Why Sikhs don't eat Halal Meat
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| Halal Meat Label |
What is Halal?
Halal is Arabic for permissible. Halal food is that which adheres to Islamic law, as defined in the Koran. The Islamic form of slaughtering animals or poultry, dhabiha, involves killing through a cut to the jugular vein, carotid artery and windpipe. Animals must be alive and healthy at the time of slaughter and all blood is drained from the carcass. During the process, a Muslim will recite a dedication, know as Tasmiya or Shahada.
Problem with Halal
The practice is barbaric and causes immense pain to the animal. The Royal Society of Protection against Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) says slaughter without pre-stunning causes "unnecessary suffering".
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| Halal - Animal Cruelty |
The animals are fully conscious as their throats are slit by a slaughterman as he utters prayers to Allah to ‘bless’ the animal. The creature then bleeds to death in a process that can take more than 30 seconds. Though the deep incision to the neck cuts through the animal’s windpipe and main arteries, the creatures are still able to cry out.
During the slaughter, the animals make pitiful bleating and gurgling sounds as they choke on their own blood. It’s a chilling sound that, once heard, stays with you for days afterwards.
One animal cries out for more than 20 seconds before it flops off the end of the conveyor belt and on to a rotating table. From there, it is shackled by its hind legs and hauled up to the ceiling on a hook, where it is left with a dozen others to ‘bleed out’ — another important part of the halal process.
During the Islamic festival of Eid, a number of animals are slaughtered across the Islamic world. Often the animals are slaughtered in full public view and butchered in mass frenzy.
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| Halal Practice of Bleeding Animal to Drain |
During the slaughter, the animals make pitiful bleating and gurgling sounds as they choke on their own blood. It’s a chilling sound that, once heard, stays with you for days afterwards.
One animal cries out for more than 20 seconds before it flops off the end of the conveyor belt and on to a rotating table. From there, it is shackled by its hind legs and hauled up to the ceiling on a hook, where it is left with a dozen others to ‘bleed out’ — another important part of the halal process.
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| Animal slaughter on Eid in Pakistan |
Sikhism and Meat Eating
Amritdhari Sikh practice vegetarianism and meat eating is prohibited for the baptized Sikhs. However a large percentage of the general Sikh population indulge in meat eating however their diet is restricted to chicken, lamb, goat, fish, and pork. A number of Sikhs resist eating beef based on their close association and origin from Hindu background. Langar, the food served in Sikh Gurdwaras is always vegetarian and never includes meat.
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| Langar preparation in Sikh Gurdwara - always vegetarian |
The Hukamnama (edict or clarification), issued by Akal Takht Jathedar (head priest) Sadhu Singh Bhaura dated February 15, 1980, states that eating meat does not go against the code of conduct (Kurehit) of the Sikhs; Amritdhari Sikhs can eat meat as long as it is Jhatka meat. An Amritdhari Khalsa Sikh is not allowed to eat the Halal meat (Kuttha) or the meat of an animal slaughtered the Muslim way.
In Punjabi the word "Kuttha" specifically means meat prepared according to the Muslim ritual slaughter. Punjabi-English Dictionary, Punjabi University, Dept. of Punjabi Lexicography, Published Dec. 1994. "Kuttha: meat of animal or fowl slaughtered slowly as prescribed by Islamic law."
It is important to note some religious sects of Sikhism—Damdami Taksal, Akhand Kirtani Jatha, Namdharis, Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha and the 3HO —believe that the Sikh diet should be meat-free.
So what does Sri Guru Granth Sahib say about eating meat:
The fools argue about flesh and meat, but they know nothing about spiritual wisdom.
What is called meat, and what is called green vegetables? What leads to sin?
It was the habit of the gods to kill the rhinoceros, and make a feast of the burnt offering.
Those who renounce meat, and hold their noses when sitting near it, devour men at night. They practice hypocrisy, and make a show before other people.
Guru Nanak, SGGS
Look, and see how the sugar-cane is cut down. After cutting away its branches, its feet are bound together into bundles, and then, it is placed between the wooden rollers and crushed. What punishment is inflicted upon it! Its juice is extracted and placed in the cauldron; as it is heated, it groans and cries out. And then, the crushed cane is collected and burnt in the fire below. Nanak: come, people, and see how the sweet sugar-cane is treated!
Guru Nanak, SGGSI am amazed at the wisdom of the Sikh Gurus who gave clarity on this complicated topic.
Jhatka Tradition
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| Sikh Nihang tradition - Jhatka |
Jhatka, or Chatka, is meat from an animal that has been killed instantly, such as by a single strike of a sword or axe to sever the head, as opposed to ritualistically slow slaughter (kutha) in the halal method (dhabihah). Jhatka is the method of meat production demanded by many Hindus, Sikhs, and Christians in India, while Halal is demanded by the Muslims, and Kosher by the Jews.
In India, there are many Jhatka shops, with various bylaws requiring shops to display clearly that they sell Jhatka meat.
Its all Over Us
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| Local Grocery Shop selling Halal |
Halal Meat Is the First Giant Step of Islamization of Western world. The saying "If the mountain will not come to Mahomet, Mahomet must go to the mountain" seems particularly appropriate under the circumstances. The halal meat market in the UK is estimated to be worth around £2.6 billion a year. A number of supermarkets in UK including Marks and Spencer, Tesco, Morrisons, and the Co-op all sell halal lamb. All lamb products in USA are given a Halal blessing and labelled so. The school districts are now serving Halal meat to children in the schools in UK. The Sun newspaper prompted a debate after running a front page reporting that all chicken served at Pizza Express was halal and customers were not being told.
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| Shock in Britain over Halal |
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| McDonalds serving Halal |
How about Kentucky?
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| Kentucky now sells Halal |
The Stunning Method
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| Electrical Stunner |
The Western style of animal slaughter uses electrical stunning to kill the animal. Method enables abattoirs to process animals more quickly. The process is not fool-proof and often Mis-stuns involving captive bolt occur "relatively frequently", leaving the animal conscious and in pain during slaughter.
Honestly speaking, all this talk of animal slaughter and cruelty is turning me off meat eating. Will I become vegetarian one day? I am not sure.
But make sure you check out before you pick up meat from your local groceries or eat at your favorite Indian restaurant if they are serving you Halal.
Bibliography
- http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-27324224
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halal
- http://malicethoughts.blogspot.com/2016/03/halal-meat.html
- http://time.com/3975785/is-halal-meat-healthier-than-conventional-meat/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diet_in_Sikhism
- http://www.australian-lamb.com/Lamb/Cooking_with_Lamb/Halal_Information/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jhatka
- http://enzaferreri.blogspot.com/2013/05/halal-meat-first-step-to-islamization.html#axzz424YESBXq
Please do watch this movie about animal foods, and think about what compassion and spirituality really mean. Best wishes.
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