Basics of Islam
Lifestyle
Halal vs Haram
Halal (meaning "lawful" or "permissable") refers to any object or action which is in accordance with the Islamic law, the "Shariah". The opposite of halal is haraam which means "forbidden".
In Islam many things are clearly halal or haraam. Those things that are not clear are referred to as mashbooh, meaning "questionable".
Dhabihah
Ḏabīḥah (meaning "slaughtered", and pronounced as "zoboh" in Bengali) is the prescribed method of slaughtering all animals excluding fish and most sea-life per Islamic law. This method of slaughtering animals consists of using a well sharpened knife to make a swift, deep incision that cuts the front of the throat, the carotid artery, wind pipe and jugular veins but leaves the spinal cord intact. The head of an animal that is slaughtered using halal methods is aligned with the Qiblah (the direction of the Kaabah, the sacred building at Makkah, Saudi Arabia, which a Muslim turns to at prayer). In addition to the direction, permitted animal should be slaughtered in the name of Allah and the person who is slaughtering should be a Muslim and he/she should be in a good mental condition and faith.
However, if there is no other food available then a Muslim is allowed to eat non-halal food only when their survival depends upon it. Once the halal option is available they must eat halal only.
If one is forced because there is no other choice, neither craving nor transgressing, there is no sin on him.
This day are things good and pure made lawful to you. The food of the People of the Book is lawful to you and yours is lawful to them.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhabihah
http://www.halalmc.net/resources/what_is_halal.html