Fatwa ID: 08872

 

Answered by: Alimah Aisha Qureshi

 

Question:

 

I live in a Caribbean island with a very small Muslim population. We don’t have any hand slaughtered meat available in our supermarkets and therefore have to slaughter our own chicken. It is rather time consuming and expensive. On the other hand, Brazilian mechanically slaughtered ‘halal’ chicken is available in all supermarkets and much cheaper.

 

We have many poor Muslims who generally consider the Brazilian chicken as halal and consume it. There are also a couple of Muslim-owned fast-food places that uses only Brazilian chicken. For these poor Muslims, I was thinking of making an arrangement with the fast-food restaurant to provide them with a meal every evening.

 

 

 

 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

 

Answer:

 

In matters of halal consumption, Islam places a great emphasis on ensuring lawful (halal) food, especially meat. At the same time, Islam also recognizes difficulty (mashaqqah) and provides flexibility in cases of hardship or necessity.

 

Manual slaughter is preferred, and machine-slaughtered animals are not considered halal unless the essential conditions of slaughter are met, the slaughter must be done by a Muslim (or Kitabi). The name of Allah must be pronounced (either per animal or for each batch. The cut must be to the main vessels of the neck, causing death by bleeding.

 

If machine slaughter is done properly, with tasmiya (mentioning Allah’s name) and by a Muslim operator, especially where hand-slaughter is not available then it is permitted. Machine-slaughtered halal chicken is generally not the first choice in Hanafi fiqh.

 

However, where there is hardship, and if the meat is halal-certified with proper Tasmia and process, then it may be used, especially for those in need. Your intention to feed poor Muslims with accessible halal meals is commendable and can be carried out without sin, inshaAllah.

 

 

 

 

References:

 

وَلاَ تَأْكُلُواْ مِمَّا لَمْ يُذْكَرِ ٱسْمُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَفِسْقٌۭ

Surah Al Anaam verse 121 Quran

 

‏فَاتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ مَا ٱسْتَطَعْتُمْ

Surah Al Tagabun verse 16 Quran

 

‏ ‏المَشَقَّةُ تَجْلِبُ التَّيْسِيرَ

Qawaid Al Fiqhiya pg 40

 

 

 

 

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Alimah Aisha Qureshi

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham