Muslim travel words
Faith, food-label and travel terms you will meet abroad, explained simply.
Short, plain explanations of words you will meet on menus, labels and quotes abroad.
Faith, food-label and travel terms.
What does Muslim-friendly mean?The listing says Muslim-friendly, and you wonder how far you can lean on those words.What does pork-free mean on a menu?The menu says no pork, and you wonder whether that is enough for your family.What is a musolla or prayer room?You are between sights and need a quiet place to pray, so what counts as one?How do I find the qibla direction?You have just walked into a hotel room and need to know which way to face.What are jamak and qasar prayers?Your itinerary has long travel days, and you have heard about combining prayers.How do I read a halal certificate?A certificate is framed by the door, and you want to know what it actually proves.What is a JAKIM-recognised foreign certification body?The certificate names a body you have never heard of, and you want to know if it counts.What is mirin, and why does it matter?You ordered a pork-free dish in Japan and then heard the sauce may contain mirin.What is lard, and where can it hide?The menu has no pork dish, and you wonder whether the cooking fat is something else.What is sake and where does it hide?You are not drinking it, but you want to know whether sake is in your meal.What is gelatin and how to check it?A child holds a colourful sweet from a foreign shop, and the label is hard to read.What is dashi, and is it a problem?The soup smells wonderful and the menu says only 'vegetable noodles'.Katsuobushi on my dish: what is it?Thin pink shavings are moving on top of your hot takoyaki.What is soju, and where will I see it?Your Korean barbecue table has green bottles on it, and you did not order them.Shaoxing wine in Chinese cooking: what to knowThe stir-fry smells lovely, and the cook just splashed something from a bottle.Oyster sauce: is it a halal worry?The vegetable stir-fry looks harmless, and the sauce is dark and glossy.Fish sauce on Southeast Asian menusThe salad arrives with a sharp, salty dressing and you cannot tell what is in it.Shrimp paste: belacan's cousins abroadThe chilli dip smells deep and funky, and you recognise it from home.Pork broth and tonkotsu: spotting itThe noodle shop is packed and the soup smells rich, so you stop at the door.Cross-contamination: when a kitchen is sharedThe dish has no pork in it, but the cook is using the same grill as the pork.Syubhah: when you are not sure it is halalNothing on the menu is clearly wrong, and nothing is clearly right either.What does Ahlul Kitab mean for my meals?A friend says the meat is fine because it is Ahlul Kitab, and you are not sure.What does zabihah slaughter mean on a menu?The sign outside says zabihah meat, and you wonder what it proves.How do I make wudhu while travelling?Zohor is near, you are in a shopping mall, and the only tap is in a public toilet.How much space do I need to pray and make sujud?There is no prayer room nearby, and you are looking at a corner of the departure hall.Can I trust a prayer-time app abroad?Your phone says Asar has started, but the clock on the hotel wall made you doubt it.What is tayammum, and when might I need it?The tour bus has not stopped for a long while and the prayer window is closing.What does hijab-friendly really promise?A hotel page says hijab-friendly, and you want to know what that covers.Is Muslim-owned the same as halal?The owner is a Muslim, so surely the food is halal, but is that enough?How do I read a halal logo abroad?There is a green halal sticker on the door, and you cannot read the small print.What does a Muslim tour package include?The brochure says Muslim tour, and you need to know what you are paying for.What a private tour means for your tripA quote says private tour, and you wonder what changes for prayer and meals.What land arrangement covers and leaves outThe package says land arrangement, and you cannot tell if flights and meals are in it.Half board and full board, explainedYour hotel offer includes half board, and you wonder what you can actually eat.What a connecting room is for familiesYou need two rooms for your family, and you want them joined by one inner door.Bidets and water in the toilet abroadYou are about to check in and want to know if the toilet has water.What an e-Visa is and how to applyYour destination asks for an e-Visa, and you want to apply on the right website.What visa on arrival means for youYou hear that a country gives a visa on arrival, and you wonder what to prepare.Layover and transit: what changes for prayerYour flight has a connection, and you want to know where you can pray.Special meal codes such as MOML explainedYou want a Muslim meal on the plane, and the booking page shows a code.
When you have a destination in mind, send us your dates, who is travelling and how strict your meal standard is. We will help you shape the days and list what to confirm before you book.