بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Regarding the meat which is imported to the Muslim lands from the non-Muslim lands such as Brazil, Bulgaria, France etc, then it must meet the following conditions:
- That it be slaughtered by a Muslim or a person of the book [Jew or Christian]
- That which is slaughtered is from that which is considered Halaal to eat.
- That Allah’s name be mentioned upon it.
- It is slaughtered the Islamic way.
Imam Ibn Baaz was asked:
Question:
What is the ruling of chicken which comes from outside lands slaughtered and wrapped?
Answer:
“If the chicken which is slaughtered outside (the country) and other than it from the meat which comes packaged from a country of the people of the book (and they are the Jews and the Christians), then it is permissible. That is because the food of the people of the book is permissible for us [to eat] by text of the noble Quran, so long as there is no reason known for it to be deemed prohibited such as it being slaughtered for other than Allah or slaughtered in ways other than by way of cutting the head. As for if it comes from the land of the fire worshippers, communists, socialists or other than them from the polythiests, then it is prohibited and not permissible to eat.”
End quote.
[Majmoo Al Fatawaa 17/23]
He also said:
“It has reached me from many of the callers that many of the slaughterhouses slaughter in other than the legislated way in America and Europe. Thus if a believing person takes caution and doesn’t eat from this type of meat, then it is better and safer.”
End quote.
[Majmoo Fataawa 16/23]
From this it is understood that not all meat which merely has Halaal written on it is as such. Many of the Scholars have deemed this frozen imported meat to be a doubtful matter and that it shouldn’t be eaten.
From them:
Imam Albani, who said after clarifying that the Kuffar today do not slaughter the legislative way:
“For that reason, the slaughtered animal which comes from those countries or the canned foods made in those countries is not permissible to eat, sell, or buy in totality.”
End quote.
[Silsilah Al Huda Wan Noor, tape 496, fatwa 11]
Imam Muqbil said:
“More than one person has gone and seen that it is not slaughtered the Islamic way, rather some shipments have reached and the head of the chicken hasn’t been cut”
End quote.
[Tape questions of the people of Bayhaan]
He also said:
“I advise all the Muslims that they not eat from those chickens except if they know that it has been slaughtered by a Muslim the Islamic way or by a person of the book in accordance to the way of their book”
End quote.
[Tape “As Ilatul Hazm”]
Ash Shaykh Yahya Al Hajooree said:
“It is obligatory to stay away from selling, buying, or eating these imported meats from the lands of the disbelievers, because it is slaughtered in a non-Islamic way. Thus, it is considered dead [animal meat].”
End quote.
[Tape “Al Bayaan fil Ajwibah Ala Asilah Shabaab Badaan”]
As such, one should stay away from these types of meats unless he is certain of its permissiblilty. If he is doubtful, he should leave it for that which is not doubtful as Ash Shaykh Saalih Al Fawzaan mentioned:
“اللحوم التي ذكرت إذا كانت لحوماً مستوردة من بلاد كتابية ومذبوحة على الطريقة الشرعية فهي مباحة،
“If the meat which has been mentioned is meat imported from a land of the people of the book and slaughtered in a legislative way, then it is permissible.”
وإذا ذكيت على الطريقة غير الشرعية كالصعق بالكهرباء أو ما أشبه ذلك فهذا حرام، وإذا اشتبه عليك أمرها فاتركها إلى ما لا شبهة فيه
“But if it is slaughtered in other than a legislative way such as being shocked electrically or that which is similar to that, then this is prohibited. If it is doubtful for you then leave it for that which has no doubt in it”
End quote.
Allah knows best
Translated by
Majid Jawed Al-Afghanee
Abu Layl
