Where the Halal Bite Begins
· Halil ETYEMEZ
We wonder about the contents of the bite that reaches our table. We ask where it was produced, what ingredients it contains, and how it was prepared. This sensitivity should have a deeper meaning in our lives: How much justice do we uphold in the work through which we earn that bite, in the authority we wield, and in the duty we undertake?
We wonder about the contents of the bite that reaches our table. We ask where it was produced, what ingredients it contains, and how it was prepared. This sensitivity should have a deeper meaning in our lives: How much justice do we uphold in the work through which we earn that bite, in the authority we wield, and in the duty we undertake?
In his article titled 'Basic Principles of Halal Food from a Fiqh Perspective,' Prof. Dr. Saffet Köse emphasizes that along with the food itself, the path of earning must also be halal. This approach calls on all of us to think about the life behind the meal. Because until the bite reaches the table, it passes through the labor, decisions, and responsibilities of many people.
The story of the halal bite begins where the earnings are obtained.
Throughout my experience, which spans from teaching to union work, public administration, and parliamentary service, I have seen that the sense of justice in humans is strengthened through daily practices. When an employee receives the reward for their labor, when a citizen's request is evaluated with justice, when a duty is assigned to the competent, trust grows. Every just decision further solidifies the society's faith in each other.
For this reason, when considering halal earnings, we must start with our own responsibilities. The employer must fulfill the obligation to pay the employee's wages on time and in full; the employee must perform their assigned task with diligence; the manager must observe fairness in their decisions, all with the same moral seriousness. Respect for hard work gains meaning by giving the reward for labor and protecting the dignity of that labor.
Duties and positions are also part of this responsibility. Every duty we undertake carries an authority entrusted to us and an obligation to serve. Fulfilling this trust properly requires using time, opportunity, and resources according to their intended purpose.
Being in a position means making decisions that affect the lives of others. Behind those decisions, there is sometimes the livelihood of a family, sometimes the future of a young person, and sometimes a person who has been waiting for their rights to be recognized for years. Remembering these lives while signing is the daily manifestation of the awareness of trust.
The right of the trust is to observe the rights of people wherever the authority reaches.
The most serious test of protecting rights begins when our own interests clash with the rights of others. Being able to desire the same justice for others as we desire for ourselves; being able to evaluate those close to us and those far from us with the same measure requires moral maturity. Paving the way for the competent, listening to the requests of the unheard, and correcting a wrong decision are the visible manifestations of this maturity.
We must instill the sensitivity of halal in our children within this integrity. A child learns the value of clean earnings from the consistency of words and actions at home. When promises are kept, when debts are paid on time, when the labor of others is respected, morality becomes understandable within life. Our advice is as convincing as our behavior.
Today, we all need to strengthen this awareness from our own positions. Our attention to honesty in production, trust in trade, respect for hard work in working life, and meritocracy and justice in management will improve our common life. Everyone fulfilling their duty with a sense of trust makes the rights of others more secure.
While considering the blessings of our table, let us also consider the path of our earnings, the right of our duty, and the human aspect of our decisions.
While observing the halal nature of our bite, let us uphold justice on the entire path leading to that bite.
Source: Saffet Köse, “Fıkhî Açıdan Helal Gıdanın Temel İlkeleri”, Journal of Halal and Ethical Research, 2(1), 2020, pp. 1–18.