About Global Halal Institute
Bridging Classical Islamic Knowledge with Modern Food Challenges
Our Mission and Vision
Our Mission
To provide clear, accurate, and accessible information about food ingredients to help Muslims in America and Europe identify halal and haram components in everyday products. We aim to demystify complex food labels and empower our community to maintain their dietary obligations with confidence and ease.
Our Vision
We envision a world where every Muslim can shop for groceries without uncertainty, where hidden ingredients are no longer a source of anxiety, and where the community has access to a trusted, comprehensive resource that respects different Islamic scholarly perspectives while providing practical guidance for daily life.
"Knowledge is the foundation of conscious living. By understanding what we consume, we honor both our bodies and our faith."
Our Research Methodology
We employ a rigorous, multi-layered approach to verify the halal status of food ingredients. Transparency and accuracy are at the core of everything we publish.
1. Source Investigation
We research the origins and production methods of each ingredient, identifying whether each ingredient is derived from animal, plant, or synthetic sources.
2. Manufacturer Contact
When possible, we directly contact manufacturers to verify ingredient sources and production processes, requesting detailed information about derivatives.
3. Islamic Scholarly Review
We consult classical and contemporary Islamic rulings from recognized scholars across different schools of thought to understand varying perspectives.
4. Certification Body Standards
We reference standards from reputable halal certification organizations, including IFANCA, HFA, HFSAA, and regional certification bodies.
5. Scientific Literature
We review food science publications and industry reports to understand ingredient composition and common production methods.
6. Continuous Updates
Food formulations change frequently. We regularly review and update our content to reflect current manufacturing practices and new scholarly opinions.
About the Founder
Assalamu Alaikum,
My name is Eakub Sheik, and I am an Islamic scholar dedicated to making authentic Islamic knowledge accessible in our modern context.
Educational Background
My journey in Islamic studies spans over a decade of intensive classical training in Bangladesh:
Advanced Specializations:
At-Takhassus Fil Tafsir (Specialized Studies in Quranic Exegesis) – Markazul Huda Al-Islamiya, 2015
At-Takhassus Fil Hadith (Specialized Studies in Hadith Sciences) – Shaikh Zakariya Islamic Research Center, 2014
Al-Ifta Fil Fikhil Islami (Islamic Jurisprudence & Fatwa Studies) – 2012
Why This Website?
The rapid evolution of modern food technology has created a clarity gap between traditional Islamic law and the complex Western marketplace. We recognized that consumers, professionals, and scholars constantly face questions like:
- “Is this cheese allowed?”
- “What is E471?”
- “Can I eat this if it says ‘natural flavors’?”
While abundant traditional knowledge exists regarding Halal and Haram, its application to contemporary ingredients requires specialized expertise. whatishalal.org was founded to bridge this gap. Our mission is simple: to combine rigorous Islamic Jurisprudence (Fiqh) with in-depth Food Science research to provide clear, citable, and definitive answers, moving the global Muslim community from confusion to certainty.