What can I eat at Christmas dinner if the meat isn't halal?
Usually, quite a lot. Most Christmas sides are naturally halal, fish and vegetarian dishes are fine, and you can bring a halal main of your own. Ham is never allowed, scholars differ about ordinary turkey and beef, and gravy, stuffing and glazes are worth a polite question.
The main dish
Ham and gammon are pork, so they are always off the menu. For turkey, roast beef or lamb, scholars differ. Some say the meat of Christians and Jews is lawful for Muslims, based on the verse that "the food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you" (Quran 5:5). Others say that most meat in Western shops isn't slaughtered in a way that meets the Islamic conditions, and they advise halal-certified meat only. For the full discussion, see Is supermarket meat halal? Follow the view you trust, and don't judge others who follow a different one.
Sides that are usually safe
- Mashed potatoes, roast vegetables, carrots, parsnips and peas
- Bread rolls, salads and cranberry sauce
- Yorkshire puddings, if they are made with oil rather than beef dripping or lard
Even a plain-looking plate can hide something. Ask politely about these:
- Brussels sprouts cooked with bacon or pancetta
- Pigs in blankets and sausage stuffing
- Gravy made from meat juices, wine or sherry
- Red cabbage cooked in wine
- Roast potatoes cooked in goose fat, duck fat or dripping, which raise the same doubt as the meat itself
Fish and vegetarian options
Fish and seafood don't need slaughter, so they are an easy choice at the table:
The Hanafi school is stricter about some shellfish, so choose what you are comfortable with. A salmon fillet, a nut roast or a mushroom pie can make a very good Christmas main. Check that the sauce has no wine and that the pastry isn't made with lard.
Bringing your own main
Many hosts are happy to hear, "I'll bring a halal roast chicken to share." Ask a few days in advance and offer to bring enough for others to try. Then you can enjoy everything else on the table without worry. If you can't tell what is in a dish, the Prophet ﷺ taught, "Leave what makes you in doubt for what does not make you in doubt" (Jami at-Tirmidhi 2518). Alcohol in the food is another thing to watch. See What if there's wine in the Christmas food?
If you are going to a parent's home, see Can I go to Christmas dinner at my parents' house as a Muslim?
- Ham and pork are never allowed; scholars differ on ordinary turkey and beef.
- Most plain vegetables, bread, fish and desserts without alcohol are fine.
- Ask about gravy, stuffing, sprouts with bacon and cooking fats.
- Offer to bring a halal main to share.
People also ask
What if my family serves pork at the holiday table?
In most cases you can stay at the table. Sitting near pork is not eating it; protect your plate, skip food it touched and bring a dish of your own.
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