Dear Brothers&Sisters in Islam,
السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
Bismillah Arrahman Arrahim
Praise be to Allah, we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allah guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
Umar ibn Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) asked Ubbay ibn Ka’ab (may Allah be pleased with him) what is the meaning of Taqwa? Ubbay ibn Ka’ab said, O Amir ul Mu’minin, have you walked through a field that had a lot of thorny plants? Umar said, Yes! Ubbay ibn Ka’ab said, so what did you do? Umar replied, I lifted up my clothes, and I was very careful. Ubbay ibn Ka’ab said that is Taqwa.
We are walking through a field that is full of thorny plants. So having Taqwa is lifting up our clothes and being more careful.
Since the year 2010, we have been observing the European Committee for Standardization’s (abbrev. CEN) endeavors to interfere in Halal issues and to set their standards for Halal Food by building a standardization technical committee on Halal Food led by non-Muslims. I wrote my first article against this project in 2013.
As you know that Allah says in the Quran that
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ وَقُولُوا قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا ﴿٧٠﴾
“O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allah and fear Him, and speak (always) the truth.”[Al-Ahzaab (33): 70]
So from the beginning of this initiative we have declared our crystal clear opinions that Halal is a pure Islamic issue and Halal standardization, and certification cannot be a working-field for non-Muslims. The religious affairs of a faith group vests exclusively with the adherents of that particular faith community. Halal (Lawful) and Haram (Unlawful) are Islamic precepts that govern the entire life of a Muslim and are accordingly regulated by a deeply spiritual commitment. Halal Certification by non-Muslim entities is deemed null and void in terms of Islamic Law. You have also shown your obvious support during 13-14 June Istanbul Congress against non-Muslims interference on Halal Standards.
Alhamdolillah I have heard CEN project will disband soon inshaAllah.
I thank you all brothers and sisters who support to keep Muslims Halal standards.
We always need to stand up, immobilize, unify and make our voice heard against this type of initiatives all the time and this is an Ibadaah. We are worshiping Allah by keeping his religion from non-Muslims interference, and He will reward us inshaAllah.
May Allah keep us in His path all the time.
Dr. Hüseyin Kami Büyüközer
GIMDES President
WHC Patron
