My bro just reminded me that there are big differences between the 3 categories of restaurants which I use in my postings. I do agree with him but I guess I just assumed my visitors will be thorough enough in finding out more information before consuming food at any restaurants of their choice.
Anyway, I guess I better simplify the differences because some of my visitors might not even know what constitute as halal - I stumbled onto 1 forum where a muslim member defined halal as 'clean', as long long as the restaurant is clean, it is halal to her/him regardless whether pork is served or not. (the forum requires input from members on what halal means to them n they are required to put a note whether they are muslim or not). I'm not judging her/him but halal term is defined in Quran n Hadith - not a term that we can define as we please.
HALAL:
This site describe what is halal quite comprehensively http://www.crescentsofbrisbane.org/the_good_caterers_guide.htm read on to know more.
In Malaysia halal restaurant means the restaurant is issued with 'halal' certificate by a religious body (JAKIM) n as far as malaysian muslims are concern, even if the restaurant has no halal certificate but the operator is muslim and they don't serve alcohol, the restaurant is considered halal.
PORK-FREE:
Well.. obviously the restaurant does not serve pork :-) however in multi racial country like Malaysia, the operator wishes to cater to the needs of non muslims too by serving alcohol on their premise; because of that JAKIM will not issue halal certificate to a restaurant that operates in this manner, even though halal meat is served (the operator procures meat for his restaurant from halal certified supplier).
The other category of pork-free restaurant is a premise that serves halal food (procures meat from halal certified supplier) but operated by non-muslims and the operator does not bother to apply for halal certificate from JAKIM.
Of course some pork-free restaurants do not use halal meat (slaughtered according to muslim law), but some muslims do eat at these places, but they will only consume meat-free and alcohol-free food - dishes like seafood, eggs etc.
VEGETARIAN:
All plant base food is halal (except those with intoxicating properties - marijuana etc or poisonous plants), however, not all vegetarian dishes are halal because some dishes use alcohol as flavour, additives etc; therefore should a muslim decides to eat at a vegetarian restaurant, do enquire on what ingredients are used for the dishes before ordering dinner :-)
P/S
Additional notes - just in case some visitors misunderstood that all animals' products are halal except pork as long as the animals are slaughtered n prepared according to Islamic law. Yeah - keyword MISUNDERSTOOD. Not all animals are halal even though they are slaughtered n prepared the Islamic way. Please refer to these sites for HALAL (lawful / permitted) n HARAM (forbidden) food:
1) http://www.afic.com.au/Halal.htm
2) http://www.malaysiahalalfoods.com/haram.html
3) http://www.parsquran.com/eng/subject/halal.htm
4) http://www.islamforlife.co.uk/haram%20list.htm
5) http://www.soundvision.com/Info/halalhealthy/q.halal.asp
6) http://darulislam.info/Sections-article107-p1.html
7) http://10gramms.com/2008/04/16/halal-and-haram-food-in-quran-and-hadith/
8) http://special.worldofislam.info/Food/halal_haram.html
9) http://www.ummah.net/Al_adaab/fiqh/haram_meat.html
10) http://forums.islamicawakening.com/showthread.php?t=4935
11) http://en.allexperts.com/q/Islam-947/food-3.htm
12) http://www.soundvision.com/info/halalhealthy/ingridient.asp
13) http://hamzajennings.com/2008/08/01/e120-haram-food-colouring/
14) http://www.turntoislam.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-25793.html
15) http://www.athalal.co.uk/halal.php
16) http://www.halaldiets.com/articlesview.aspx?id=12
17) http://mahfuzahmed.wordpress.com/2007/08/23/is-your-meat-halal/
18) http://www.muslimtents.com/aminahsworld/Is_kosher_halal.html
19) http://halal-hub.org/guideline.php
20) http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/5/11/nation/17694213&sec=nation
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