The Ruling on Imported Meats from the Lands of Disbelievers

The Shaykh:
Like the beasts of prey, yes.

The questioner:
And our guest, the Shaykh, may Allah guide you, what is your opinion on meats imported from foreign countries, like the packaging, and it is written on the packaging that it is in the Islamic manner?

The Shaykh:
By Allah, this is a very difficult problem now; it is among the complex problems of this time. Using meats from the lands of disbelievers: the default is that the slaughter of the People of the Book is lawful. This is the default, based on the saying of Allah the Exalted: And the default is that the slaughter of disbelievers other than the People of the Book is forbidden by the consensus of Muslims, whether they are polytheists, or materialists, communists, atheists, or of any religion, Buddhist, Hindu, or any religion other than the People of the Book. The disbelievers other than the People of the Book, all their slaughters are forbidden. Allah has only permitted us the slaughters of the People of the Book, the Jews and the Christians. This is the default: that the slaughters of the People of the Book are lawful, and that the slaughters of the other disbelievers are forbidden. So if these slaughters are imported from non-People of the Book, they are forbidden by consensus.
As for if they are imported from the People of the Book, the default is that they are lawful. However, the difficulty with this default is that they now slaughter in a manner other than the Sharia method. What has been reported and observed is that they slaughter in a manner other than the Sharia method, meaning they use electric stunning or shooting them in the head with bullets. Then when they fall and die, they cut off their heads. Or for chickens and birds, they dip them in hot water, then they die, and after that they cut off their heads and can them. What has caused much discussion is that they slaughter in a manner other than the Sharia method using these means: electric stunning, electric shock, hot water, or shooting them if they are stubborn animals like cattle. They shoot them and then cut off their heads, whether they find life in them or not. So it has now become a matter of great doubt. The safest and most exculpatory for the conscience is that it is not eaten. That these canned slaughters imported from abroad are not eaten. This is the safest and most exculpatory for the conscience.
And if it is written on it that it was slaughtered in the Islamic manner, then this writing is just writing on the wrapper, printed on the wrapper, and it does not indicate anything. It is written on the wrapper before this animal in it is born. This wrapper has it written on it, and they brought the carcass and put it in it. The writing has no relation to what is inside it at all. It is a routine writing. Or ordinary writing that does not indicate anything, so it is not relied upon. So the one who wants to be cautious and wants to be exculpatory does not eat from this imported chicken or imported meats, but rather eats from what is slaughtered in the country of animals or chickens. Yes.

Another questioner:
Our master Ali. The word of Allah for these people. When they mention the Father and the Son and the Man. This is speech. This is what we know from. So do we know these people from their book?

The Shaykh:
Allah has permitted us their slaughters, and He knows that they say in the name of Christ or in the name of such and such. Or Allah has permitted us their slaughters absolutely and did not restrict them, so we eat them, but on the condition that they slaughter them in the Sharia method by cutting the windpipe, the gullet, and the two carotid arteries. This is it, with a tool suitable for slaughter. As for whether they say such and such or do not say such and such, this is what Allah has permitted us and made absolute, and He knows what they say and knows that their book is distorted. Yes.
If we rule that he is a disbeliever, his slaughter is not lawful. If we rule that he is a disbeliever, his slaughter is not lawful. The apostate’s slaughter is not lawful, whether his apostasy is by abandoning prayer or otherwise. If his apostasy is established, his slaughter is forbidden. This is if they slaughter to draw near to their idols or to their objects of worship. Yes.

Another questioner:
Or do you have, O Shaykh, the chicken in the restaurants?

The Shaykh:
All of them, from the restaurants, and the ones in the grocery stores, and the ones...

Another questioner:
We do not know about it in the restaurants; it may be such and such, and it may be...

The Shaykh:
If you do not know, the default is that what is in the lands of Muslims is from the slaughter of Muslims. This is the default.

Another questioner:
Yes. The question before buying.

The Shaykh:
Buying from restaurants abroad, or here?

Another questioner:
I forgot something, come on.

The Shaykh:
This depends on what is more likely in your view. If it is more likely in your view that it is from domestic chicken, do not ask. If it is more likely in your view that it is from imported chicken, do not eat it.
The matter is a calamity, yes, it is a calamity, but a person is cautious for himself, and the ways of caution are available, praise be to Allah. There is domestic chicken, and there is from the farms of the country, and the slaughter of the country is abundant. There are projects, praise be to Allah. And it is not necessary for you to eat meat. And it is not necessary for you to eat meat. If it is not available to you, leave it. Fish is also like that. Fish is a good peaceful solution. Your use of this does not require [asking] in our lands or in other lands. It is global, praise be to Allah, and you do not ask. And locusts, if you find locusts, eat from them, and do not...