ABSTRACT
This article explores the ongoing debates surrounding Indonesian halal certification, focusing on issues ranging from the halal logo to the struggle for authority, analysed through the lens of maqāṣid ash-sharī‘ah. This qualitative research employs a legal phenomenology approach, with maqāṣid ash-sharī‘ah serving as both the theoretical framework and method of analysis. The findings reveal that, theoretically, the Indonesian halal logo falls under maqāṣid al-taḥsīniyāt(tertiary needs), making it non-substantive and, therefore, not a matter for significant debate. The core concern should be ensuring that products labelled as halal genuinely meet halal standards, aligning with maqāṣid al-ḍarūriyyāt (essential needs). Methodologically, the transfer of authority for halal certification from the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) to the Halal Product Guarantee Agency (BPJPH) under the Ministry of Religious Affairs is classified as maqāṣid al-taḥsīniyāt(secondary needs). The novelty of this study lies in identifying this transfer of authority from a private organisation to a state institution as a form of maṣlaḥah (public benefit). Greater maṣlaḥah can be achieved by optimally using halal industry resources and enhancing the halal value chain within the Global Halal Hub framework for Indonesia's advancement.
