Halal Food in Nottingham...

i cant imagine catered halls buying halal meet especially for a few people, unless you pay more, just may just say its halal.

When I spoke to the woman there about my dietary requirements (coeliac though, not halal) they said they would. And they'd get into loads of trouble if they lied and said something was gluten free and it wasn't, so they wouldn't risk it. It will be the same with halal.

there are halal butchers and restaurants.. funny because i know many muslims who used to eat only halal meat back home, and when they came to the uk they stpped because they found it difficult to get all the way to the halal butcher and back, plus they complained about the cleaniness of the butcher.. and if i understand correctly, halal meat is that which is produced under clean conditions and other stipulations, (recitation of holy verses) as dictated in the quran.

i might as well mention here that there was a debate recently between two universities on wether muslims should eat non-halal meat from tesco & sainsbury's as opposed to going all out of the way to a halal butcher. it was between warwick and another uni.. the outcome was that eating non-halal meat from tesco's/sainsbury's was 'allowed' under the circumstances..

i wouldnt worry about it really, there are plenty of muslims in notts, you'll be fine as far as halal meat is concerned, just dont expect to be able to eat at any restaurant as you please! sacrifices will have to be made at some point..

About those Muslims you mentioned that found it difficult, just goes to show that us Muslims in the UK have a stronger faith than people living in Muslim countries. Doesn't matter how difficult it is, the meat you eat still has to be Halaal. However, in unavoidable circumstances, it is ok to eat non-halaal meat if you say the Duaa before eating it.

i respect your view on this, but i feel differently. back home these same people would NEVER touch non-halal food because they grew up there and know where to get food. but over here, (not touching on wether who is stronger in their beliefs) the UK muslims grew up in this environment, and they know where to get their halal meat and how to live in a situation where halal meat isnt as common.

so i dont see it as "who is stronger in their religion" but rather "who has adapted better to their environment -- the foreigner or the local".

but that does not dispute the fact that muslims whereever they may be are staunch in their religion, *from my experience* ive seen muslims drinking, gambling and sleeping around without a care in the world. im not muslim, but i dont judge the religion by this minority.

also i feel saddened that one should be seen as "stronger" in a religion than another. this shouldnt be something to judge people on, religion is a rather personal matter and i try never to judge someone on it, simply because its too personal a matter and can get emotional. i take my religion very seriously but i never will dare say I am more religious than anyone else because there's an certain "arrogance" to the sound of it...

still, yeah halaal food is halaal food, and one should try to make the best of their situation.