What HMS can tell you
Is Sonic HMS certified?
No. HMS does not certify Sonic, and HMS has not inspected the slaughterhouses, processors or distributors that stand behind the meat served at Sonic. HMS cannot confirm that it is Zabiha Halal.
The standard HMS applies
We certify only what we check. For meat that means a permissible animal, slaughtered by hand Zabiha while it is alive, with Bismillah pronounced for each animal, and an unbroken chain of approved suppliers afterwards. Word of mouth, a review or a delivery listing cannot establish it, as what HMS certified really means and why machine slaughter is not Zabiha set out.
Certification is issued per location and can be limited to particular products, so any certified Sonic location would be shown in the HMS certified directory.
HMS certification is also time limited, so even a certified business has to keep meeting the conditions it was granted under. Check that the entry you are relying on is current rather than trusting a photograph of a certificate or an old social-media post.
When in doubt, leave it
Convenience is never a reason to eat what is doubtful. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Leave that which causes you doubt for that which does not cause you doubt.”
Protect your deen: avoid Sonic and look for HMS Certified only. A certified restaurant has had its meat, suppliers and kitchen checked, so you can eat with a clear heart. Find an HMS Certified place near you before you order.
Answers in the Halal Knowledge Center reflect the standards followed by Halal Monitoring Services (HMS), which operates as part of the Shariah Board of America. HMS certifies only what it checks.