On the outset it must be placed on
record that Tsogo Sun is the Holding
Company of Milpark Garden Court and Tsogo Sun makes no claim that
Milpark Garden Court is Halaal. It is only upon enquiry that the
catering staff mentioned that they are “Halaal Friendly.”
We’ve been down this road so many times, but it seems some people still
don’t get it; there is no such term as “Halaal Friendly.”
Those that have coined this phrase only use it to hoodwink and attract
the Muslim Community. After an investigative journey to Milpark Garden
Court it was shocking to see the number of Muslims consuming the “Halaal Friendly”
breakfast. In fact on most weekends there are often more Muslim guests
than non-Muslim guests. And what boggles the mind is that almost all
Muslim guests are dressed in the proper Muslim attire. The men in their
Kurtas and ladies in full Hijaab.
So what makes Milpark “Halaal Friendly?”
I asked their management. The answer was repeated by almost all the
staff like a well-rehearsed line from a text book. “Well, we buy all
our meat from a very reputable Muslim butcher.” “And the pork,”
I
asked. “Well that
comes from a separate butcher.”
“Are the Halaal
products stored and prepared in separate kitchens?
Well, we use the same fridge to store both items and the pork to
prepared in the same ktichen but away from the Halaal products,” was
the answer. “So
the pork and the Halaal products share the same space
in the refrigerator and are prepared in the same kitchen? Yes, that is
correct,” was the answer.
“Doesn’t the
Muslim Chef insist on keeping them apart, was my next
question.” The answer was, “we don’t have any
Muslims working in our
kitchen.” By this time I was shivering in my boots and sweating
from my
brows, but I probed further. “So you don’t have any Muslims in the
kitchen and you store all the products in the same refrigerator and you
claim you are Halaal Friendly? Well, we dont serve Halaal Friendly
breakfasts every day unless we have a special request. We are only
Halaal Friendly on weekends, from Monday to Thursday we serve the bacon
and pork sausages and during the weekends we serve the macon, mutton
sausages and the bacon, but the bacon is kept away from the Halaal
products.”
By this time my mouth was dry. I was stammering and could not believe
what was being said to me, more especially I couldn’t believe that was
a Muslim family with their children devouring the “Halaal”
sausages
that were snuggled closely to bacon just a few minutes ago. It was my
duty to approach the Brother, so I walk to their table, exchanged
greetings and asked only one question; “Brother do you keep
any pork or
bacon in your fridge at home?” His answer was, “how can you ask me
something like that, I am a Muslim just like you, do you want me to go
against all my principals and beliefs and make my entire household
Haraam.”
“Well, brother I
just want you to know that the sausage which you are
eating has come from the same fridge as the bacon.” He was quick
to
rapidly eject it from his mouth and he ordered his family to do the
same. However, he insisted that the lady at the front desk said that
all the meat here was Halaal. My answer to him was, “indeed it was
Halaal when it arrived, but my brother it was not Halaal when it was
served to you. That Halaal sausage became Haraam as soon as it was
placed in the fridge because it was store in a non-Halaal environment.”
He was furious and wanted to do the most ridiculous things to the
Hotel, however, after gently calming him down he realized the Hotel did
not misrepresent itself with regard to its Halaal status.
What the staff at the Hotel say to the Muslim guests is 100% correct,
they say that they do serve Halaal products however, they do not claim
to be Halaal and they never once hid the fact that pork or bacon was
also being served. All the hotel did was used the term “Halaal
Friendly” and in doing so it attracted the Muslim community. The
blame
here lies soley on those Muslims that choose to eat at establishments
like the Milpark Garden Court. Recently, we have seen an increase in
the number of Hotels and other accommodation venues that are now
classing themselves as “Halaal Friendly”
and guess what? They have the
Muslims flocking to them in their hundreds, all because someone in our
community says that they are Halaal.
As a Muslim we should question these establishments and not just accept
the word of someone who is not even in the fold of Islam. Or, is it
that we are getting confused with the way the chef dresses, we feel
that because he is dressed in white and wears a white hat it makes him
Muslim and therefore, the food is Halaal. Today, even people living in
caves understand the basics of Islam. And what we are discussing here
is a basic fulfilment of Islam. Its plain and simple! Food from any
non-Muslim establishment that is not certified Halaal should not go
near the lips of any Muslim.
It is such a shame to see our Brothers, who are supposed to be the
Imam’s in their family and the women who are supposed to be a
university of knowledge ruin the future flag bearers of Islam by
feeding their children Haraam food. Remember! For the last time, there
is no such term as “Halaal
Friendly”, it is either Halaal or Haraam and
Milpark Garden Court is definitely NOT HALAAL!!!
Editor - Islam Alive
SANHA COMMENT
Throughout our two decades of
service we have consistently cautioned the community on patronising
these type of outlets to guard against what was personally experieced
by the editor of the Islam Alive publication.
The Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him) predicted that “There will come a time
upon my Ummah when people will not be concerned about what they
consume. It wil not matter to them whether it is Haraam or Halaal.”
It is further reported, “When such time
appears, none of their duas will accepted.” (Al Bukhari)
For a better / broader understanding please click
here for our exposition entitled, “Halaal Friendly.”
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EBL 006 – 25/07/2016
Islam Alive Article May 2016
Issue 79 Vol. 7
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