Halal Da’wah and Product Certification: A Study of the Indonesian Council of Ulama (MUI) Fatwas on Food Trays within the MBG Government Program

Abstract

This study examines the role of halal-oriented da’wah in promoting halal values through product certification, with particular attention to fatwas issued by the Indonesian Council of Ulama (MUI) concerning the halal status of food trays within the government’s Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG). Halal consumption has become a global concern and a significant component of contemporary Islamic practice. As a result, the scope of halal certification has expanded beyond food ingredients to include packaging and serving equipment. Food trays, which are widely used in the food industry, may involve materials derived from non-halal sources, thereby necessitating rigorous assessment from the perspective of Islamic law. This research adopts a qualitative approach, employing a case study method, literature review, and document analysis. The study encompasses MUI fatwas, government policies related to the MBG program, and recent academic discussions on halal food systems. The findings indicate that MUI fatwas function not only as legal instruments but also as a form of halal-oriented da’wah, integrating Qur’anic principles of halalan ṭayyiban into public life. Furthermore, the MBG program provides a strategic platform for institutionalizing halal certification as an integral component of national food quality standards. The study concludes that the halal certification of food trays represents an emerging dimension of da’wah, in which Islamic teachings are operationalized through regulatory practices, public policy frameworks, and industrial standards.