The Definition of the People of the Book and the Ruling on Eating Their Slaughtered Animals
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The Shaykh:
The People of the Book are certain.
The presenter:
Meaning, among the disbelievers.
The Shaykh:
Yes, he took the picture.
The questioner:
Who are the People of the Book, and do the disbelievers fall under this category? Is it permissible for us to eat their meat sold in commercial centers, whether it is slaughtered or not?
The Shaykh:
The People of the Book are the Jews and the Christians. Those who follow the religion of the Jews or the religion of the Christians are the People of the Book, because they possess the Torah and the Gospel, which are two great books from the books of Allah that were sent down. Thus, they are People of the Book in this sense. They are not like the polytheists and the unlettered, who had no book sent down to them before the mission of our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Eating the slaughter of disbelievers is not permissible, except specifically for the People of the Book. After the mission of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), the People of the Book are disbelievers; everyone who did not believe in him is a disbeliever, whether from the People of the Book or from others. However, the permissibility of eating their slaughter and marrying their women remained. The evidence is the saying of Allah the Exalted: “...and the chaste women from those who were given the Book before you, and your food...”[Al-Ma'idah 5:5] The meaning of “their food” is their slaughter. As for food other than slaughter, such as rice, corn, millet, and everything that does not require ritual slaughter, as well as fruits, this is permissible from the People of the Book and from others, because it does not require ritual slaughter. It is permissible to eat from their food that is not from their slaughter.
This is permissible from all people: you may eat their food, which is wheat, barley, rice, or otherwise, or fruits, or other foods, or dates, or otherwise. It is specifically the slaughter that is the issue. The slaughter of the People of the Book is permissible. The slaughter of disbelievers who are not People of the Book is not permissible. It is a condition for the slaughter of the People of the Book that they slaughter it according to the Shari'ah method. If they slaughter it by other than the Shari'ah method, such as electric stunning or shooting with bullets and guns until it dies, then it is not lawful from anyone, not from Muslims, not from disbelievers, and not from the People of the Book. Whatever dies without lawful ritual slaughter is carrion, and it is not permissible to eat it from any people. Yes.
The People of the Book are certain.
The presenter:
Meaning, among the disbelievers.
The Shaykh:
Yes, he took the picture.
The questioner:
Who are the People of the Book, and do the disbelievers fall under this category? Is it permissible for us to eat their meat sold in commercial centers, whether it is slaughtered or not?
The Shaykh:
The People of the Book are the Jews and the Christians. Those who follow the religion of the Jews or the religion of the Christians are the People of the Book, because they possess the Torah and the Gospel, which are two great books from the books of Allah that were sent down. Thus, they are People of the Book in this sense. They are not like the polytheists and the unlettered, who had no book sent down to them before the mission of our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Eating the slaughter of disbelievers is not permissible, except specifically for the People of the Book. After the mission of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), the People of the Book are disbelievers; everyone who did not believe in him is a disbeliever, whether from the People of the Book or from others. However, the permissibility of eating their slaughter and marrying their women remained. The evidence is the saying of Allah the Exalted: “...and the chaste women from those who were given the Book before you, and your food...”
is lawful for you and your food is lawful for them. And [lawful in marriage are] chaste women from among the believers and chaste women from among those who were given the Scripture before you
حِلٌّ لَّكُمْ وَطَعَامُكُمْ حِلٌّ لَّهُمْ وَالْمُحْصَنَاتُ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَالْمُحْصَنَاتُ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْThis is permissible from all people: you may eat their food, which is wheat, barley, rice, or otherwise, or fruits, or other foods, or dates, or otherwise. It is specifically the slaughter that is the issue. The slaughter of the People of the Book is permissible. The slaughter of disbelievers who are not People of the Book is not permissible. It is a condition for the slaughter of the People of the Book that they slaughter it according to the Shari'ah method. If they slaughter it by other than the Shari'ah method, such as electric stunning or shooting with bullets and guns until it dies, then it is not lawful from anyone, not from Muslims, not from disbelievers, and not from the People of the Book. Whatever dies without lawful ritual slaughter is carrion, and it is not permissible to eat it from any people. Yes.
Source
أهل الكتاب وأكل طعامهم — alfawzan.live (0:09)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.