What is the ruling on eating local chicken when one is unaware of how it was slaughtered?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : Shaykh, what is the ruling on eating local chicken for one who does not know its method of slaughter?
The Shaykh : What does he not know?
The questioner : I mean, he does not know how it was slaughtered?
The Shaykh : How was it slaughtered?
The questioner : How was it slaughtered, yes.
The Shaykh : It is established in *Sahih al-Bukhari* from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her): Meaning, to this day, we suspect that some Muslims do not know whether they mention the name of Allah or not? So he said: Thus, he permitted eating it even though we did not know whether he mentioned the name or not? Likewise, eating is permitted even if we do not know whether it was slaughtered in a sound manner or not.
Because when an action comes from its proper doer, this is also a principle you should take: "When an action comes from its proper doer, the original ruling is that it is valid and effective" The original ruling is that it is valid and effective unless there is evidence to the contrary. So if a slaughtered animal comes from a Muslim, or a Jew, or a Christian, we do not ask about it, we do not say: How was it slaughtered? Or did he mention the name of Allah or not? It is lawful as long as it is not established that it is forbidden. This is part of Allah's facilitation. Otherwise, it would be difficult; every time a slaughtered animal is presented to us, we would ask: Who slaughtered it? So-and-so, okay, ask about him: Does he pray or not? They say: He prays. Ask about him: Did he mention the name of Allah or not? Yes, they say: He mentioned it. Okay, ask about him: Did he drain the blood or not? It is difficult.
But from Allah's facilitation is that the original ruling for an action coming from its proper doer is validity and effectiveness; it is valid and effective, this is the original ruling when it comes from its proper doer, unless there is evidence to the contrary. And since this question was about eating, eating chicken, and they added eating meat to it, let this be the last question, because lunch is also approaching, and eating is near, if Allah wills. We ask Allah the Exalted to fill our hearts with knowledge and faith, and to make us self-sufficient by His grace from anyone other than Him.
And this is the conclusion of the session, because there are only two or three minutes left until the call to prayer, and the time is short. So we entrust you to Allah until another meeting, and peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
The Shaykh : What does he not know?
The questioner : I mean, he does not know how it was slaughtered?
The Shaykh : How was it slaughtered?
The questioner : How was it slaughtered, yes.
The Shaykh : It is established in *Sahih al-Bukhari* from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her):
That a group of people came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: A group of people bring us meat, and we do not know whether they mentioned the name of Allah over it or not? He said: Mention the name of Allah yourselves and eat. She said: And they were recent converts from disbelief.
أن قوما أتوا النبي عليه الصلاة والسلام فقالوا : إن قوما يأتوننا باللحم لا ندري أذكروا اسم الله عليه أم لا ؟ قال : سموا أنتم وكلوا . قالت : وكانوا حديثي عهد بكفرMention the name of Allah and eat
سموا أنتم وكلواBecause when an action comes from its proper doer, this is also a principle you should take: "When an action comes from its proper doer, the original ruling is that it is valid and effective" The original ruling is that it is valid and effective unless there is evidence to the contrary. So if a slaughtered animal comes from a Muslim, or a Jew, or a Christian, we do not ask about it, we do not say: How was it slaughtered? Or did he mention the name of Allah or not? It is lawful as long as it is not established that it is forbidden. This is part of Allah's facilitation. Otherwise, it would be difficult; every time a slaughtered animal is presented to us, we would ask: Who slaughtered it? So-and-so, okay, ask about him: Does he pray or not? They say: He prays. Ask about him: Did he mention the name of Allah or not? Yes, they say: He mentioned it. Okay, ask about him: Did he drain the blood or not? It is difficult.
But from Allah's facilitation is that the original ruling for an action coming from its proper doer is validity and effectiveness; it is valid and effective, this is the original ruling when it comes from its proper doer, unless there is evidence to the contrary. And since this question was about eating, eating chicken, and they added eating meat to it, let this be the last question, because lunch is also approaching, and eating is near, if Allah wills. We ask Allah the Exalted to fill our hearts with knowledge and faith, and to make us self-sufficient by His grace from anyone other than Him.
And this is the conclusion of the session, because there are only two or three minutes left until the call to prayer, and the time is short. So we entrust you to Allah until another meeting, and peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.