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The Islamic dietary laws (Halal) and the Jewish dietary laws (kosher) are both quite detailed, and contain both points of similarity and differences. While both are dietary laws of Abrahamic religions, they have different roots: an explanation of the Islamic code of law found in Islamic tradition and a Jewish code of laws found in the Talmud.

General Classification

• Swine is prohibited by both sets of laws
• Many animals permitted in Kosher are also Halal, such as bovines
• Kosher forbids and Halal strictly forbids the consumption of amphibians such as frogs.
• To be kosher, aquatic animals must have scales and fins. Whereas the interpretation that all creatures from the ocean are considered Halal.
• Cheese is permissible so long as the rennet used to make the cheese is permissible.
• While in kosher foods, dairy and meat cannot be mixed and it is entirely prohibited, Halal permits the mixing of the two
• For a substance to be Halal, it must not contain alcohol of any kind. Kosher allows the consumption of any sort of alcohol, as long as it has kosher ingredients
• Kosher requires that, for animal products to be kosher, mammals must chew cud as well as have cloven hooves. Halal only requires that an animal survive on grass and leaves.
• Kosher prohibits shellfish, such as lobster, shrimp, clams, and oysters. Halal permits the consumption of all seafood.

Ritual Slaughter Classification

• Shechita is the ritual slaughter of mammals and birds according to Jewish law. Dhabiha is the method used to slaughter an animal as per Islamic tradition.
• Shechita requires that an animal be conscious, so the modern practice of electrical, gas, percussive stunning before slaughter, is forbidden. Many Muslim authorities also forbid the use of electrical, gas, percussive stunning.
• Both shechita and dhabiha involve cutting across the neck of the animal with a non-serrated blade in one clean attempt in order to sever the main blood vessels.
• Both require that the spinal cord be avoided during slaughter.
• Both require draining the blood of the animal.