Our verification method
How does HalalVera verify a claim?
We always show information together with its source — you make the call. When we have no data for a criterion, we don't hide that; we show it as "no data".
The evidence scale
Not every listing on HalalVera is backed by the same level of evidence. The badges below, weakest to strongest, show what kind of evidence a claim rests on — not a religious ruling on the claim itself. The types are not steps climbed in order; a listing sits wherever its evidence puts it.
How it's earned: A collection run starts a business at this tier automatically when it compiles the listing from a web page or directory.
What it's NOT: Even if the page it came from belongs to a certifying body itself, this badge does not turn teal until we verify it on-site or by document.
How it's earned: Earned when a business verifies ownership, claims its listing, and declares its own criteria.
What it's NOT: Not an independent check — we record the declaration as given, without vouching for its accuracy.
How it's earned: Rests on the word of someone HalalVera already trusts: a regional volunteer who knows the place and vouches for it, or a recognized partner source.
What it's NOT: Not a formal certificate or a site visit; it's only as reliable as the information passed along.
How it's earned: Formed from user reviews and answers to community questions.
What it's NOT: A separate side channel that does not substitute for formal verification — on its own it never makes a listing certified or field-verified.
How it's earned: Earned when a valid document from an independent third-party body (e.g. OU, JAKIM, HAK-accredited bodies, GIMDES) is recorded against the listing.
What it's NOT: How much a document is worth depends on which body issued it; the listing automatically drops back to declared once the document expires.
How it's earned: Earned when the HalalVera team or an authorized volunteer inspects on site — the highest tier.
What it's NOT: Still not a religious ruling; it's a record of evidence the team confirmed with its own eyes.
Teal belongs only to the Certified and Field-verified tiers, and each shows under its own name — Certified at 5/6 on a light ground, Field-verified at 6/6 on a solid dark badge. Tiers are not steps climbed in order; a listing sits wherever its evidence puts it, and field verification covers everything below. Every other tier keeps its own color and name; none of them turn teal.
Where does the data come from?
Every claim carries its source link next to it, and a verbatim excerpt when one was collected — the full text is one hover away.
Certifying-body records
Records published by certifying bodies such as JAKIM, OU, GIMDES, HAK-accredited organizations; the evidence links to the body's own page.
Business declaration
Criteria as reported by the business once its ownership is verified.
Community
User reviews and Q&A — a separate side channel, not a substitute for formal verification.
Field confirmation
An on-site check by our team or an authorized volunteer.
Auto-publish policy
A listing is auto-published only when it is certifier-sourced AND its mechanical evidence check comes back clean. Everything else — discovery records included — waits for a human review before it goes live.
What is guide mode?
When verified listings are scarce, guide mode offers general, criterion-based suggestions and questions to ask a seller. This is guidance, not a verification.
What can you do?
If you own a business
Claim your web-sourced listing and declare your own criteria — your listing rises to at least the "Self-declared" tier.
If you're a user
When you see a web-sourced listing, use "Request verification" on its card to send a priority signal to the review queue.
You can also suggest a place that isn't listed yet.
Suggest a placeRelated knowledge base entries
This page explains HalalVera's own verification process; it is not a religious ruling. Judge it against the standard you follow yourself.