Reisul-ulema at the opening of SHF: I call on businessmen and business entities to pay the necessary attention to the halal industry

(Patria) - The third international halal industry fair Sarajevo Halal Fair (SHF) started today in Sarajevo, and was officially opened by the Reisul-ulema of the Islamic Community (IZ) in Bosnia and Herzegovina Husein-ef. Kavazović.

Reisul-ulema Kavazović pointed out the importance of this fair in his address, not only from an economic but also from a religious perspective.

“The word ‘halal’ itself suggests the permissibility of what is undertaken: what is done, produced, earned, consumed, etc., i.e., the legitimacy of something from the perspective of revealed faith. The first association of halal relates to food, which is its primary substance, but this word encompasses much more – practically all spheres of human activity and action,” said the Reisul-ulema.

He reminded that man, from the moment he found himself on Earth, in the circumstances of life on it, was in need of striving, working, and securing food and shelter for himself, and then other things that would make his life easier and more pleasant, adding that he could – and can today – do this in several ways.

He explained that, from a religious perspective, some ways are permitted and some are forbidden, as seen “from our holy books, the Torah and the Quran.”

“These are not prohibitions created out of God’s whim, because He is not a capricious being, but out of wisdom: what He has permitted brings benefit to man in this world and in the world of his final end, and what He has forbidden is harmful to man in both worlds. Therefore, man’s well-being lies in halal, and he should not cross its boundaries. Within halal, he has been given enough space to satisfy all his needs in this world, while ensuring a happy life in the next world. Halal is, therefore, man’s trust, for which he will be held accountable,” emphasized the Reisul-ulema.

He stressed that halal is a religious obligation from the perspective of faith, while from a legal perspective, it is a right.

“What does this mean? It means that in the procurement of raw materials for processing, in the treatment of workers involved in production, towards distributors, and those who will use or consume the products – no one’s right should be violated. This, among other things, also means that the recipient of the product must not be misled or deceived. It is his right to be accurately and precisely informed about the composition and quality of the product. So, this is where our role lies; ours in the Islamic Community, which established the Halal Quality Certification Agency in 2006,” said Reisul-ulema Kavazović.

The Reisul-ulema added that the Islamic Community “is not in business – let those who do business through the Agency take care of business – our goal is to ensure that the principles of work and action are respected, which we do through constant supervision and monitoring of all business processes, as well as through the education of staff about halal.”

“With its authority, the Islamic Community guarantees that these principles are respected and that there are no deviations from them. Therefore, everything that bears the seal of the Halal Quality Certification Agency is reliable in terms of its composition, quality, and can be consumed by Muslim believers, as well as others who value it, without any hesitation,” he stated.

He emphasized that, thanks to this, the Agency has already strongly positioned itself in the region, as well as in the world.

“It participates in the work of the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries, and other international associations. It possesses international halal accreditation and has undergone the registration process in numerous Islamic countries, which opens a wide space for action and cooperation with numerous factors in the world that is increasingly facing a shortage of healthy and quality food, as well as other problems caused by the deviation of modern man from the principles of halal. One of the consequences of this is certainly the increasingly polluted air, water, and soil, which negatively affects man’s physical health. Another consequence is the increasingly polluted spiritual environment, which is daily poisoned by huge amounts of spiritually unhealthy food that nourishes the human spirit,” said the Reisul-ulema.

He added that halal combines both of these purities and contributes to both physical and spiritual health.

“Perhaps this is the main reason for the massive commitment of Muslims worldwide to what is halal. The halal industry is today one of the fastest-growing industries, and an increasing number of non-Muslims are opting for its products. Also, the areas in which it finds its interest and opportunities for profit are significantly expanding, and it is increasingly present in the production of hygiene products, cosmetics, tourism, etc. And it has responded positively to the demands of consumers, which are constantly increasing, by respecting the principles of halal,” stated the Reisul-ulema.

He expressed hope that the halal industry will only strengthen and expand its influence in the coming period.

“There is a great opportunity in this for our national economy as well, because without a strong economy, there is no strong nation. Not producing means depending on the products of others, which is not appropriate for us and our culture. The halal industry can become – and I hope it will – a strong and reliable channel for exporting our products. Therefore, I call on our businessmen and business entities to pay the necessary attention to this industry, to invest, to invest in production, and to join it. Joint efforts always yield better results. The International Halal Industry Fair is an excellent opportunity and offers great possibilities for presenting halal products, as well as for concluding trade arrangements with foreign businessmen, investors, and companies. Opportunities, of course, must be created and utilized. So – let’s go! May God Almighty bless your efforts,” concluded Reisul-ulema Husein-ef. Kavazović.