One Day with Korea Mufti, Ustaz Abdul Zahid Abd Wahab (Halal & Haram of Food and Responsibility to Korea Community)
“Oh you who believe! Eat of the good things where We have provided you, and render thanks to Allah if it is (indeed) He whom you worship” —- Al-Baqarah : 172
The event was held by Korea Islamic Malaysian Student (KiMS) on Saturday, 30th may 2009 at Dongyang Technical College.
1. I admired Ustaz because he changed his citizenship to become Korea citizen, married a Korean, learn their culture and language in order to dakwah and spread Islam among Korean. I wish I have the guts to do the same. But it’s okay because I will spread Islam using my friendship with my friends. Showing good examples by my action first.
2. Halal means it is good for your body and life. And haram is the opposite. Only the Creator knows what is good for our body. Just like a car, the car manufacturer will recommend you the most suitable motor oil etc because they know best. But if you want to use other products just because it is cheaper, most of the time as time passed by your car will get to visit the mechanic more often.
3. Pork already been proven scientifically that it is bad for health, but let’s we follow not because of science but because of our faith in Allah. When the doctor tells us to follow some rules, we did not ask too many questions because we acknowledge his/her credibility because it is their expertise. They know about our body more than we do because they study about it. The same thing goes with the Creator, who know our body better than our own creator? None, only Allah. And Insya-Allah if we will be healthy and look younger if we follow Allah’s rules. Even Ustaz Abdul Zahid Abd Wahab look like he only 50 years old even though he actually already over 70 years old.
4. Why we need to slaughter animal properly according to Islam? Blood is bad for health; only by slaughtering the animal properly all the blood will escape the animal’s body. Thus ensuring the meat that we eat is free from toxins. There are some people who said that if they slaughter the animal the same way like we do except they did not preceded by “In the name of God, God is the Greatest (Bismillah, Allahu Akbar) so it is okay. Even though we are the owner of the animal and we slaughter it using the same method, the soul of the animal still belong to Allah. And only by asking His permission we are allowed. As said, “It is yours if you say My name”.
5. Ustaz said the once he gave a talk in front of more than 200 Korean students.
Q: Someone asked,” Why Islam don’t eat pork? Is it because Islam thinks highly of pig?”
A: In Islam all animals are treated the same, not hated.
After that Ustaz asked them, “What kind of food do pig eat? Is it a good food?” and a lady stand up and said “they eat trash”.
So Ustaz asked her again, “Do you think the meat of the animals that eat trash is healthy?” and of course the lady says “No way”.
6. We are called Muslim because we controlled by rule of Allah. And remember that not only the food need to be halal, the source also need to be halal. Meaning that it is not stolen from someone else or the money that already used interest (riba’).
7. Ustaz told us that if another Muslim brother offer us food to eat, is it okay to eat it because sometime we have doubt. That depend on the person cleanliness and how do we know this? We all know our neighbors and friends’ personality. And to know our neighbor we can ask our mother or wife. Women play a very sacred and high role in family according to Islam. That’s among the reason why Islam teaches us to respect women.
8. Mother teaches us. A reason why in afterlife we will be called with our mother’s name. I will gladly be called Hishamuddin, son of Noor Azmar. We have to love and protect our sisters, younger sisters and our wife. Men need to treat women with care for women’s’ feeling are like glass, very fragile. And they will teach our children in the future.
9. The only thing that differentiate human from animals is our mind and ability to think. Alcohol is forbidden in Islam because it will make we lose our sanity temporarily. That is when we do bad things to our children and wife. If we drink alcohol at the end we will lose them. But some people disagree because they say they can drink lots of liquor but still not drunk. At the end Allah know best, so He generalizes. Because there is a person who drink just one drop or a sip and get drunk like donkey (not sure this is a good expression but it sound catchy and funny too LOL)
10. Another example is when a man and a woman staying together inside one room without other people watching. They can control themselves and say that nothing happen but we all know that most of the time, blunders happen. So that is why lots of Islamic rules use prevention rather than relying on man’s self control.
11. We all know Korean love to drink, if someone asks you to drink just say no. And if you are thinking about drinking, try to burn you little finger using a lighter and just remember that the hell fire is much stronger than that.
12. Q:What should we do if our parents ask us to buy liquor?
A:Don’t follow if it contributes to haram and sins.
13. Q: Is it okay to dine in a Korean restaurant? They use the same fork and spoon to serve us.
A: As long it has been cleaned it is okay. I eat rice and kimchi when I go to Korean restaurant.
14. Q:How about ramyeon(Korean instant noodle)? Is it halal?
A: When I first come to Korea, there is lots of Halal instant noodles but nowadays most of them have an ingredients that are made from beef, chicken and pork. I advised you all to avoid eating instant noodles.
sham86:
1. Glad that I went to listen to Ustaz Abdul Zahid Abd Wahab. I felt bad for those who are not coming on that day, regardless the reasons. The pursuit for self-improvement is an ongoing process. Just like riding a bike, we will fall once we stop.
2. I’m proud and glad because I have keep my faith and trying to consume only halal food even after staying in Korea for more than 5 years. However I have to admit that there always are and there will always be a temptation to eat haram foods. Of course not pork but sometime foods like KFC and McDonalds are still a big threat, frankly speaking and being realistic. But the only thing that holds me from eating is the thought of my children in the future. I swear not to allowed my generation’s blood be tainted by my own mistake.
3. Another interesting story that I love to share; While eating with Huda, my junior who took a part-time job in a Taj Palace, a Halal restaurant branch in Myeongdong and Itaewon. She told me that the owner will close the new branch in Myeongdong because it did not generate enough profit. Most customers who come wanted to drink alcoholic drinks but the owner refuses to bend the rule. As long as he lives, he will never allowed liquor to be sold in his shop. I just admired him. The determination to obey Allah without hesitation. A total obligation to Allah.
