Is it permissible for a person, when entering a restaurant, to ask whether the chicken is slaughtered in the Islamic manner and where it comes from?

The questioner : May Allah reward you: What is the ruling on the action of some of the brothers when they go to restaurants and ask about the chicken they have, pressing them and saying, "This is out of scrupulousness and so that they do not fall into a doubtful matter"?

The Shaykh : I say that this is not scrupulousness. Scrupulousness is following the Sunnah. It is not scrupulousness for a person to be stubborn, to delve too deep, and to be excessive. Rather, this is a path to destruction, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: three times. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: We assumed they were Muslims, but perhaps matters were hidden from them, so he said: He did not say, "Ask them if they mentioned the name of Allah or not." If we followed the path of these people, we would say that even in their restaurants we must ask. Perhaps the one who slaughtered this chicken or sheep does not pray. And if he does not pray, he is a disbeliever, and his slaughter is not lawful. Does that mean we go to the restaurant and say, "Come, who slaughtered it? I bought it from the market; I did not ask if he prays or not?" He said, "I asked, and they said he prays." Then do we ask, "Did you drain the blood, or did you strangle it?" If he says, "I drained the blood," do we then ask, "Did he mention the name of Allah or not?" If he says, "He mentioned the name of Allah," do we then ask, "Is this chicken or sheep his property, or did he steal it or rob it?" In reality, a person keeps delving deeper. He says, "Where did the buyer get it? Who sold it to him? Did he steal it or not? What is his origin?" And so on, without end. So the truth is that if a person opens these doors for himself, even though they are closed by the Shari'ah, he tires himself out. So we say, "Praise be to Allah. I am telling you that this issue was presented to the Council of Senior Scholars, and the officials in the state responsible for this matter were invited to the council, including the Minister of Commerce and I think the Minister of Finance. They were asked questions by the senior scholars of the Kingdom, and they said, 'Absolutely, everything that enters the Kingdom is slaughtered in the Islamic manner.' And praise be to Allah, we are safe with the guarantee of these people."

The questioner : Okay, if the restaurant says, "... the Brazilian chicken is here," in this case, does he not go eat there?

The Shaykh : He eats.

The questioner : Even if they say it is Brazilian?

The Shaykh : Even if they say it is Brazilian, or English, or American, or whatever, as long as these people are responsible for the entire community.

The questioner : ...

The Shaykh : What?

The questioner : ...

The Shaykh : In any case, if they say it is not permissible, say, "No, I will take it and eat it," and the matter is finished. Yes.