Animals slaughtered by the people of the Book, including the Jews and Christians


A: The ruling on animals slaughtered by the Christians other than pigs or whatever is prohibited in Islam that is slaughtered with the machines that kill in one strike is elaborately clarified as follows:The basic ruling regarding the permissibility of eating from the animals slaughtered by the People of the Book is clear in Allah's Statement (Exalted be He): The food (slaughtered cattle, eatable animals) of the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) is lawful to you Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) interpreted the word "food" as their slaughtered animals. However, it is one of the two existing explanations of the Ayah (Qur'anic verse). Therefore, if any of the People of the Book slaughters an animal and mentions Allah's Name over it, it becomes permissible to consume; otherwise (Part No. 22; Page No. 388) it is not permissible. Allah (Exalted be He) says: Eat not (O believers) of that (meat) on which Allâh’s Name has not been pronounced (at the time of the slaughtering of the animal), for sure it is Fisq (a sin and disobedience of Allâh). In addition, Allah says among the prohibited things: ...and that on which Allâh's Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering, (that which has been slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allâh However, if we do not know whether or not Allah's Name has been mentioned over the slaughtered animal, the basic ruling is the permissibility of eating them.As for the tool used in slaughtering, it can be any sharpened tool except what is excluded by a supporting text. It is authentically reported in the two Sahih (Authentic books of Hadith) of Al-Bukhari and Muslim that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "If the killing tool causes the blood to gush out, eat (of the slaughtered animal), but do not slaughter with a bone or a hoof." The general meaning of the Hadith renders it permissible to eat from animals slaughtered by any tool, but not a bone or a hoof. The same thing applies for shocking, boiling to death, etc, as all of this falls under the ruling of dead animals. Allah (Exalted be He) says: Forbidden to you (for food) are: Al-Maitah (the dead animals - cattle - beast not slaughtered) up till: ...and that which has been killed by strangling As for the spot of cutting, it should be at the larynx and the esophagus, whether the cut occurs above the epiglottis which is the second place in the larynx or under it. Therefore, if the slaughterer cuts the two jugular veins with the larynx (Part No. 22; Page No. 389) and esophagus, this is a more efficient manner of slaughtering.In relation to the issue of necessity you refer to, sometimes it allows doing prohibited things, but not what is excluded by evidence. Kufr (disbelief), Zina (sexual intercourse outside marriage), and killing an inviolable person with no right do not become permissible due to necessity. The only case in which eating prohibited meat becomes permissible is when refraining from eating it will probably lead to the person's death. Allah (Exalted be He) says: He has forbidden you only Al-Maitah (meat of a dead animal), blood, the flesh of swine, and any animal which is slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allâh (or has been slaughtered for idols or on which Allâh’s Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering). But if one is forced by necessity, without wilful disobedience, and not transgressing, - then, Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:173) In such a case, a Muslim should only eat what barely keeps them alive, given that there is no other food available. Allah says: ...without wilful disobedience nor transgressing due limits Al-Qurtuby commented on this Ayah saying, "The meaning is explained by Qatadah, Al-Hasan, Al-Rabi`, Ibn Zayd and `Ikrimah when they said: without willful disobedience by eating beyond their need or transgressing due limits by having an alternative and yet eating from them." Al-Suddy said, "Without willful disobedience by enjoying the meat or transgressing due limits by eating till becoming full." Mujahid, Ibn Jubayr and others said, "Without willful disobedience to Muslims or transgressing them. Accordingly, highway robbers, outlaws, those who sever the ties of kinship, attack (Part No. 22; Page No. 390) Muslims and commit other similar acts fall under the ruling of willful disobedience and transgression."May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.


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