Cape Town – The MJC Halal Trust (MJC) has created a survey to gain insight into the Muslim community’s perception of the organization. This comes about with the rise in ‘halal-friendly’ establishments.
The MJC’S Chief of operations, Moulana Zakariya Philander expressed the term ‘halal-friendly’ was not coined by the Ulema but rather the food industry.
“It’s a term that is being utilized by businesses who don’t have the requirements or have some of the requirements of halal but are unable to attain certification due to not conforming to the rules and regulations. In order to show people some of what they do is halal, they coined the term themselves, the term was coined in the industry… The place isn’t certified for a reason and that should be the real question people ask, why isn’t this place halal certified?”
MJC Halal Trust logo
Moulana Philander stressed the Ummah should be conscious of the laws of Halal and avoid frequenting these establishments.
“Eating halal is a Quranic imperative. It’s got to do with the Imaan of Muslims and the protection of their Imaan. We’re hoping through education and understanding of what it is (halal-friendly) …. They would rather stay away from it.”
A question on the survey asks one to recall the last time they recognized the MJC certificate or logo in order to assess whether people ask to see halal certification or merely ask if a particular establishment is halal without actual verification.
“Once our logo is up there, it means a lot. It means that this place had been vented, audited and is regularly monitored.”
Moulana Philander hopes that in future the community and halal certifiers can work in corporation as halal bodies have the interests of the community at heart.
“The relationship between the certifier and community shouldn’t be an antagonistic one. The community should understand that it is being done in the interest of the community. It is not a money-making machine. The intent behind this was always to provide halal… We see the community as a partner and helping us to monitor those establishments that are halal.”
