According to Islamic law, Muslims must only consume Halal food. Halal mean permitted or lawful. The need for Halal food started the Halal cart culture in the New York City and killed the hot dog.
In Quran Allah said, “He hath forbidden you only carrion, and blood, and swine flesh, and that which hath been immolated to (the name of) any other than Allah. But he who is driven by necessity, neither craving nor transgressing, it is no sin for him. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful” (2:173).
Sahabi Rafi’ bin Khadij narrated an incident, the Muhammad told Muslims who wanted to slaughter some animals using reeds, “Use whatever causes blood to flow, and eat the animals if the Name of Allah has been mentioned on slaughtering them…” (Bukhari Sharif*).
Many Muslims from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sudan came to New York City as immigrants in the 1990s. Usman Daud, taxi driver said, “I came ither (here) in unish so stanway (1997). Main nay taxi chalana shur kar di (I start driving taxi.).” The options for the Halal food was far and few at the time. Many Muslims consumed Kosher food at the time. Jewish people follow strict dietary laws like Muslims. They are also people of book and believe in the God of Abraham same as Muslims.
Kosher was a short term solution. Necessity is the mother of invention and the need for Halal food for the Muslim taxi drivers in the city started this Halal Cart movement. The 53rd Street and 6th Avenue cart is the most famous and busiest Halal cart in the city. There are nine Halal Carts between the Vertical Campus of Baruch College and Union Square. Halal Carts can also be found in the outer boroughs of New York City.
Most Halal Carts are run by Middle Eastern Arabs and North African Berbers. The most famous Halal Cart of 53rd Street and 6th Avenue is run by an Afghan immigrant. He even has a website (www.53rdand6th.com) for his cart. The main dish is a chicken rice platter served with optional White sauce or Hot sauce. Many people wonder about the ingredients of the magical white sauce. There are many different recipes circling the world of Internet. The exact recipe of White sauce is still a mystery.
Ahmed is a middle aged man with dark brown hair. He runs a Halal cart in the financial district. He said, “We have all (kind of) customers from suits to construction workers. They love my food.”
The acceptance of the Halal Cart food is a quintessential immigrant story. Jewish immigrants brought Bagels to United States, Muslims brought Halal Cart serving the delicious middle eastern food. Let the hot dog die!
*Bukhari Sharif is the most trusted book of Hadith and it is considered most authentic book in Islam after Quran. It was compiled by Imam Bukhari.
