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The issue of halal meat

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ

The issue of halal meat

There are numerous verses (ayaat) and prophetic narrations (ahadith) regarding what is considered lawful (halal) and unlawful (haram) for a Muslim to eat.

The Messenger (saw) said: “That which is lawful is clear and that which is unlawful is clear” [Muslim]

So it is common knowledge that Muslims only eat or drink that which is halal, to the point even the disbelievers (kuffar) have come to know that alcohol and pork is prohibited for a Muslim. As this is one of the topics known by necessity;

Many food types are halal in their original state such as fruits, vegetables, and sea food, other food type such as meat from chicken, sheep or cattle are only lawful if killed or slaughtered in the right manner.

WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS FOR HALAL SLAUGHTERING?

The conditions are as follows:

1.  The one that slaughters must be a Muslim

2.  The one that slaughters must pray

The evidence for the above points can be found in the sayings of Allah (swt)

﴿ فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْ ﴾

Therefore turn in prayer to your Lord and sacrifice. [Surah Al-Kawthar 108:2]

The act of slaughtering is worship, hence why it has been twinned with prayer in the above verse.

The importance of prayer is highlighted in the tafsir of Ibn Kathir. The Messenger (saw) used to pray Eid prayer before slaughtering an animal, and he said,

“Whoever prayed and then slaughtered has performed the slaughter (correctly) and whosoever slaughters before prayer, there is no slaughter for him.” Then a Companion named Abu Bardah stood up and said, “Oh, Messenger of Allah! I have slaughtered my sheep before the prayer…” He (saw) said: “Your sheep is merely meat (i.e. it is not acceptable as a sacrifice).”

3.  The tool used to slaughter must be sharp

4.  The slaughtering must be merciful

Abu Yaala Shaddad bin Aws said that the Messenger of Allah said: “Verily Allah has prescribed proficiency in all things. Thus, if you kill, kill well; and if you slaughter, slaughter well. Let each one of you sharpen his blade and let him spare suffering to the animal he slaughters.” [Sahih Muslim]

5.  Must mentioned the name of Allah (swt) when slaughtering

﴿ وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ جَعَلْنَا مَنسَكًا لِيَذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَلَى مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّن بَهِيمَةِ الْأَنْعَامِ فَإِلَهُكُمْ إِلَهٌ وَاحِدٌ فَلَهُ أَسْلِمُوا وَبَشِّرِ الْمُخْبِتِينَ ﴾

And for every nation We have appointed religious ceremonies, that they may mention the Name of Allah over the beast of cattle that He has given them for food. [Surah Al Hajj 22:34]

6.  Must ensure the blood is spilt

﴿ وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَى لِقَوْمِهِ إِنَّ اللّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَنْ تَذْبَحُواْ بَقَرَةً ﴾

And (remember) when Musa (Moses) said to his people: “Verily, Allah commands you that you slaughter (tadhabu) a cow.” [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:67]

The meaning of the word dhabh can be found in Bukhari

Ata said “Dhabh means the cutting of the carotid and jugular blood vein” when asked if it was allowed to cut the spinal cord Ata replied “Ibn Umar forbade An-Nakh (to cut the neck up to the spinal cord and to leave the animal to die)” [Sahih Bukhari]

STUNNING IS NOT A HALAL METHOD OF SLAUGHTER!

The main reason stunning not allowed as it is not a sharp instrument and the method does not allow the spilling of the blood. The aim of putting a bolt into the brain of an animal is to render it inactive. In the Islamic method of slaughtering the nervous system is not touched, so as to allow the brain to function and thereby for the animal to continue beating its heart and expel blood.

OTHER IMPORTANT POINTS TO NOTE

Killing by chocking, beating, falling or gorging

Ibn Abbas (ra) whilst giving tafsir of the verses related to lawful meat said “the animal killed by choking, beating or falling is not lawful. The animal gorged by another’s horn is lawful as long as you slaughter it whilst it is alive (i.e. its eyes and tail is moving)”. [Sahih Bukhari]

Slaughtering using a tooth or nail

The Messenger (saw) said, “do not slaughter with a tooth or a nail…a tooth is a bone and the nail is the knife of the Ethiopians” [Sahih Bukhari]

Ethiopia (Abyssinia) was the land of the Christians at the time of the Messenger (saw).

Shooting tied and confined animals

Anas (ra) said, “The Messenger (saw) has forbidden the shooting of tied and confined animals” [Sahih Bukhari]

Game killed by Mi’raad معراض

This is when game is killed by a tool which is a sharp wood with a blunt shaft. The Messenger (saw) said “It is lawful to eat as long as it was killed by the sharp edge” [Sahih Bukhari]

Game killed by Bunduqa بندقة

This is when game is killed by a shooting a ball through a hollow tube.  Ibn Umar (ra) said “it is unlawful as it is like killing an animal with a blunt instrument” [Sahih Bukhari]

Game killed by Arrow

The Messenger (saw) said “if you hunt a game with your bow after mentioning Allah (swt) name, eat of it” [Sahih Bukhari]

Game killed by a Hound

The Messenger (saw) said “If you let loose your trained hound after a game and you mentioned the name of Allah (swt) then you can eat what the hound catches for you, even if it kills the game. But you should not eat if the hound has eaten from it, as it has caught the game for itself” [Sahih Bukhari]

The Messenger (saw) said “whoever keeps a do which is neither a watch dog nor a hunting dog, will get a daily reduction of two qeeraat from his good deed” [Sahih Bukhari]

Meat which is forbidden

§ Animals that die naturally

§ The blood of the animal

§ The flesh of swine

§ Meat slaughtered in other than Allah (swt) name

§ Animal killed by strangling (Al-munkhaniqaالمنخنقة)

§ Animal killed by a blow (Al-Mauqoudhahالموقوذة)

§ Animal killed by fall (Al-Mutaraddiyaالمتردية )

§ Animal gored (An-Nateehaالنطيحة ) or partially eaten – unless you can slaughter it whilst it is still alive

§ Animals killed on a stone altar (An-Nusubالنصب)

The evidence for the above points can be found in the following verse

﴿ حُرِّمَتْ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَيْتَةُ وَالْدَّمُ وَلَحْمُ الْخِنْزِيرِ وَمَا أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ اللّهِ بِهِ وَالْمُنْخَنِقَةُ وَالْمَوْقُوذَةُ وَالْمُتَرَدِّيَةُ وَالنَّطِيحَةُ وَمَا أَكَلَ السَّبُعُ إِلاَّ مَا ذَكَّيْتُمْ وَمَا ذُبِحَ عَلَى النُّصُبِ وَأَن تَسْتَقْسِمُواْ بِالأَزْلاَمِ ذَلِكُمْ فِسْقٌ ﴾

Forbidden to you (for food) are: Al-Maytatah (the dead animals - cattle-beast not slaughtered), blood, the flesh of swine, and the meat of that which has been slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allah, or has been slaughtered for idols, etc., or on which Allah’s Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering, and that which has been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by the goring of horns - and that which has been (partly) eaten by a wild animal - unless you are able to slaughter it (before its death) ­ and that which is sacrificed (slaughtered) on An­-Nusub (stone altars). (Forbidden) also is to use arrows seeking luck or decision, (all) that is Fisqun (disobedience of Allah and sin). [Surah Al Maidah 5:4]

Donkey meat is prohibited

Ibn Umar said Allah (swt) Messenger (saw) made the meat of donkeys unlawful on the day of the battle of Khaibar [Sahih Bukhari]

Meat of beast of prey with fangs

Abu Thalaba said the Messenger (saw) forbade the eating of the meat of beasts of pray with fangs [Sahih Bukhari]

Birds with talons

Ibn Abbas said on the Day of Khaibar the Messenger (saw) prohibited eating every beast of prey, and every bird with a talon. [Abu Dawud]

THE CONSEQUENCE OF NOT EATING HALAL

1.  Your Supplication (Dua’) may not be answered

The Messenger (saw) mentioned the case of a man who, having journeyed far, is disheveled and dusty and who spreads out his hands to the sky [saying]: “O Lord! O Lord!” While his food is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, his clothing is unlawful, and he is nourished unlawfully, so how can he be answered?” [Sahih Muslim]

2.  You will incur the wrath of Allah (swt) if you slaughter in the name of others

Ali bin Abu Talib (ra) narrated the Messenger (saw) said “Allah curses him who sacrifices for anyone besides Allah” [Sahih Muslim]

3.  If you agree with the Mushrik that dead meat is halal, it will render you a Mushrik

﴿ وَلاَ تَأْكُلُواْ مِمَّا لَمْ يُذْكَرِ اسْمُ اللّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَإِنَّهُ لَفِسْقٌ وَإِنَّ الشَّيَاطِينَ لَيُوحُونَ إِلَى أَوْلِيَآئِهِمْ لِيُجَادِلُوكُمْ وَإِنْ أَطَعْتُمُوهُمْ إِنَّكُمْ لَمُشْرِكُونَ ﴾

‘Eat not, Oh believers, of that meat on which Allah (swt)’s name has not been pronounced at the time of slaughtering the animal, for surely it is Fisq (a sin and disobedience of Allah) and certainly the evil do inspire their friends to dispute with you and if you were to obey them by making a dead (un-slaughtered) animal lawful and eating it, then you would indeed be Mushrikoun (polytheists)’ [Surah Al An’am 6:121]

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