What is the ruling on eating from restaurants that use frozen meat imported from abroad, given that the restaurant workers cannot be trusted?

The questioner : In Kuwait... there are restaurants that sell frozen meat.

The Shaykh : Frozen meat?

The questioner : Yes, it comes from abroad, from Brazil, from Australia. It is not known whether this was slaughtered according to Islamic law or not. We ask the restaurants, but we doubt. We ask... the restaurant: Was this meat slaughtered in Kuwait or outside Kuwait? Some people lie, that this person is not trustworthy. Some do not pray, and some are just ordinary, meaning they are not trustworthy. And some will tell you it was slaughtered according to Islamic law there, meaning over there, but the original source might not be frozen.

Another questioner: Peace be upon you.

The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.

The Shaykh : This matter has some precision, and I do not know if you expressed it fully or not? You said - as I understood - that one of you enters a restaurant, for example, where imported meat is sold whose slaughter is doubtful; did you not say so?

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : Whose slaughter is doubtful.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : Not one that is certain to have not been slaughtered?

The questioner : No, it is doubtful.

The Shaykh : It is doubtful; in that case, what is the ruling on eating this meat if he tells you - after you asked him and he told the truth - and said: This is imported meat that was not slaughtered?

The questioner : Meaning the frozen one?

The Shaykh : Yes, the frozen one. You do not eat it. And if he tells you, as you know: By Allah, I do not know. Some people say this and some people say that. What is the ruling on eating it?

The questioner : ... .

The Shaykh : You are repeating my words. I am just asking what is the ruling on eating it?

The questioner : I cannot say. I cannot tell you that...

The Shaykh : You cannot say? You ask, you ask, you are repeating the question to me. If you cannot, then if you can, say it. What is not understood in my speech until you think so long and deeply?

Another questioner : He cannot answer.

The Shaykh : No, I want to hear from him so that we practice saying and declaring: Half of knowledge is "I do not know"!

Another questioner : Say "I do not know," repeat, repeat.

The questioner: I did not understand.

The Shaykh : I am telling you: If you do not understand, tell me. I see myself as a Shaykh and I tell you "I did not hear, I did not understand" repeatedly and often, fearing that the answer will contain something different from what you asked. I am saying: This meat you asked about; if he tells you this: And it is said it was not slaughtered, you said you do not eat it, correct? And if he tells you "I do not know, some people say it was slaughtered, and some say it was killed"; do you eat it?

The questioner : No, I do not eat it.

The Shaykh : You do not eat it. And if he eats it, what is its ruling?

The questioner : By Allah, I do not...

The Shaykh : Yes?

The questioner : ... .

The Shaykh : What did you say?

Another questioner : It is not blameworthy for him.

The Shaykh : I did not understand.

Another questioner : It is not blameworthy for him.

The Shaykh : Do not blame him, good. Is it forbidden for him to eat it?

The questioner : No.

The Shaykh : Good, this is the answer. As for not blaming him; that is another discussion.

The questioner : ... a test in this question?

The Shaykh : Not yet, not yet. So it is not blameworthy for him, meaning that eating it is not forbidden; is that not so?

The questioner : By Allah...

The Shaykh : ... .

Another questioner : He does not know.

The Shaykh : He does not know, how then?

The questioner : ... .

The Shaykh : Everything that is doubtful has some darkness in it; but what is its ruling?

The questioner : I do not know this. I forbid it for myself, but I do not blame him, meaning.

The Shaykh : And is it permissible by the Shari'ah to forbid it for yourself?!

The questioner : No, meaning...

The Shaykh : You are saying "I forbid it for myself." I am asking you: Is it permissible to forbid it for yourself?

The questioner : No, this is not permissible!

The Shaykh : Why did you say that?

The questioner : To avoid doubt.

The Shaykh : My brother, avoiding doubt is one thing, and forbidding it for myself is another thing!

The questioner : He means this, O Shaykh.

The Shaykh : I know what he intends - may Allah bless you! - I know what he intends, but I want the intention to be expressed in words as well, and not just in the heart which we do not see. So, my brother, this one who entered the restaurant, where is the point here? All the talk is that you said you entered the restaurant and asked about meat that is doubtful. So you entered a restaurant and there is meat that is doubtful in it beforehand. So eating it is not forbidden. So you are able not to eat it by virtue of his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): . If you asked and he answered you that it is halal; meaning slaughtered, this remains up to you and your conviction in the statement of this person; is he first of all a Muslim? Is he a Muslim who is just and truthful and does not lie? If these qualities are present in him and he tells you: No, this was slaughtered, and you ate it; then it is halal. And if these conditions were not present in him; then you are on the original state, which is that you are doubtful; so do not forbid it and do not make it halal, but advise yourself as you advise others; . Some may respond to you, and some may not respond. So the issue is clear; because originally it is doubtful. So if the trustworthy informant comes to you and informs you of one of the two possibilities at the ends of doubt, slaughtered or killed; if this informant is just, you proceed according to his statement, and the responsibility is on him.