One Chinese New Year, a Muslim friend gave me a nian gao. The nian gao was from her Chinese neighbour and my friend, not very sure if it was halal, decided to give it to me who could eat it. Most Chinese I know are aware that Muslims cannot eat pork and make a point not to serve it to them; but many, I think are unaware that the way the food are prepared also matters. A chicken is not halal if it is not properly slaughtered and without a proper prayer said; just as a halal food becomes unhalal if the utensils used in preparing the food has been polluted with lard. All said, it goes to show that when giving any gift to any person, it ought to be proper. In the Buddhist scripture, the Aṅguttara Nikāya; it is stated that there are these eight gifts of a good person : A good person gives what is pure. He gives what is excellent. He gives a timely gift. He gives what is allowable. He gives after investigation. He gives often. While giving he settles his mind in confidence. Having given, he is elated.
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