The Socio-Cultural Mediation of Religious Authority:  A Comparative Study of Halal Slaughter Fatwas in Indonesia and Australia

Dailani Ismail; Aufa Melia Mareta

doi:10.63919/surau.v2i1.61

Authors

Dailani Ismail Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Produk Halal Sumatera Barat, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8168-4212
Aufa Melia Mareta Abattoir Worker in Victoria, Australia https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7273-0789

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.63919/surau.v2i1.61

Keywords:

Halal Animal Slaughter, Fatwa-Reality Gap, Indonesia-Australia Context, Sociocultural Resistance, Technological Modernization.

Abstract

This study highlights the gap between fatwas and the implementation of halal slaughter practices influenced by technological modernity in two distinct contexts: Indonesia as the world’s largest Muslim-majority country and Australia with its Muslim minority community.This research is the socio-cultural resistance to the machine-slaughter fatwa in Indonesia, which contrasts with the more adaptive acceptance in Australia. To analyze this paradox, the study employs a qualitative method through literature review and comparative analysis, examining fatwa documents, regulations, and societal responses in both countries. The results indicate that the effectiveness of a technological fatwa is determined not only by its legal validity but critically by its alignment with the socio-cultural character of the community. In Indonesia, resistance stems from a value clash between the efficiency logic of machines and the religious-communal character of society, whereas in Australia, an autonomous and community-driven certification system maintains Sharia integrity in manual slaughter. The conclusion emphasizes the necessity for participatory social engineering, involving intensive dialogue among scholars, industry practitioners, and the public, to design halal technologies that are not only legally valid but also spiritually and culturally meaningful, thereby ensuring harmony between religious authority, technological innovation, and societal realities.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Abdullah, F. A. A., Bo?ilová, G., & Steinhauserová, I. (2019). Halal criteria versus conventional slaughter technology. Animals, 9(8), 530. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9080530

Aghwan, Z. A. (2022). Pre-slaughter stunning of birds and animals: Its impact on animal welfare and the legislation of halal slaughter. Journal of Halal Science and Technology, 1(2), 46–57. https://doi.org/10.59202/jhst.v1i2.548

Ahmed, A. S. (2019). The relationship between halal and technology: An approach to consider halal techniques in the robot revolution and artificial intelligence. Journal of Contemporary Islamic Studies, 4(1), 126–143. https://doi.org/10.24191/jcis.v4i1.23

Akmal. (2021). Research on halal certification in Indonesia. Journal of Islamic Economic Literatures, 2(2). https://doi.org/10.58968/jiel.v2i2.57

Arif, M. Y. A., Indra, G. L., & Susanto, I. M. H. (2023). Internalization of Islamic law in the formation of regional regulations in Lampung Province. Analisis Jurnal Studi Keislaman, 23(2), 259–286. https://doi.org/10.24042/ajsk.v23i2.20813

Badu, R., Teye, M., Bannor, R. K., & Awal, F. (2023). Meat consumers and Islamic scholars’ understanding of humane slaughter, and effects of pre-slaughter stunning on meat purchasing decisions in Ghana. Journal of Islamic Marketing, 14(2), 504–522. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIMA-02-2021-0041

Bouzraa, S., Agüera, E. I., Avilés-Ramírez, C., & Serrano, S. (2025). Influence of halal slaughter on the colour, odour, flavour, and textural properties of beef. Animals, 15(9), 1227. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15091227

Bonne, K., & Verbeke, W. (2007). Religious values informing halal meat production and the control and delivery of halal credence quality. Agriculture and Human Values, 25(1), 35–47. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-007-9076-y

Chandia, M., & Soon, J. M. (2018). The variations in religious and legal understandings on halal slaughter. British Food Journal, 120(3), 714–730. https://doi.org/10.1108/bfj-03-2017-0129

Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (n.d.). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. SAGE Publications.

Driessen, C., & Korthals, M. (2012). Pig towers and in vitro meat: Disclosing moral worlds by design. Social Studies of Science, 42(6), 797–820. https://doi.org/10.1177/0306312712457110

Febriati, N. L., Mu’in, F., Miswanto, M., Santoso, R., & Latua, A. (2024). Challenges of the halal food industry in era 5.0 perspective of science and Islamic law. Kne Social Sciences. https://doi.org/10.18502/kss.v9i2.15024

Fuseini, A., Wotton, S. B., Hadley, P. J., & Knowles, T. G. (2017). The perception and acceptability of pre-slaughter and post-slaughter stunning for halal production: The views of UK Islamic scholars and halal consumers. Meat Science, 123, 143–150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2016.09.013

Fuseini, A., Wotton, S., Hadley, P., & Knowles, T. (2017). The compatibility of modern slaughter techniques with halal slaughter: A review. Animal Welfare, 26(3), 301–310. https://doi.org/10.7120/09627286.26.3.301

Hardi, H., Sujono, S., Sutanto, A., Baroh, I., & Sahara, H. (2024). Model of halal slaughter certification assistance for poultry slaughterhouse officers in supporting halal tourism in Batu City. Jurnal Sosial Teknologi, 4(2). https://doi.org/10.59188/jurnalsostech.v4i2.1155

Hasan, Z. (2021). Making Indonesia an integrated halal zone and world halal sector hub through the implementation of halal supply chain. Journal of Islamic Economic and Business Research, 1(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.18196/jiebr.v1i1.11529

Ho, S. S., Wijaya, S. A., & Ou, M. (2024). Examining Muslims’ opinions toward cultured meat in Singapore. Science Communication, 46(2), 151–177. https://doi.org/10.1177/10755470231225684

Husna, F. (2021). Stunning from science and Islamic perspective. Journal of Halal Product and Research, 4(1), 8–13. https://doi.org/10.20473/jhpr.vol.4-issue.1.8-13

Ismail, H., Rahmawati, R., Rini, E., & Aripin, K. (2025). Strengthening the competence of halal slaughter through Kang Jalal training. Ta Awun, 5(02), 430–443. https://doi.org/10.37850/taawun.v5i02.1041

Kurniawan, A. W., Alam, A., Yuspin, W., & Rizka. (2025). Comparative legal analysis of stunning methods in halal slaughter. IJLS, 4(1), 84–107. https://doi.org/10.59683/ijls.v4i1.103

Lindebaum, D., Vesa, M., & Den Hond, F. (2020). Insights from The Machine Stops to understand algorithmic decision making. Academy of Management Review, 45(1), 247–263. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2018.0181

Manan, S. K. A., Rahman, F. A., & Sahri, M. (2017). Contemporary issues and development in the global halal industry. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1452-9

Mardianto, A., et al. (2023). Legal awareness of MSMEs on halal certification. In A. A. Nassihudin et al. (Eds.), Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Law, Governance, and Social Justice (ICoLGaS 2023) (Vol. 805, pp. 431–444). Atlantis Press SARL. https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-164-7_40

Marnita, M. (2024). Directions for the development of the halal ecosystem. Al-Ishlah: Jurnal Ilmiah Hukum, 27(2), 156–177. https://doi.org/10.56087/aijih.v27i2.477

Miele, M. (2016). Killing animals for food: How science, religion, and technologies affect public debate. Food Ethics, 1(1), 47–60. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41055-016-0004-y

Morton, R. B., Ou, K., & Qin, X. (2020). The effect of religion on Muslims’ charitable contributions. Journal of Public Economic Theory, 22(2), 433–448. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpet.12352

Morton, R., & Whittaker, A. L. (2022). Understanding subordinate animal welfare legislation in Australia. Animals, 12(18), 2437. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12182437

Mujahidin, M. (2022). Analysis of maslahah concept in DSN-MUI fatwa. Al-Kharaj, 4(6), 1958–1970. https://doi.org/10.47467/alkharaj.v4i6.1969

Nasution, R. S. (2024). Maqashid al-Shariah sebagai solusi atas problematika ibadah kurban. Al-Tasyree, 16(02), 160–170. https://doi.org/10.59833/3pa2ga19

Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (2005). The SAGE handbook of qualitative research (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications.

Paranhos Da Costa, M. J. R., et al. (2012). Strategies to promote farm animal welfare. Meat Science, 92(3), 221–226. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2012.03.005

Parker, C., Carey, R., Costa, J. D., & Scrinis, G. (2017). Animal welfare and market regulation. Regulation & Governance, 11(4), 368–387. https://doi.org/10.1111/rego.12147

Pratama, I., & Harahap, M. H. (2024). Delphi method in halal industry development. Halal and Sustainability, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.58968/hs.v1i1.434

Pratikto, H., Agustina, Y., & Kiranawati, T. M. (2023). Factors influencing MSME halal certification behavior. International Journal of Professional Business Review, 8(9), e3444. https://doi.org/10.26668/businessreview/2023.v8i9.3444

Pujiastuti, Y., Mustaniroh, S. A., & Sucipto, S. (2024). Halal supply chain institutional risk analysis. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1358(1), 012034. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1358/1/012034

Rashid, N. A., Supian, K., & Bojei, J. (2018). Halal traceability system and supply chain integrity. International Journal of Asian Social Science, 8(8), 569–579. https://doi.org/10.18488/journal.1.2018.88.569.579

Rawanita, M., & Mariati, M. (2024). Controversy of stunning in animal slaughter. MAQASIDI, 192–203. https://doi.org/10.47498/maqasidi.v4i1.3703

Riaz, M. N., Irshad, F., Riaz, N. M., & Regenstein, J. M. (2021). Stunning methods from a halal perspective. Translational Animal Science, 5(4). https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txab154

Ritonga, R., & Aminah, S. (2023). Machinery slaughter in Islamic law. Wahana Akademika, 10(1), 77–87. https://doi.org/10.21580/wa.v10i1.14942

Rosyidi, K., Santoso, I., Wibisono, Y., & Sucipto, S. (2025). Vibration sensor mitigation in halal chicken slaughtering. Journal of World’s Poultry Research, 3. https://doi.org/10.36380/jwpr.2025.33

Sinclair, M., et al. (2023). Animal welfare at slaughter across cultures. Frontiers in Animal Science, 4, 1141789. https://doi.org/10.3389/fanim.2023.1141789

Sinclair, M., & Phillips, C. J. C. (2019). Asian livestock industry leaders’ perceptions of animal welfare. Animals, 9(6), 319. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9060319

Snyder, H. (2019). Literature review as a research methodology. Journal of Business Research, 104, 333–339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.07.039

Susanty, A., Puspitasari, N. B., Caterina, A. D., & Jati, S. (2020). Barriers for implementing halal logistics. Journal of Islamic Marketing, 12(4), 649–669. https://doi.org/10.1108/jima-11-2019-0244

Tieman, M. (2011). Application of halal in supply chain management. Journal of Islamic Marketing, 2(2), 186–195. https://doi.org/10.1108/17590831111139893

Tieman, M., Van Der Vorst, J. G. A. J., & Che Ghazali, M. (2012). Principles in halal supply chain management. Journal of Islamic Marketing, 3(3), 217–243. https://doi.org/10.1108/17590831211259727

Ulfah, M. (2025). Animal welfare in halal slaughter: Between fiqh implementation and economic value. ICSEMA Proceedings, 1. https://doi.org/10.32424/icsema.v1i1.534

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2012). APA handbook of research methods in psychology: Volume 2. American Psychological Association.

Zainalabidin, F. A., Hassan, F. M., Zin, N. S. M., Azmi, W. N. W., & Ismail, M. I. (2019). Halal system in meat industries. Malaysian Journal of Halal Research, 2(1), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.2478/mjhr-2019-0001