New to halal?
What Is Zabiha Halal Meat?
A simple guide to what halal and zabiha mean, how zabiha is done, and why shoppers who care about where their meat comes from choose it.
Halal and Zabiha, Explained
Halal is an Arabic word meaning "permissible." In food, it describes what Muslims are allowed to eat under Islamic dietary law. Pork, alcohol and blood are not halal.
Zabiha (also spelled dhabiha) is the method of slaughter that makes meat halal. It sets rules for how the animal is treated before, during and after slaughter.
How Zabiha Works
- Step 1
Calm, respectful handling
The animal must be healthy and treated gently. Zabiha guidelines call for keeping it calm: blades are never sharpened in front of it, and it should not see other animals being slaughtered.
- Step 2
God's name is invoked
Before the cut, the slaughterer says "Bismillah, Allahu Akbar" (In the name of God, God is greatest). The animal's life is taken with acknowledgment and respect, not treated as just a product.
- Step 3
One swift cut
The slaughter is done by hand, by a Muslim, with an extremely sharp blade in a single swift motion. The goal is a quick slaughter with as little suffering as possible.
- Step 4
Full blood drainage
The cut allows the blood to drain fully.
Zabiha isn't just a label. It's a complete standard for how an animal is handled and slaughtered, with calm, care and respect from start to finish.
Why Non-Muslim Shoppers Choose Zabiha
You don't need to keep halal to appreciate how zabiha meat is produced. Many of our customers choose it for the same reasons they choose natural, traceable meat.
A defined standard
Zabiha follows clear rules for handling and slaughter. It isn't a vague marketing term.
Done by hand
Each animal is slaughtered by hand, one at a time.
Drainage is required
Full blood drainage is part of the standard, not an option.
Independently verified
Abdu Market is HMS certified. You can look up our listing yourself.
Traceable poultry
Our poultry comes from Halal Pride Farms: hand-slaughtered, no stunning, no antibiotics ever, 100% vegetarian-fed.
Zabiha across the counter
Beef, lamb and goat are zabiha halal too — not just our poultry.
Our Standard at the Counter
Abdu Market is certified by HMS (Halal Monitoring Services), an independent halal certifier. Our beef, lamb and goat are zabiha halal, and our poultry is 100% zabiha halal from Halal Pride Farms, hand-slaughtered with no stunning. Every cut is hand-trimmed at our counter in Canton when we prepare your order.
See How We SourceCommon Questions
Can non-Muslims buy and eat halal meat?
Yes. Halal meat is for everyone. Many of our customers simply want fresh, hand-cut meat from a source they can trace.
Is all halal meat zabiha?
Not always. Standards vary by certifier and supplier, especially around hand slaughter and stunning.
Is your beef, lamb and goat zabiha halal?
Yes. The beef, lamb and goat we sell are zabiha halal, and our poultry is 100% zabiha halal from Halal Pride Farms.
How do I know your meat is really halal?
Abdu Market is certified by HMS (Halal Monitoring Services). You can verify our certification at hmsusa.org/certified-detail/abdu-market.
Can I order specific cuts?
Yes. Add cut notes to any item online (curry cut, bone-in, boneless, thin-sliced). For whole lamb, whole goat or large orders, use our custom order form.
Fresh Zabiha, Cut to Order
Pick your cuts online and collect them at the meat counter inside Abdu Market, 46090 Michigan Ave, Canton.