Thread by @abuhajira

Without going into details, I feel when it comes to Halal/Haram certification our stances should be transparent.

As old Muslims in West, we have grown to make our choices for ourselves. So if I am going to rely on some Certifying body, I want to know ALL their stances!

When I see HMA (@HMA_Canada) I feel at ease that they are stern in their choice of only hand slaughter, tasmiya and regular unannounced reviews of slaughter facility. It gives me ease in relying on HMA.

If that is not the case, I need to be informed of such!

But then there are other certifications, riddled with mysteries. Sometimes their responses are ambiguous, undecided, conflicting etc depending on who in which office you contact.

Should I STILL rely on their certification? I think we can live without their reliance!

The best thing any certifying body can do is increase their transparency of procedures and policies. @IFANCC , @IFANCA , @hagsocial , etc.. many advisories.. and they do provide a lot of such information tucked in their websites and information. Some aspects must be more open.

For example, instead of filling your twitter feed etc with simple Eid Mubarak messages, why not educate the masses on how your processes work. What new technicalities are being observed. In which areas your certification differs from others. etc. etc.

@hagsocial (Halal Advisory Group) website clearly mentions that they certify certain types of mechenical slaughter. But does NOT mention which types and why? This information is for US to know and decide if we want to follow HAG!

Similarly HAG also schedules an appointment for an onsite inspection. This means dubious slaughterhouse has all the chance to display certain procedure which may not be the regular occurring. Unannounced site visits is superior and most cautionary. I would rather prefer that!

@IFANCC website does not even mention whether they have scheduled visits or unannounced visits. For a layman to do his due diligence, he needs such information. Mere Reliance is not sufficient. These monitoring authorities MUST undertake educating the masses on such issues

@IFANCC This is the the base information for public consumption on their website about what halal is. Their FAQ discusses HACCP procedures of safety, which is good. Here is a document about it (ifrj.upm.edu.my/22%20(06)%2020…), but shouldnt there be clarity of actual contentious issues?

@IFANCC .. Knowing that Vertical Cut and Mechanical slaughter are contentious issues. Would it not be prudent to educate your clients on that information? But searching your entire website ifancc.org, there is no mention of above.

@IFANCC Other sources from independent scholars we come to know you do certify mechanical slaughter or you do accept vertical cut as valid for your certification. People should be able to know and make their decision whether your certification meets their standards.

Here was have another Canadian company JBS importing certification from Omaha (@Halal2Eat ) which went at length in defense of Vertical Cut
See : halaltransactions.wordpress.com/2014/09/12/cre…
Mufti Abdullah Nana (@MuftiAbdullah) had also given his transparent explanation (…ekstonehalalcontroversy.wordpress.com)

But the concern and contention remains same. These matters and issues which make one certification different than other, MUST be explained to public. The public has the right to choose if they want to adopt some mukhtalaf fih (differenced opinion) or remain safe with abstinence!

Personally, I am perfectly a-OK sticking to my trusted certification and not engaging in other meats. @HMA_Canada website give their stances, although they could be better in educating us.

While their website also mentions a scheduled first audit, inspectors inform me that they do unannounced checks. Similarly their website doesn't mention vertical cut issues as well. and how I wish they would educate public about these things too!

There is still a long way for us