New Chicago Festival
Promotes Halal Lifestyle
When most people hear the term halal,
it’s likely they think of meat. Specifically, meat prepared as prescribed by
Muslim law. Salman Chaudry, co-managing director of the first-ever Halal lifestyle
festival in America, is out to change that line of thinking. Instead, halal
extends beyond meat and embraces a lifestyle, Chaudry says.
I Heart Halal will take place at Chicago’s
Navy Pier from Friday, April 13 through Sunday, April 15. To reinforce the idea
of a halal lifestyle, which Chaudry admits might be a foreign idea initially to
some, it’s packed its programming to include a wide range of
nationally-recognized experts and entertainers.
“Consumers today are more conscious of what
they’re consuming and putting into their bodies,” Chaudry says. “Halal meat is
one product that would appeal to these consumers because of how the meat is
prepared, but halal goes beyond food and includes health, wellness, travel,
fashion, beauty and even finance. A halal lifestyle is more focused on those
who want to live a good, values-driven life. ”
“Halal” means permissible according to
Islam, but among Muslims today, it means so much more. Halal products are those
that are good, wholesome, healthy, and nutritious. They may be
ethically-sourced and produced, cruelty-free, vegan, vegetarian, or organic.
There are also halal actions. To “live halal” is to choose a life that is
authentic, where one’s actions express one’s own values in today’s world.
For comparison, Chaudry points to those who
prefer to eat organic food, or those who live a socially-conscious lifestyle.
Both are in line with a halal lifestyle, he says, and it has a broader appeal
to both Muslims and non-Muslims.
"Halal meat is one product that would
appeal to these consumers because of how the meat is prepared, but halal goes
beyond food and includes health, wellness, travel,
“We created I Heart Halal as a space for
people to come together as a community,” he adds. For Muslims, it’s an
opportunity for them to come together and connect with others with a similar
background and interest. For non-Muslims, it introduces them to halal in a way
that they may not have ever experienced or considered.
To help bridge the gap and showcase all
that is halal, Chaudry and his team have gone out of their way to ensure the
programming is top-notch and includes something for everyone.
Link-> https://www.forbes.com/sites/megykarydes/2018/03/28/new-chicago-festival-promotes-halal-lifestyle/#611aa63744ac |