Enquiring about the Method of Slaughter and Other Doubtful Foods
Some scholars see that Muslims living in non-Muslim countries should refrain from eating doubtful meat or food. Others permit it unless they are sure it was slaughtered unlawfully or involve what is forbidden.
Enquiring about the Method of Slaughter and Other Doubtful Foods
Similar Questions
· Verification of the method of slaughter.
· How to ascertain proper slaughter.
The Issue
Are Muslims who live in non-Muslim countries required to enquire about the method of slaughtering animals that are normally permissible to eat when such meat is offered in restaurants and shops? Are they required to enquire about the ingredients of canned or packaged food and whether they include any forbidden ingredients? Is such enquiry obligatory when there is a possibility that they may contain some animal-based ingredients?
Ruling
Scholars have two different views on this point:
The first view considers it permissible to eat of the meat and food of people of divine religions without enquiring how they slaughter their animals. Such meat does not become forbidden unless one is certain or considers it most likely that they involve what is forbidden. This is the view of the Permanent Committee for Research and Fatwa and Shaikh Muhammad ibn Uthaymeen.
The most important evidence in support of this view is the authentic
hadith reported by 'A’ishah
A group of people asked the Prophet: “Messenger of God, some people bring us meat and we do not know whether God’s name was mentioned at the time of its slaughter or not.” He said to them: “You mention God’s name and eat it.” They had accepted Islam only recently
Related by al-Bukhari, hadith No. 2,057
The general rule is that the normal verdict on all matters is that they are permissible until we have clear evidence for prohibition.
The second view is expressed by the late Shaikh Abdullah ibn Jibreen who maintained that one should refrain from eating doubtful meat or food. If one needs to eat of these, one must first enquire about their ingredients and ensure that they are all lawful.
Evidence
The evidence in support of this view is that what is doubtful should be ascertained.
as the Prophet says
He who avoids doubtful matters clears himself in regard to his religion and his honour, but he who falls into doubtful matters falls into that which is unlawful
Related by al-Bukhari, hadith No. 52; Muslim, hadith No. 1,599
This means that a Muslim should make the necessary enquiries until he is clear in regard to his religion and ensures to avoid what is doubtful.
Sources
· Fatawa by The Permanent Committee for Research and Fatwa.
· Fatawa al-Aqaliyyat al-Muslimah, by a group of scholars.
· Mut’ib al-Qahtani (ed.), Is'af al-Mughtaribin bi Fatawa al-'Ulama’ al-Rabbaniyyin.
· Abdullah Ibn Jibreen, Al-Lu’lu’ al-Makin min Fatawa Shaikh Ibn Jibreen.
· Khalid Abd al-Qadir, Fiqh al-Aqaliyyat al-Muslimah.