Embracing halal: Unraveling Muallafs’ dietary transformation in Brunei Darussalam

Abstract

With the increasing number of apostasies among Muallaf, driven by challenges in transitioning to devout Muslims and sudden shifts to halal dietary lifestyles, detrimental impacts on their social circles and relationships emerge. This qualitative study aims to analyse Muallafs’ halal food practices, challenges, and adaptation. While respondents could adopt basic halal food practices, gaps in halal food consumption education persist among Muallaf, compounded by social challenges and a lack of support and awareness within their close social circles. Challenges include difficulties obtaining halal food while travelling abroad and Muallafs’ vague understanding of Islamic teachings on halal food. Thus, challenges in halal food consumption among Muallaf in Brunei Darussalam predominantly arise during social eating with non-Muslim family and friends, during travel abroad, and regarding halal food issues.