Comparison of Islamic and Jewish dietary laws facts for kids

The Islamic dietary laws (called halal) and the Jewish dietary laws (called kashrut or kosher) are special rules about what people can eat and how food should be prepared. Both sets of rules are very detailed. They have some things that are alike and some things that are different.

These food laws come from religious texts. Islamic laws are found in the Quran and Sunnah. Jewish laws are found in the Torah, Talmud, and Shulchan Aruch. Generally, most kosher foods that do not have alcohol are also considered halal. However, there are a few exceptions. This article will explain what is similar and what is different between these two sets of laws.

What Foods Are Allowed?

Similarities in Food Rules

• Pigs are forbidden: Both Islamic and Jewish laws say that pigs are not allowed to be eaten.
• Animals with fangs: Animals like cats, dogs, lions, and bears are also not allowed in either set of rules.
• Reptiles and amphibians: Creatures like snakes, lizards, and frogs are forbidden by both laws.
• Most kosher animals are halal: Almost all animals that are kosher are also halal. This includes animals like cows and other bovids.
• Seafood rules: For seafood to be kosher, it must have both scales and fins. Most Islamic teachings say that all creatures from the ocean, sea, or lake are halal, except for one school of thought (Hanafi) that only allows fish. Some Shia Muslims also believe only sea creatures with scales are halal, but they make an exception for shrimp and prawns. This is very similar to Jewish law, except for the fin requirement for some.
• Gelatin: Gelatin is a substance often used in desserts. One Islamic view says gelatin is only allowed if it comes from an animal that is already halal. Another Islamic view says gelatin is always halal because it changes chemically during processing. For Jewish law, kosher gelatin usually comes from kosher fish bones or is a vegan substitute like agar.
• Insects: Most insects are not allowed by either law. However, one Islamic group (Maliki) allows eating insects if they are already dead. A few specific types of locusts and grasshoppers are kosher, but most Jewish communities today do not eat them because they are unsure which species are allowed. However, all types of locusts are considered halal in Islam.

Differences in Food Rules

• Alcohol: For food to be halal, it must not contain any alcohol. There's a difference between alcohol added to food (which is totally forbidden) and tiny amounts that appear naturally (like in orange juice). Jewish law (kashrut) allows most types of alcohol as long as they are made with kosher ingredients. The main exception is grape wine or grape juice, which must be made under Jewish supervision to be kosher.
• Forbidden animals: Jewish law is stricter about which animals are allowed. To be kosher, mammals must chew their cud and have split hooves. This means some animals like camels and rabbits are halal (allowed in Islam) but not kosher (allowed in Judaism).
• Meat and dairy separation: Jewish law requires that meat and dairy products be kept strictly separate. They cannot be eaten together or even cooked with the same utensils.
• Kitchen tools: In Jewish law, cooking and eating utensils must be used only for meat or only for dairy. They cannot be used for both.
• Wine in Judaism vs. Islam: Wine is very important in Judaism and is used in many rituals, like the Passover Seder and Shabbat dinner. Kosher wine must be made with kosher ingredients and supervised by Jewish people from start to finish. In Islam, alcohol is generally not allowed and is not used in religious practices.

How Animals Are Slaughtered

Both religions have specific ways to slaughter animals to make their meat permissible. In Judaism, this is called Shechita. In Islam, it is called Dhabihah.

Similarities in Slaughter Rules

• Cutting the neck: Both shechita and dhabihah involve cutting across the animal's neck with a very sharp blade in one quick motion. This is done to cut the main blood vessels.
• Draining blood: Both laws require that the animal's blood be completely drained after slaughter.
• Inspection: Both Islamic and Jewish rules say that the meat must be carefully checked by a religious person before it is eaten.
• Ritual slaughter: Both religions stress that the meat must come from an animal that was ritually slaughtered, not just found dead.

Differences in Slaughter Rules

• Who can slaughter: In Judaism, only a specially trained person called a shochet can slaughter kosher animals. In Islam, any sane adult Muslim can perform dhabihah by following the rules. Some Islamic scholars also say that people of other Abrahamic religions (like Jews or Christians) can perform dhabihah.
• Saying God's name: Dhabihah requires that God's name be said before each animal is slaughtered. In shechita, a blessing to God is said once before a period of slaughtering. This blessing covers all the animals slaughtered during that time, as long as the shochet doesn't stop or lose focus. Even if the blessing is forgotten, the meat can still be kosher.
• Forbidden parts: In Islam, some parts or organs of the animal are not allowed, such as blood and certain glands. In Judaism, besides blood, certain types of fat (called chelev) and the sciatic nerve (called gid hanosheh) are also forbidden. Removing these parts from the hindquarters of an animal is a special process called nikkur. Because nikkur is difficult and costly, the hindquarters of kosher-slaughtered animals are often sold to non-kosher markets outside of Israel.

Other Important Comparisons

Other Similarities

• Post-slaughter inspection: After an animal is slaughtered, both laws require it to be inspected. Dhabihah guidelines say the whole animal should be checked. Jewish law (kashrut) says the animal's internal organs must be examined to make sure it wasn't sick.
• Different interpretations: Both sets of religious rules have different interpretations among authorities. This means what is allowed can vary slightly depending on the region or specific religious group.
• Eating out: People who strictly follow either religion will usually only eat in restaurants that are certified to follow their specific rules.
• Removing blood: After kosher meat is slaughtered, it must be salted to remove any remaining blood. A similar practice is done in some Muslim homes, but using vinegar, to remove all surface blood, as consuming blood is forbidden in Islam.

Other Differences

• Passover rules: During the Jewish holiday of Passover, there are extra rules. People cannot eat chametz, which are fermented products made from five specific grains. These rules are only for Passover and are separate from the regular kosher laws.
• Utensil strictness: In Judaism, the rules about utensils are very strict. If a utensil used for dairy touches meat, or vice versa, both the food and the utensil can become non-kosher. This means many Jewish people who follow these laws will only eat at specifically kosher restaurants.
• Halal utensil rules: Similarly, in Islamic food preparation, food is only halal if it doesn't touch non-halal food or drink through utensils or kitchen surfaces. Utensils used for pork, alcohol, or blood must not be used for halal food.
• Kosher market in the US: The United States has a large Jewish population, which has led to a big market for kosher foods. Many large companies, like Coca-Cola, even make some of their products kosher to meet demand, especially during Passover. There are also kosher food festivals.

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