The Ruling on Imported Meat
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Question:
This questioner, Khalid Abdullah, says: Honorable Shaykh, what are the rulings concerning meat imported from abroad? We ask for an answer regarding this.
Answer:
Imported meat from abroad is a problem, because if it comes from the lands of polytheists and idolaters, it is not permissible by consensus, because it is the slaughter of disbelievers and polytheists, so it is not permissible by consensus. If it comes from the lands of the People of the Book, the Jews and the Christians, Allah has made permissible for us the slaughter of the People of the Book, but on the condition that they slaughter it in the Shari'ah manner at the place of slaughter, and that they cut what must be cut of the esophagus and the windpipe, and one of the two jugular veins or both jugular veins. This is if it is done by a Muslim or by a person of the Book, and the blood flows out, then the slaughtered animal is permissible.[Al-Ma'idah 5:5] meaning their slaughter is permissible with this condition.
That they slaughter it in the Shari'ah manner. But if they slaughter it in a manner other than the Shari'ah manner, such as stunning with electricity, hot water, and other means of exporting meat, it is slaughtered automatically, cut, and packed, and no one qualified for slaughter from among Muslims or People of the Book takes charge of its slaughter; rather, the machines of the factory take charge of its slaughter. This is not permissible to eat, because it is not slaughtered properly; it is either strangled, or beaten to death, or [killed by] falling, or [killed by] goring, or the like.[Al-Ma'idah 5:3] This is the condition.
So it is necessary to verify how these slaughtered animals were slaughtered. Otherwise, Allah has made it easy for the Muslim; the Shari'ah slaughters are abundant, praise be to Allah, and the country has, praise be to Allah, meat production and it is slaughtered in the Shari'ah manner. What is brought into the lands of Muslims from what was slaughtered in the lands of Muslims, what was slaughtered in the lands of Muslims, is halal. As for what is slaughtered outside the lands of Muslims today, there is doubt in it. The Muslim should be cautious regarding his religion and his honor, and avoid doubtful matters, and leave what causes him doubt for what does not cause him doubt. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you,
This questioner, Khalid Abdullah, says: Honorable Shaykh, what are the rulings concerning meat imported from abroad? We ask for an answer regarding this.
Answer:
Imported meat from abroad is a problem, because if it comes from the lands of polytheists and idolaters, it is not permissible by consensus, because it is the slaughter of disbelievers and polytheists, so it is not permissible by consensus. If it comes from the lands of the People of the Book, the Jews and the Christians, Allah has made permissible for us the slaughter of the People of the Book, but on the condition that they slaughter it in the Shari'ah manner at the place of slaughter, and that they cut what must be cut of the esophagus and the windpipe, and one of the two jugular veins or both jugular veins. This is if it is done by a Muslim or by a person of the Book, and the blood flows out, then the slaughtered animal is permissible.
the food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you and your food
وَطَعَامُ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ حِلٌّ لَّكُمْ وَطَعَامُكُمْThat they slaughter it in the Shari'ah manner. But if they slaughter it in a manner other than the Shari'ah manner, such as stunning with electricity, hot water, and other means of exporting meat, it is slaughtered automatically, cut, and packed, and no one qualified for slaughter from among Muslims or People of the Book takes charge of its slaughter; rather, the machines of the factory take charge of its slaughter. This is not permissible to eat, because it is not slaughtered properly; it is either strangled, or beaten to death, or [killed by] falling, or [killed by] goring, or the like.
Prohibited to you are dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah, and [those animals] killed by strangling or by a violent blow or by a head-long fall or by the goring of horns, and those from which a wild animal has eaten, except what you [are able to] slaughter [before its death]
حُرِّمَتْ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَيْتَةُ وَالدَّمُ وَلَحْمُ الْخِنزِيرِ وَمَا أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ بِهِ وَالْمُنْخَنِقَةُ وَالْمَوْقُوذَةُ وَالْمُتَرَدِّيَةُ وَالنَّطِيحَةُ وَمَا أَكَلَ السَّبُعُ إِلَّا مَا ذَكَّيْتُمْSo it is necessary to verify how these slaughtered animals were slaughtered. Otherwise, Allah has made it easy for the Muslim; the Shari'ah slaughters are abundant, praise be to Allah, and the country has, praise be to Allah, meat production and it is slaughtered in the Shari'ah manner. What is brought into the lands of Muslims from what was slaughtered in the lands of Muslims, what was slaughtered in the lands of Muslims, is halal. As for what is slaughtered outside the lands of Muslims today, there is doubt in it. The Muslim should be cautious regarding his religion and his honor, and avoid doubtful matters, and leave what causes him doubt for what does not cause him doubt. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you,
Source
نور على الدرب - الفوزان - 02/249 — archive.org (1:58)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.