Integrating Halal Certification and Lifestyle Awareness: Maqasid al-Shari’ah Insights from Indonesia and Malaysia

Indonesia and Malaysia have emerged as key drivers of the Southeast Asian halal ecosystem, representing two complementary models of halal governance. This study employs a qualitative-comparative approach by examining Indonesia’s Law No. 33 of 2014 as amended by Law No. 6 of 2023 on Halal Product Assurance and Malaysia’s Trade Descriptions Act 2011, complemented by field interviews with micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), communities, and related government agencies. The analysis focuses on three key dimensions: (1) the legal and institutional frameworks of halal certification, (2) strategies for accelerating certification and enhancing MSME inclusivity, and (3) the role of education in fostering halal lifestyle awareness. Findings reveal that Indonesia excels in administrative acceleration and digitalization through self-declare, the SEHATI program, and the SiHalal Online platform, while Malaysia maintains international credibility through JAKIM and HDC’s multi-layered governance and the Digital Halal Hub 2025 initiative. In the educational dimension, Malaysia integrates halal awareness into formal curricula, whereas in Indonesia, religious and legal consciousness grows through fiqh al-da‘wah based community assistance and training programs.