First: Definition of Kosher:
The definition of kosher is provided in the Encyclopedia as follows:
Kosher foods are foods that conform to the Jewish dietary regulations of kashrut (dietary law). The laws of kashrut apply to food derived from living creatures and kosher foods are restricted to certain types of mammals, birds and fish meeting specific criteria; the flesh of any animals that do not meet these criteria is forbidden by the dietary laws. Furthermore, kosher mammals and birds must be slaughtered according to a process known as shechita and their blood may never be consumed and must be removed from the meat by a process of salting and soaking in water for the meat to be permissible for use. All plant-based products, including fruits, vegetables, grains, herbs and spices, are intrinsically kosher, although certain produce grown in the Land of Palestine is subjected to other requirements, such as tithing, before it may be consumed.
Kosher food also distinguishes between meat and dairy products. Meat products are those that comprise or contain kosher meat, such as beef, lamb or venison, kosher poultry such as chicken, goose, duck or turkey, or derivatives of meat, such as animal gelatin; non-animal products that are processed on equipment used for meat or meat-derived products are also considered to belong to this category. Dairy products are those which contain milk or any derivatives such as butter or cheese; non-dairy products that are processed on equipment used for milk or milk-derived products are also considered as belonging to this category. Because of this categorization, meat and milk or their respective derivatives are not combined in kosher foods, and separate equipment for the storage and preparation of meat-based and dairy-based foods is used in order for food to be considered kosher.
Another category of kosher food, called pareve contains neither meat, milk nor their derivatives; they include foods such as fish, eggs from permitted birds, produce, grains, fruit and other edible plants. They remain pareve if they are not mixed with or processed using equipment that is used for any meat or dairy products.
Because of the complexities of modern food manufacturing, kashrut agencies supervise or inspect the production of kosher foods and provide a certification called a hechsher to verify for kosher food consumers that it has been produced in accordance with Jewish law.
The Torah permits eating only those land animals that chew their cud and have cloven hooves.[1] Four animals, the hare, hyrax, camel, and pig, are specifically identified as being forbidden because they possess only one of the above characteristics: the hare, hyrax and camel are hindgut fermenters and chew their cud but do not have cloven hooves, while the pig has a cloven hoof but does not chew its cud.
The Torah lists winged creatures that may not be consumed, mainly birds of prey, fish-eating water-birds, and bats.
Certain domesticated fowl can be eaten, such as chicken, geese, quail, dove, and turkey.
The Torah permits only those fish which have both fins and scales to be eaten. To comply with kosher requirements, a fish must have fins and easily detached scales. This resembles the Hanafi school of thought and the Ja’fari school of thought.
Judaism prohibits consuming the meat of animals that have been “torn by beasts,” and it forbids consuming anything that died naturally.
The Torah also prohibits mixing meat with milk in cooking.
Secondly, looking at the extent of prohibited and forbidden foods (kosher), we find that the number of prohibitions in Jewish law includes all that is prohibited in Islam and adds many more items. However, wine is an exception, as it is considered permissible in their religion due to being viewed as a divine blessing. In fact, it is an integral part of their celebrations.
We state that the term “kosher” is not sufficient to deem food permissible according to Islamic law, as it may potentially contain prohibited alcohol in our context. It is essential for a Muslim to read the ingredients of a product. If it does not contain any non-transformed alcoholic substance, then it is permissible to consume.
Thirdly, it is necessary to distinguish between the terms “halal” and “kosher.” Not everything that is halal is kosher, and not everything that is kosher is halal. However, there is an agreement between them in most cases.
Fatwa by Dr. Khālid Naṣr