Mufti Bosnia - Thailand Halal Assembly 2019 Keynote Speech (Transcribed)

Photo session with Bosnian Mufti after his keynote speech at BITEC, Bangna, Bangkok Thailand with representatives from Pakistan and the MC. 

Transcribe =Start= 

I am honored by the invitation of the chairman of this great conference in Thailand, Winai Dahlan, who invited me together with my friends Asad, who is praising me all the time, so i have to praise him as well so. Because if somebody gives you favor, you have to give him back. So, let me now shift your mind, probably to a different area of reflecting on the idea of halal. We have heard about the regulations, and the laws, the mutual understanding and the relationship state-state and so which is something that we, as a spiritual theorist appreciate very much, but if you don't have in your mind what is in the paper, the paper does not help you. So, before we get to the idea of the regulation  and laws, they have to see what is in our mind. I must say that these conference in Thailand with this title of, algorithmic touch...

This conference in Thailand of a algorithmic, touch means very much. Because this remind me on the great Muslim scholar, Muhammad Ibni Musa al-khawarizmi, who initiated the idea of algorithm in 820 by milad in baghdad when he was the head of the department of baytul hikmah in Baghdad. There was three areas (at that time offered in baytul hikmah): geography, astronomy and mathematics. This algorithm is from his name, ‘al-Khawarizmi’ which was Latinized like Ibni Rusyd to 'Averrose'  and Ibni Sina to ‘Avicenna’ because they  they in the west, do not like any Arabic origin name which associated to cultural civilization goodness. This is why I suggested to them that they (should) change the name ‘Osama Bin Laden’ to ‘Smith’.  They did not want to change the name Osama to 'Smith'. because Osama associated with terrorism. But, 'Avicenna' Ibnu Sina is associated to medicine culture, and al-khawarizmi is associated to algebra and (eventually become) algorithm. But I dont have the time to spend too much on that but I just want to have remind you on the book that is based (of what) algorithm. Muhmamad Ibni Musa wrote which is called: al-kitab al-mukhtasarfi hisab al-jabbar wa al-muqaballah. This is a, let say, small concise book on the calculation of al-geber (algebra) completion and based on that I was inspired to offer you a different translation of halal and haram as you know from us, the muftis. We usually translate halal as lawful something, and haram as unlawful. Which is correct. But I think based on that,  algorithm, and algorithm means what? It means solving the problem step-by-step. This is what algorithm means.  You go step-by-step until you come to the final solution.

So, halal is rooted, you know (etymologically) in the Arabic language has; each words has three roots and halal is mainly (consisted of) with 3 letters, some roots which is ha-lam and lam. Which makes (to the derivation of the word) tahlil. What tahlil means in Arabic? It means analysis. (It means) you analysis something, right? To analyse something it means  you are using algorithm methodology. So, but halal means, something else. It means haram and haram means in Arabic a women for example, and (other means) harm al-syarif, means in the Makkah, the surrounding (area) of the Makkah. So, the halal can be translated as touchable, why? Haram means untouchable, it is haram to touch a women which is not halal to you. So this is haram, okay? Haram mal is untouchable -which as again, corruption when in Islamic law principle, you cannot touch what doesnt belong to you. This is haram. And halal is touchable. So, when you see Halal is more in the world (abundance) than haram because  in Islamic law/principle, you (might have) heard that: aslu asyiai ibahah the principle are all things are touchable except those which are not touchable.

So from Thailand, to the further conference of halal, I recommend that this algorithm methodology, we use as official language/methodology meaning, in halal (matters) we go step by step until we come to the final solution. And this is are what you are doing. So, this title, I don’t know who invented or get this idea I really appreciate that and I praise him and congratulation. This the idea of halal. Algorithmic touch! And I would encourage you to translate halal not anymore to lawful. You know, lawful it means so many things. You translate (halal) as touchable. Halal, is everything that is touchable. And that you can touch, that you can taste, that you can enjoy, that you can feel good about because you have halal friends, halal women, halal food, halal mal. Everything that is halal is touchable you know, you got the sense of touch with it. And haram is everything what is untouchable; you cannot touch what doesnt belong to you. So, this is haram. Pork is haram because is untouchable, you cannot touch this, and so on. So, if you want me, then, to define you further, what is halal, I hope you remember, together with this algorithmic touch,this is a new step, a new idea in halal. This is great, this is great.

Now, let me then make comparison.

There is one hadith of the prophet (SAW). It is disputed, some say it is not hadith mutawatir but, whatever. All those who believe in the mind they quote this hadith as a representative of the usefulness of mind. You know, in hadith there is the idea of sanad or this methodology  - method of proving whether one hadith right or wrong. Now, when we come to the science, and we know the Muslim invented the science even for the West. But unfortunately by time we lost these minds, we did not inherit them. One of this great mind in history is Muhammad Ibni Musa al-Khawarizmi. We lost this mind.  And it has been stolen from us in the west. And this how they made  the computers that we are using (today based on the algorithm), this is from algorithm. This is the idea of alkhawarizm. This is the idea that came from the Muslim mind.  But somehow, we lose this mind. And all this people who believe in mind as the prophet, and because there are muslims who are praising the mind all time, saying this is god’s gift we should appreciate the mind, but unfortunately Muslims are praising the mind but they dont know how to use the mind to cover or to control the world. You know who is controlling today the world? (There are) To people, the one who using the mind. The Muslims praising the mind, but they dont know how to used the mind, that God has given! On the contrary, they are giving the minds to other civilization, to other cultures! You have great muslim individual in the world, the great mind, the best mind, but they not (being)by the Muslim. (Instead) they are used by other organisation, as you know. Now, these great Muslims who believe in mind  they are aligned in one hadith which I like very much:

العَقلُ نورٌ فِي القَلبِ، يُفَرِّقُ بِهِ بَينَ الحَقِّ والباطِلِ

The mind is light in the heart, that is capable to distinguish right from wrong.

And do you know what is Light? Allah nuurun fissama wa tiwal ‘ardh
God is the light of the heaven and the world. So, if the mind is the light is the haqq, we all possess the light of god, who is the Light of the heaven and the earth, as you know. Now, let me compare this hadith to the idea of halal. So, if you asked me what is halal, I will make paraphrase this hadith, and say:

الحلال نور في النفس يفرق بين الحق والباطل

Which means: halal is light in your soul/spirit, so that you can distinguish the different what is healthy food from unhealthy food, from healthy production on unhealthy production, touchable production from untouchable production.

And in order for you to develop this, I would like you to remember very interesting facts.
You know, that after Quran, we have the hadith. These are Sunnah. These are two sources of Muslim knowledge. And the third source of knowledge is your mind experience. Now we know about the Quran. There is no dispute about al-quran. We have six books, that are recorded sunnah, as you know, one of those who collected the collection these six is: Abu Dawud and he named his book as ‘sunan’. He collected 4,800 hadith in (his) sunan. After he collected, and finished his book, he said to his friend” “You know, (when) you look to this book (sunan), thhis is 4,800 hadith.” And they (his friend) said: “Yes.” (Abu Dawud continues) “And you know, there are only 4 hadith that contain all this 4,800 hadith. “Do you want to know which hadith?” They said, “Yes”.

1- innamal a'mal binniyat: The action and your deeds are measured by your intetion. And this halal business measures is measured by our intention. What we do want to achive in this halal business? Is it only money? Is it only profit? Or we want to achieve something which is beyond this?  And that (would be the spreading) the message of Islam. I believe in friend that he want to do so, this is what we learned from the Ottomans anyway, in Bosnia. The wanted to spread Islam, right?. The idea of halal. And oh, my friend Asad  and my dear host, Winai this is why I came from Bosnia to you, Thailand except I did not taste yet the durian, I hope I will get it.

2- Minhisnil Islamil mar’i, tarkuhu ma ya ya'ti: What is good in Islam in a man, that is he is not interfering things do not touch him.   leave alone thing that you have nothing to do with it.

3- Maa kanaal mukminu mukminan hatta yardha li akhiihi ma yardha linafsihi: And Muslim is not a believer until he wish to his brother what he wishes to himself. This is what we need to look my brother and sister into the ummah today. Do we apply this hadith? If we apply this hadith, the Muslim ummah will be on the top.

4- Alhalal bayyinun wal halala bayyinun wal haramu bayyinun wa ma bayna huma umur mutasyabihat: the halal, touchable things are clear, and untouchable haram are clear and there is in between that which are suspicious. So, please leave this thing that are not clear to you. And you know, grand son of the great muslim scholar Ibni Jauzi - syamsudin mir atu zzaman. Said, we should add the fifth hadith. He said this hadith: al-muslimu man salima muslimu min lisanihi wa yadihi: A real muslim is the one who is saved from another muslim by his tongue and by his hand. So, I hope I can summarize like this.

We are now entering the stage of algorithmic touch of halal, congratulation. This is new achievement. It means that we have step by step reach the world by the concept of halal. From Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Asia, Turkiya and of course my Bosnia. And, my dear brothers and sisters. Things are very simple. Don't complicate  life. Don't complicate religion. Remember these four hadith, and you will be saved.

And thanks to Abu Dawud for his sunan, after I read this recently, I said: Now, if I apply all this 4 hadith, then I am really Muslim and I also halal observant.

So, may God Make you Halal, make you enjoy eating your halal food.

Assalamualaikum wbt.

Transcribe =End=

Food and Safety: Until Qiyamah Do Us Apart

Assalamua'alaikum wbt.

Merhaba. It has been a while. Well, my friend (Dr Syuk) has posted very inspiring blogger post, and here I am. (peer pressure, lol) 

I know...the title is a little bit exaggerate. But, it's true. Food safety is vital element when we come across food.  We love food. We want good food. We need food. Food is essential for our physiology need as well as spiritual need. Therefore, keeping our food safe is so fundamental to ensure the public health is at stake. The question is, who's responsibility is that? Everyone. I mean, everyone in whole supply chain. The farmer, the manufacturer, the transporter, the retailer, the consumer, and above all - the authority. 

Well, what about Islam? Does Islam particular in food safety? What stand does Islam has to offer? Its simple. Every Muslim would know that - halalan toyyiban is the central principle in dietary law. The halal element or 'permissible' refers to the permitted by the syari'a (law), whereas, toyyiban or simply toyyib refers to the complementary elements such as the quality of food, the health benefit, safety, hygienic and other qualities that completes the food as a wholesome treat. There, a safe food fulfill the element of toyyib. 

The prohibited things (in this case food) is actually accounted for very limited number of things in Islam. It is not that much as some people might think it is. It means,  other than that, is HALAL (yes, you name it). No worries. I guarantee. This is because everything else which is not mentioned in al-Quran nor al-hadith falls under maxim: al-aslu al-ashiya' al-ibahah (everything is permitted by default). Well of course, unless it has harmful effect towards health like poisonous or intoxicant it is forgiven by The Lawgiver (Allah swt)!

Where was I?

Oh, back to the food safety. As the concept suggest, toyyiban is the integral part of the whole Islamic dietary law. We are not require just to seek for halal food but also toyyiban, because it is mentioned in Surah Al-Baqarah verse 168. A safe means, it is free from contaminants, be it physical (like glass shards), chemical (for example, cleaning agent) or biological (this is the most common and dangerous one, and it could be deadly such as Botulism). Keeping food safe is in accordance to the objective of Shariah (maqasid al-syariah) is to preserve life.  (...start to think I should stop writing now, may be I could write as high impact article, not a blog post lol). 

Anyway. 

The point is, I was attended food safety training by Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) last week. It is a very interesting experience to have collaboration with international community as well as local. I learn a lot from those people - whom I call expert. Some of them are the QC/QA, manager, consultant, and food industry key person. But all of them are very humble and helpful. Let's talk about Jean. It happened to be that I was assigned as a team (because training is mostly practical session) with this guy - Jean from France. Another team mate was Vietnamese. 

Interestingly, both of them are from the same establishment. This fellow Vietnamese is quite particular in every wording used for our presentation material. It is good to know, maybe this is how industry works. No jargon. Everything must clear and easy to understand. Sometime, this fellow Vietnamese argue with this French guy even we are actually in the same group (haha). However, it is good to see how professional they are to come into conclusion from the argument (respect). But, I always agree with Jean because almost all of his points seems to me sensible. Oh well. The thing is, it is a great opportunity to work with these people.  

Enough talk (I mean read). Here's some picture. (woha!)

Me explaining the food process flow. We chose Fresh Orange in Crate! It seems simple, but there's a lot of new idea came out from it. Next to it is the mitigation strategy. In food safety, GMP and HACCP is the system applicable. Left side, is Jean from France. 

Food safety is a holistic process, starts from rawmet (they call it, refers to raw material), processing, packaging, storage, and transportation. New information to me, one of the instrument that is used by manufacturer for physical contamination is the metal detector. But the instrument could cost $4000 to put in inventory. Ensuring food safe is not something that should be taken lightly. 

Well, too bad. That's all folks, for today post. Thank you for coming by. See you again, and have a nice day.