Tuesday 9 Ramadan 1445 - 19 March 2024
English

Ruling on unknown meat from kaafir countries

127959

Publication : 05-07-2009

Views : 23258

Question

Here in America they sell meat that is frozen and we do not know who slaughtered it or how it was slaughtered. Can we eat it?.

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

If the region where the meat mentioned is found has only People of the Book, namely Jews and Christians, then their meat is halal, even if it is not known how they slaughtered it, because the basic principle is that meat slaughtered by them is halal, because Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Made lawful to you this day are At‑Tayyibaat [all kinds of halal (lawful) foods, which Allah has made lawful (meat of slaughtered eatable animals, milk products, fats, vegetables and fruits)]. The food (slaughtered cattle, eatable animals) of the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) is lawful to you and yours is lawful to them” [al-Maa’idah 5:5].

If there are other kaafirs in the region, then do not eat it, because that means there is doubt as to whether it is halal or haram. Similarly if you know that those who sell these meats slaughter the animals in a way that is different from the shar’i method, such as strangling or electric shock, then do not eat it, whether the one who slaughtered it is a Muslim or a kaafir, because Allah says:

“Forbidden to you (for food) are: Al‑Maitah (the dead animals — cattle — beast not slaughtered), blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which Allah’s Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering (that which has been slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allah, or has been slaughtered for idols) 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)”

[al-Maa’idah 5:3]. End quote. 

May Allah help the Muslims to understand their religion, for He is All Hearing, Ever Near. End quote. 

Was this answer helpful?

Source: Islam Q&A