What is the ruling on slaughtering with modern machines?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : Shaykh, we have other questions.
The Shaykh : Please, ask one question.
The questioner : Okay, Shaykh, what is the ruling on slaughtering with a machine?
The Shaykh : In slaughtering with a machine, one does not look at the means, but rather at the goal, just as with the means of traveling to the Sacred House of Allah. What is the ruling on traveling by car or by airplane? If there is no violation of the Shari'ah, it is the same whether you travel by car, by airplane, by camel, by mount, or so on. So when you ask about the ruling on slaughtering with a machine, do you mean that a Muslim man operates this machine and, every time he slaughters an animal, he mentions the name of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and slaughters it in a lawful manner, as is usually done by hand? Or do you mean something else?
The questioner : I mean something else, Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Yes, so clarify it, may Allah guide you. Clarify what you mean by slaughtering with a machine.
The questioner : Excuse me, Shaykh, there is, I mean, an animal in a machine, I mean electric, and for example, chickens are hung by their legs and the machine passes and cuts their throats.
The Shaykh : Yes, and it is slaughtered in a lawful manner.
The questioner : It is slaughtered, and Shaykh, I mean, the slaughtering is continuous.
The Shaykh : I know, O Shaykh, may Allah guide you. I know, but I am drawing your attention: is it slaughtered in a lawful manner, and is the name of Allah mentioned over every head that is slaughtered?
The questioner : Yes, Shaykh.
The Shaykh : And where is this? Where is this?
The questioner : Yes, I did not understand, Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Where is this? Is this on the planet Mars?
The questioner : No, my Shaykh.
The Shaykh : This does not exist, may Allah guide you. Do you know why those who use the machine use it?
The questioner : No, my Shaykh.
The Shaykh : To save time. And they do not have in their religion what would lead them to slaughter in a lawful manner and to mention the name of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) over every animal. Then this machine may cut off the entire head, or it may cut only a little of it, such that the cut does not reach the jugular veins. Do you know these details or not?
The questioner : Yes, Shaykh.
The Shaykh : So then, there is no lawful slaughtering with a machine.
The questioner : Yes, may Allah bless you, Shaykh.
The Shaykh : And may Allah bless you, if Allah wills.
The questioner : You have satisfied our need, may Allah bless you, Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Welcome, peace be upon you.
The questioner: And upon you peace.
The Shaykh : Please, ask one question.
The questioner : Okay, Shaykh, what is the ruling on slaughtering with a machine?
The Shaykh : In slaughtering with a machine, one does not look at the means, but rather at the goal, just as with the means of traveling to the Sacred House of Allah. What is the ruling on traveling by car or by airplane? If there is no violation of the Shari'ah, it is the same whether you travel by car, by airplane, by camel, by mount, or so on. So when you ask about the ruling on slaughtering with a machine, do you mean that a Muslim man operates this machine and, every time he slaughters an animal, he mentions the name of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and slaughters it in a lawful manner, as is usually done by hand? Or do you mean something else?
The questioner : I mean something else, Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Yes, so clarify it, may Allah guide you. Clarify what you mean by slaughtering with a machine.
The questioner : Excuse me, Shaykh, there is, I mean, an animal in a machine, I mean electric, and for example, chickens are hung by their legs and the machine passes and cuts their throats.
The Shaykh : Yes, and it is slaughtered in a lawful manner.
The questioner : It is slaughtered, and Shaykh, I mean, the slaughtering is continuous.
The Shaykh : I know, O Shaykh, may Allah guide you. I know, but I am drawing your attention: is it slaughtered in a lawful manner, and is the name of Allah mentioned over every head that is slaughtered?
The questioner : Yes, Shaykh.
The Shaykh : And where is this? Where is this?
The questioner : Yes, I did not understand, Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Where is this? Is this on the planet Mars?
The questioner : No, my Shaykh.
The Shaykh : This does not exist, may Allah guide you. Do you know why those who use the machine use it?
The questioner : No, my Shaykh.
The Shaykh : To save time. And they do not have in their religion what would lead them to slaughter in a lawful manner and to mention the name of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) over every animal. Then this machine may cut off the entire head, or it may cut only a little of it, such that the cut does not reach the jugular veins. Do you know these details or not?
The questioner : Yes, Shaykh.
The Shaykh : So then, there is no lawful slaughtering with a machine.
The questioner : Yes, may Allah bless you, Shaykh.
The Shaykh : And may Allah bless you, if Allah wills.
The questioner : You have satisfied our need, may Allah bless you, Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Welcome, peace be upon you.
The questioner: And upon you peace.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.