32.png) [@Hector\_St\_Clare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hector_St_Clare)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2014, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-islamic-system-of-dietary-laws/688419/16 "2014-05-17T15:03:19Z")
**AK84** I lived for a while in a part of Africa with a substantial Khoja (twelver) Shia minority (and also a big fishing industry) and I assure you they don’t eat crustaceans, mollusks, catfish, eels, etc… At first the fishermen assumed I was a Shia Muslim and wouldn’t sell to me either. ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2014, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-islamic-system-of-dietary-laws/688419/17 "2014-05-18T03:13:52Z")
> [@Hector\_St\_Clare](#): > > **AK84** I lived for a while in a part of Africa with a substantial Khoja (twelver) Shia minority (and also a big fishing industry) and I assure you they don’t eat crustaceans, mollusks, catfish, eels, etc… At first the fishermen assumed I was a Shia Muslim and wouldn’t sell to me either. News to the parts of my family who are Twelvers. They certainly do. And we don’t have a problem with it in Ismailism either. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2014, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-islamic-system-of-dietary-laws/688419/18 "2014-05-18T12:05:44Z")
On Muislims eating shellfish, may I quote from the aforementioned Staff Report: > [@](#): > > All seafood is permitted, and there is no particular slaughter method required. Some Muslims, noting certain sayings of the Prophet that crawling sea creatures (shrimp, crabs, lobsters, etc.) are disgusting, refrain from eating these. Similarly, catfish, while not explicitly prohibited, is not preferred. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2014, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-islamic-system-of-dietary-laws/688419/19 "2014-05-18T19:53:29Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Dead wrong. Dietry restrictions are about the same allover. Well other than Jews being allowed to consume alcohol. ---
**Author:** ![Hector\_St\_Clare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5ac83/32.png) [@Hector\_St\_Clare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hector_St_Clare)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2014, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-islamic-system-of-dietary-laws/688419/20 "2014-06-14T13:18:37Z")
> [@Angua](#): > > News to the parts of my family who are Twelvers. They certainly do. And we don’t have a problem with it in Ismailism either. > **[How Caviar Turned Out to Be Halal | H.E. Chehabi](https://gastronomica.org/2007/05/14/how-caviar-turned-out-to-be-halal/)** > > When the Shiite clergy acquired control over the Iranian state in 1979, they found themselves in a position where, in addition to enunciating the prescriptions of divine law (shari’a), they a… This article says that seafood without scales is _generally_ prohibited for Shia Muslims, which backs up my experience in East Africa. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-islamic-system-of-dietary-laws/688419.md?page=2)