Dr. Hüseyin Kâmi BÜYÜKÖZER
The 19th Ordinary General Assembly of the World Halal Council (WHC), the accreditation umbrella body of Halal Certification Bodies worldwide, was held on 9-13 November 2023 at Istanbul / Güneşli Retaj Royal Hotel.
After the congress, the reading of the Holy Quran and the prayer, Chairman of the Board of Directors Zafer GEDİKLİ made the opening speech. Subsequently, WHC Patron Dr. Hüseyin Kâmi BÜYÜKÖZER made a speech. His speech in short sentences is as follows;
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. May Allah’s peace, mercy and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), his family and his companions.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Many Halal certification and accreditation institutions have been established around the world. However, the World Halal Council has an advantage over others because it is senior, independent and embraces the entire ummah. For this reason, WHC and its valued members should set the best example and work for the most ideal conditions, both as an organization and as members themselves. Other certification bodies should look to WHC members and try to be like us. Our working methods must be free of any doubt and as clear and strict as possible.
World Halal Council should be the only address where halal issues are discussed and decided. To achieve this, the WHC must be strong, determined and united. We must stay away from anything that will cause gossip and discord. Our members must build strong collaborative relationships with each other and with other trusted Halal certification bodies around the world to protect the rights of Muslims.
We must accept the prophetic method called zabiha. Now we all know and accept that cutting must be done by hand and there is no need for mechanical cutting. Additionally, mechanical slaughter is not accepted by many respected ulama.
Halal Industry is a huge potential market of the future that has not yet been fully explored. Unfortunately, many Muslim entrepreneurs still have not realized this potential. Therefore, as always, non-Muslims are the ones eating the cream of this market. Millions of Muslim consumers continue to consume these products even though they do not have sufficient security.
Don’t Muslims have enough money to invest in Halal production? Sure, they have. However, one should learn and practice trade better and in accordance with Islamic rules. We are saddened and tired of dealing with non-Muslims dealing with Halal certification and making money from it, so to speak.
In this context, as GIMDES, we started the Halal World Markets projects in Turkey. If a Muslim consumer goes to these markets, he can find all Halal certified products in one place. Halal Dunya Markets are controlled by GIMDES. In this way, by facilitating Muslim consumers’ search for Halal products, it encourages them to consume Halal products and the sale of non-Halal certified products is prevented.
If WHC members can agree on a single Halal standard, these markets can be turned into an international brand with WHC’s Logo under the control of WHC. In this way, not only trade but also Halal production can become more widespread. Isn’t this the founding purpose of WHC?
We cannot neglect the importance of halal fair organizations. As you know, we have organized the Halal Expo fair 8 times since 2012. We also ensured the participation of WHC in these fair events. Many of our members also participated in some of our fairs and held talks with visitors at WHC’s stand. I still advise you to join these organizations to ensure that businessmen in your country see the opportunities. At the same time, I recommend you to organize the same organizations in your region, if it is suitable. These events will help people wake up and promote halal trade, which will expand the distribution of halal products across countries.
It is not surprising to see that much academic research on Halal and Haram focuses on foods and beverages. Various tests and studies have been conducted to monitor the presence of prohibited substances in foods. However, it is observed that the Halal and Haram aspects of medicinal products have not yet attracted significant attention and scientific discussions have not yet been made. Therefore, as members of the World Halal Council, we must organize workshops on this very important issue and send our fiqh and technical experts to these important workshops. I believe that WHC will be able to lead and guide the whole ummah regarding Halal Medicine, which we have great difficulties with.
Our way of education has also received its share from the games played by Western modernity on the Islamic Ummah and the destruction it has caused. As a result of taking the West as an example from our education curriculum to the school architectural structure, we have raised generations who, although they were Muslims, had poor Islamic knowledge, were unaware of the orders and prohibitions of Islam, and completed their education process without being informed about the duties of Islam. To carry out the Daru’l Halal Madrasa education project, starting from kindergarten, in order to ensure that our future generations are not far from Islamic life and to raise generations with Islamic awareness in the orders and prohibitions of Islam, especially in the food products they consume, as well as in medicines, cosmetics, textiles, services and products. we want. I invite you to support and partner with this project. We started our first madrasah in Istanbul on October 2nd with 32 students of high school standard in the department of FOOD AND COSMETIC SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY. I would like to invite all my brothers and sisters to support this event.
My brothers, as you know, there is Karz-ı Hasen in Islam. Qard al-Hasen is not a word coined by anyone. It was placed by Allah Almighty and stated in the Holy Quran. You can find the following quotes from the Quran;
“Who will lend to Allah a good loan which Allah will multiply many times over? It is Allah ˹alone˺ who decreases and increases ˹wealth˺. And to Him you will ˹all˺ be returned.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayat 245) “If you lend to Allah a good loan, He will multiply it for you and forgive you. For Allah is Most Appreciative, Most Forbearing.” (Surah At-Taghabun, Ayat 17). Unfortunately, this has also not been an issue that has become widespread and understood among Muslims. To give what is needed to those who need it and get it back without any interest. This is really a very important thing and God will definitely reward you. “They will never be denied the reward for any good they have done. And Allah has ˹perfect˺ knowledge of those mindful ˹of Him˺.” (Surah Ali ‘Imran, Ayat 115).
As members of the Board of Directors at the World Halal Council, I strongly recommend the establishment of the Karz-ı Hasen system in the World Halal Council. In this way, if our brothers and sisters who are members of the World Halal Council are in financial difficulties, we will help them from this budget and fulfil a sunnah.
As GIMDES, we also support the “TÜRKİYE CENTURY” activities declared by Türkiye to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye, which was founded in 1923, with international events at the United Nations. I expect my fellow WHC members to support these events and make a promotional advertisement in their countries.
After these speeches, discussions on the following articles of the congress continued.
