“Why should it matter if food is halal?”

At first, this question seems simple and harmless. If a Muslim prefers halal food, why should anyone else be concerned? But behind this easy logic lies a deeper issue that affects society, business, and the principle of equal opportunity.

Originally, halal referred only to food permitted by Islamic law. Over time, however, the idea has expanded far beyond the kitchen. In many parts of Kerala, halal certification has become a requirement not only for meat but also for restaurants, shops, and even packaged goods. When a business must follow religious rules to operate successfully, it naturally excludes those who do not or cannot conform to those rules.

This quiet exclusion is not always visible, but it has real consequences. Workers who once found employment in certain sectors are slowly being pushed out. Entrepreneurs who do not follow the halal system find it harder to compete. What was once a personal religious practice is now shaping economic and social boundaries.

History offers a sharp contrast. Kerala once fought against social exclusion — against practices that divided people by caste and restricted who could cook, eat, or even walk on certain roads. Yet today, under the modern label of “halal,” similar forms of exclusion are returning in a new form.

The same pattern is emerging in other areas too. In educational institutions, for example, there are increasing demands for special prayer rooms and religious privileges. While everyone has the right to follow their faith, shared public spaces must remain neutral — places where people of all beliefs feel equally respected. When one group’s religious rules begin to shape common spaces, equality quietly disappears.

A healthy society must draw a clear line between personal faith and public life. Religion should guide individuals, not control the collective. If we continue to accept every demand without examining its wider impact, we risk losing the inclusive spirit that once defined Kerala’s progress.

The debate over halal is not really about food. It is about fairness, freedom, and coexistence.

True coexistence means living with mutual respect — not by enforcing one community’s rules upon everyone else, but by ensuring that all people have equal space to live, work, and believe as they choose.