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All over the world people are praying, going down on bended knees and prostrating with pleas for deliverance from the dreaded Corona virus. Infections are reaching the one and half million mark and some 85 000 loved ones would have succumbed to the virus since the beginning of this year.

While we anxiously await our prayers to be heard and answered, have we reflected on whether we have as obedient slaves of Almighty, heeded Divine Commandments?

Our catalogue of actions of harming the Earth’s fragile ecosystem, destruction of natural rain forests which are the lungs of the planet and home of many species of animals, our rapid industrialization leading to climate change and our wars of destruction suggests gross disobedience and ingratitude to God’s bounties. Consider the treatment of animals and the consumption of forbidden flesh against the laws of religion.

Scientific studies show that the COVID-19 virus appears to have originated in the wet market of Wuhan in China. Wet markets of Asia are prime breeding grounds of zoonotic diseases that makes the inter species jump from animals to people.

The close proximity of people with live and dead animals, the holding of these animals in small cages within the confines of stalls for days on end, the callous butchering and skinning of animals in full sight of other animals and customers who demand that they receive the product fresh all contribute to a cauldron for a virus time bomb primed for explosion. There are many video links that you can access on the internet that confirms the veracity of this.

Wild and domesticated animals, birds, snakes, insects, bone and body parts of tigers, bears and exotic species of every description are bought, butchered and sold. Bats, rabbits, poultry, pangolins, dogs, civet and domestic cats, rabbit, pigs, reptiles, seafood, beef, pork, poultry, turtles, vegetable and fruit are to be found; nothing is sacrosanct. Bats in particular are super vectors in harbouring and spreading viruses.

FOOD SAFETY WITH HALAAL

Allah, Most High and All-Knowing as Creator of man and the food needed for his sustenance, through His Word in the Noble Quraan and the teachings of the Messenger (peace be upon him) prescribed what we can eat (Halaal) and what we cannot (Haraam).

"...for he (the Prophet) commands them what is just and forbids them what is evil; he allows them as lawful what is good (and pure) and prohibits them from what is bad (and impure)..."(Surah 7 verse 157 )

Listed below is a broad category of Haraam that one must abstain from pertaining to animals. Feel free to contact our Helpline with your specific query.

Number during the lockdown: 081 512 2936.

Animals not slaughtered according to Islamic law:-

• The meat of an animal that was found dead.
• The pig, the wild boar and its derivatives. Neither dogs, cats, rodents, foxes, mules, elephants, monkeys nor reptiles.
• Predatory or scavenger animals, reptiles, snakes and birds
• The blood of any animal species.
• Additives and ingredients of non-Halaal animal origin such as preservatives, colouring, flavouring, gelatin etc.
• Harmful products or poisonous substances.
• Most insects.

This principle of life while mandatory for Muslims is good for all of humanity. Cases in point are the Listeriosis crisis of 2017/2018 which caused 217 deaths and the 2013 study by Professor Louw Hoffman and Dr Donna Cawthorn of Stellenbosch University. Their damning study found fraudulent inclusion of pork, soya, donkey, goat and water buffalo in up to 68% of the 139 minced meats, burger patties, deli meats, sausages and dried meats that were tested from retail outlets and butcheries. In both instances, our Halaal certified products were not involved, credit to our stringent processes and controls that ensured exclusion of objectionable and offensive ingredients.

It’s our commitment to strive towards procuring, preparing and serving humanity with clean, wholesome, nutritious food.

Treating God’s creation with brutality instead of respect, and consuming foods that are forbidden is a recipe for self-inflicted harm. Remember the adage, “you are what you eat” for it influences your mind, body and soul.

BE SAFE, EAT HALAAL AND RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS TO A HEALTHY AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT