Miscellaneous Islamic rulings and opinions regarding Zahbia (Meat) 

Question: Whether the Zahbia of people of the books ( Christian or Jews) and  places where the  food is severed by  them (i.e meat )   What is the Shariah requirement of its legality and  reliability, especially where there is doubt or when Muslims are not  certain if the name of Allah was mentioned at the time of slaughter.

Answer by Mufti Taqi Usmani  Pakistan

Concerning this issue ????  it is my opinion that  the Zahbia performed by the a person among the people of the book is not the only condition.  There are some other necessary conditions which are: 

These above conditions are equally applies to  a Muslim as well as to people of the books

The main reasons that Islam permits the Zahbia of people of the book and forbidden the meats of Mushrikin ( those who associate with Allah )  at that time (earlier days of Islam) the people of the books used to respect the requirements of Zahbia that were imposed by the Islamic Shariah.

Re: (magribi mumalik kay chand Jadid fiqhi masail aur unka hul) Current fiqh problems and their solution facing  West  ( Memon Islamic Publisher Karachi Pakistan

Note: error in translation rest with As-Sidq  and not with Mufti Taqi Usmani
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In an  audio lectures Mufti Taqi Usmani mentioned a general rule:

When dealing with meat product do not eat until your are sure that the animal was slaughter accordance with shariah (i.e. name of Allah mentioned, jaguar vein is cut etc.) but when dealing with food other than meat , eat unless there is  an element of doubt 

Editor note: The prepared food such as baked items, confectionery, snacks, dairy such as chess  etc., the ingredient used requires a expert current knowledge therefore it is recommended that one should relied on reliable organizations  in your region.

Best resources:

Ask Imam Mufti Ebrahim Desai 

in Canada  Islamic Halal Food Monitor of Canada  Eat Halal.com

USA

South Africa

Great Britain 

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Halal meat in Qur'an and Hadith (some clarification) 

Question:
1. Does Surah 5, Al Maidah verse 5 overrides  the Al-Anam, Surah 6, verse 118-121 just because Al Maidah was revealed after Al-Anam? This is the argument used by the people who say eating USDA meat is OK. 
2. The example of Aishah (raw) accepting meat from Christians and getting permission to eat it from the Prophet (pbuh) is used.
3. What is the difference between "Halal" and "Zabihah" meat?

Answer:

In principle, Ta'aarudhaat (apparent inconsistencies) are dealt within the following sequence; a) Tadbeeq (reconciliation); b) Tarjeeh (Preference); c) Naskh (abrogation) 

Furthermore, the fundamental principle of understanding the Qur'aan is one Aayat of the Qur'aan explains the other. (AlFawzul Kabir). Therefore, according to the principles of Ta'arudhaat and the fundamental principle of  Tafseer, it is possible to make Tadbeeq of the Aayats of both Surahs, al-Maaidah and al-Inaam, as explained in our previous answer. There is no need to resort to Tarjeeh and Naskh.  The argument presented by the people is unprincipled. In the presence of an express order from the Qur'aan, the Hadith (even if proven correct) will be  explain contextually and circumstantially. Zabah is the Islamic procedure of making the meat Halaal.  and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best 

Mufti Ebrahim Desai 
FATWA DEPT. 

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Question regarding Meat  of the people of the books without the name of Allah.

Allah Taăla says in the Noble Qurăn:
'Today I have made permissible for you pure things and the food of those who were given the Book (Ahlul-Kitaab) is also Halaal for you'. (Qurăn 5:4)

Overtly the above Aayat reads that the Zabeeha of the Ahlul-Kitaab is permissible, but the fundamental principle must be understood in order to understand the Qurăn i.e. 'One part of the Qurăn explains the other'. Therefore, this verse should be understood in the light of another verse relating to the same matter: 'Do not eat unless Allah's name has been taken and this (not taking Allah's name) practice is transgression' (Quran 6:121)  While the former verse explicitly states that the Zabeeha of the Ahlul-Kitaab is permissible and the latter says, 'Do not eat unless Allah's name has been taken', in the light of both these verses, it is understood that the Zabeeha of the Ahlul-kitaab is permissible only if the name of Allah is taken at the time of slaughtering. The Ahlul-kitaab used to take Allah's name when slaughtering an animal, therefore, their Zabeeha was also Halaal for Muslims.  It is for this same reason that an animal slaughtered by the Mushrikeen, etc. is not permissible. The Ahlul-kitaab of today are recognized by name, less faith. There is no guarantee that they take the name of Allah/God when slaughtering an animal. Furthermore, they cannot be anymore trusted in matters pertaining to Halaal/Haraam.  Since there is uncertainty in the above slaughter manner, the Jurists are unanimous that it is not permissible to consume meat which is doubtful. Unless there is certainty that the Ahlul-kitaab read the 'Tasmiyah' i.e. take the name of God when slaughtering an animal then only will the meat be permissible. We suggest that the Muslims in the U.S.A. and U.K. slaughter the animals themselves.  A committee be appointed and look into ways to facilitate for Halaal meat slaughtered by Muslims. This will make them independent from Christian/Jewish sources. Another proposition may be that the meat sold on the market are packed, sealed and stamped by a Muslim organization consisting of reliable scholars and Úlama who have proper Islamic knowledge of the principles pertaining to Halaal/Haraam of the Shariáh.

and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best

Mufti Ebrahim Desai

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Shari'ah has emphasized on consumption of pure and Halaal foods and to abstain from anything doubtful. If one does not know whether the chicken and meat is Halaal or not, it is not permissible to eat them.
Mufti Ebrahim Desai

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Mechanical slaughter is of three types: 
1. Chickens are transported to the place of slaughter through a conveyer belt and are manually slaughtered. If there is certainty that the chicken is alive and the Muslim slaughterer recites the name of Allah upon slaughtering, then the chicken is Halaal. In this case, only the transportation is mechanical but the slaughtering is manual. This procedure is unanimously permissible and recommended. 

2. Chickens are transported by means of the conveyer belt to the mechanical slaughter blade. Once the mechanical plant comes into operation, the blade also comes into operation and cuts the chicken. This procedure is not permissible. It does not matter if the plant and the blades are controlled together or separately.  

3. The chickens are transported by means of the conveyer belt to many slaughter blades and every blade is controlled separately by a Muslim who recites the name of Allah upon effecting the mechanical slaughter. This procedure conforms to the principles of Sharée Zabh set out by the Fuqahaa. According to our knowledge, such a procedure does not yet exist.

Mufti Ebrahim Desai

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It is permissible to mechanically remove the feathers of chicken by placing  them in hot water. However, the plant should ensure that the water is no so hot that the impurities of the chickens penetrate into the flesh of the chicken. And Allah Taăla Knows Best. Was salaam 
Mufti Ebrahim Desai 
FATWA DEPT. 

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