Shariah & state law are linked in food law in complex ways, as John Pointing explains
Food law is of primary concern to Muslims. The distinction between that which is permitted—Halal—and that which is Haram, or forbidden, is of fundamental importance. But there is no consensus on what is permitted. Islamic jurisprudence is interpretative, based on religious scholarship and on various schools of thought that allow important differences to subsist regarding juridical categories. Shariah law is preoccupied with this complex and contested field, because religious beliefs are engaged with dietary rules and with related issues such as the non-stunning of animals prior to slaughter.
The preparation for sale of Halal food must conform to state law and regulation. State law in the UK is not specifically concerned with Halal foods, so how does Halal fit with state law? Shariah, or Islamic, law is not isolated from state law and neither is it at odds with state law. Probably many people living in the UK today experience some degree of fear or suspicion, or even hostility towards Shariah law.
Religious law “often has its own independent institutional
