Can a Christian eat halal food?

from the old testament

• The Old Testament includes dietary laws, particularly in Leviticus, that outline which animals are considered clean and permissible for consumption by the Israelites.

from the new testament

• Romans 14:1–4a says, "As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another?" Paul clearly notes that a believer can eat any food he or she feels is acceptable to eat. In addition, Christians are not to judge others based on the kinds of foods they eat.
• Romans 14 also warns against eating anything that would cause "another brother" to stumble: "Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died" (Romans 14:13–15). When eating with a Christian from a Muslim background, there may be times it would be important to refrain from eating certain foods, possibly including non-halal foods, if it would be offensive to the other person involved.
• First Corinthians 10:27–29 states, "If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. But if someone says to you, 'This has been offered in sacrifice,' then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience—I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience?" Because halal foods are traditionally prayed over by a Muslim (using either the bismillah or shahada), there can be a real application from this passage. If a person makes it clear that a food has been prepared in the traditional manner that includes dedicating food to Allah, should a Christian still eat it? It would seem there would be room to say "no."

implications for today

The Qur'an provides many direct rules regarding forbidden foods, including:

Do not consume blood (Sura 2:173).

Do not eat pork (Sura 2:173).

Do not eat the carcasses of dead animals (Sura 2:173).

Do not eat an animal strangled, beaten, killed by falling, gored, or killed by another animal unless finished off by a person (Sura 5:3).

Do not eat animals slaughtered in the name of other gods except Allah (Sura 5:3; 6:118–119, 121).

Do not consume alcohol (Sura 5:90).

Do not eat food from Christians or Jews (Sura 5:5, interpreted differently by different Muslims).

Exception is made if only non-halal foods are available (Sura 2:173; 5:5).

Muslims are often also taught to ensure cosmetics, medicines, and other items with animal ingredients are halal. Those who wish to minister to Muslims or in Muslim cultures may find it helpful to restrict his or her diet to halal foods in order to share the gospel with Muslims more effectively. This is not due to a requirement for one's own life, but as Paul wrote, in order that "I might save some" (1 Corinthians 9:19–23). Alternatively, they may find it helpful to abstain from halal foods so as not to condone worship of Allah. Christians can eat halal foods, yet there are times it would be wise to abstain on behalf of others the Christian wishes to serve.