The Concept of Tayyib in Halaal Food

For Muslim consumers Halaal food is an essential part of life. This is obvious from the fact that the word in Arabic denotes permissibility and that it`s opposite – Haraam, connotes impermissibility. With the Halaal certification industry globally surpassing by far the value of both Kosher and Organic certified food and beverage markets, the interest towards Halaal is at an all-time high. This has brought with it an on-going establishment of numerous Halaal standards, the start of accreditation activities, the acknowledgement of dominant standards and industrial best practices. Due to the rapid growth and development of the Halaal food sector, the expectation to Halal credence quality and its perception seems to be at a shift, namely, extending to include the principle of Tayyib. This is reflected by recent academic works especially on Halaal integrity and Islamic economy reports suggesting Tayyib to be a new trend and a value adding factor in marketing Halal products.

Making sure that food, its ingredients, additives and processing aids are of the proper source and treatment is the starting point for the Halaal food sector. With the onset of processed foods, it has become difficult, even nearly impossible for the consumers by themselves to have information and clarity of the origins of substances added to food, especially when it is not compulsory to declare all of them. Thus, a need of competency, vigilance and a great responsibility lies on Halaal certifiers.

Interestingly enough, even though the sector has adopted itself the name “Halaal”, it is inherently encompassed by a wider concept called Tayyib. Namely, to declare any food source as prohibited, the crux is its non-Tayyibness.

Understanding the principle of Tayyib
Let us now take a look at how Tayyib lays down the principle of food safety.

The most relevant verses to explain the Tayyib concept are brought out in the verse
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ كُلُوا۟ مِمَّا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ حَلَـٰلًا طَيِّبًا وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ خُطُوَٰتِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ
O mankind! Eat of that which is lawful and wholesome in the earth, and follow not the footsteps of the devil. Lo! he is an open enemy for you. [Al Baqarah 2: 168]

The Quran lays down the principle of Tayyib regarding eating. In this verse, “lawful” is the translation of the Arabic term “Halaal” while “good” is the translation of Arabic term “Tayyib”. Thus, the verse states that in order to consume a thing it must not only be Halaal, but it shall also be Tayyib.

In the verse:
وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمُ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْخَبَـٰٓئِثَ
and make lawful to them the good things of life and forbid them the bad things, [Al A`raf 7: 157)

Tayyib or “good things” are contrasted against the Arabic word “Al-Khaba’ith”, which is translated as “the evil”, meaning things that are impure, disgusting and harmful. Therefore, this verse states a ruling that impure, abominable and harmful things or in other words what is opposite of Tayyib are unlawful to consume. This is also supported by the classical definitions of Tayyib, which are as follows:

• A thing which is not abominable, which is attractive and which a sound mind person considers good for health.
• Tasty, delicious, wholesome, free from hazards to health.
• Free from hazards to health, delicious and nourishing.
• A thing that is medically suitable for consumption.

Since Tayyib sets the general principle for assuring food safety in the Halal sector, all other texts regarding Islamic Jurisprudence reflecting measures of guidance towards a better food safety performance, will be expanded upon as a part of the Tayyib scope.