A food label is stamped halal if the contents of the food conform with Muslim dietary laws. A halal certification is analogous to a kosher certification, in that it is provided by a certified third party agency, but kosher food is not necessarily halal, and halal food is not always kosher. For Muslims who are concerned about obeying the Sharia, or Islamic law, a halal label acts as an assurance that the contents of the food are not haram, or forbidden.