The Ruling on Eating from the Slaughter of the People of the Book
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
This is a question sent by the listener Al-'Umrī Muhammad, of Moroccan nationality, residing in France. In reality, he has two questions. The first is: You know the custom of those who were given the Scripture, which differs from the custom of the Arabs in slaughtering animals. However, we eat from their cattle, sheep, and goats. Is there any sin upon us in doing so, or not?
Answer:
Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, has permitted us the food of the People of the Book. He said: : [Al-Ma'idah: 5]. The People of the Book are the Jews and the Christians. They altered and changed things before the sending of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and they distorted the texts. Nevertheless, Allah permitted us their food and the chaste women among them.
This indicates that there is no blame on us for eating from their food, and their food is their slaughtered animals. As for fruits and the like, these are eaten from all kinds of people, even from those who are not People of the Book, even from the polytheists in all their varieties. There is nothing wrong with eating from their fruits, grains, and produce. However, what is forbidden is the slaughter. The slaughter of those who are not People of the Book, such as polytheists, Zoroastrians, and those who have no religion, is absolutely not lawful for Muslims. Only the slaughter of the People of the Book, specifically the Jews and the Christians, is permitted for us.
So if you do not know how they slaughtered it, eat it, and praise be to Allah, and do not ask, as long as you know that this is from the slaughter of the People of the Book, the Jews or the Christians. It is lawful for you. But when you know that they slaughtered it in a non-legitimate manner, for example, by strangling it, then do not eat it. Because they are not more noble than Muslims. If a Muslim strangled it, it would be forbidden. If he struck its head until it died, it would be forbidden. If he struck its belly until it died, it would be forbidden. And he is a Muslim, so what about the Jew and the Christian? The Jew and the Christian are lesser than the Muslim. So if he neglected the proper slaughter, and you know that he slaughtered it in a non-legitimate manner by strangling it or striking it until it died, it is not lawful.
The presenter: Or by means of electricity, for example.
The Shaykh: Or by means of electricity, drawing its blood, draining its blood from its veins until it died, or striking its head until he burst its head, it is not lawful.
Likewise, if he resorted to another type of method other than these known things, but not slaughter, or if he slaughtered it for other than Allah, dedicating it to the Messiah, or to 'Azir, or to other idols, it is not lawful. Because Allah has forbidden what is dedicated to other than Allah.
As for if you do not know, then you eat. Or if you know that they slaughtered it in a legitimate manner in the windpipe, the esophagus, and the two carotid arteries. The legitimate slaughter is in the windpipe, the esophagus, and the two carotid arteries. This is the legitimate slaughter. If he cuts the windpipe and the esophagus and the two carotid arteries, this is a complete slaughter. If he cuts the windpipe and the esophagus, it suffices. If he cuts one of the carotid arteries with them, that is good. But the perfection in slaughter is to cut the windpipe, the esophagus, and the two carotid arteries all together. They are the two vessels surrounding the neck. If the slaughterer cuts these four things, it is the most complete. If he is content with the windpipe and the esophagus, it is lawful according to the correct opinion. If he cuts one of the carotid arteries with them, it is likewise lawful. If he cuts all four, this is the most complete in slaughter.
And the Sunnah is to mention the name, saying: In the name of Allah. In fact, this is obligatory. When mentioning the name, he mentions Allah. If he forgets it or is ignorant of the ruling, there is no blame if he slaughters without mentioning the name, whether he is a Muslim or a disbeliever, out of ignorance or forgetfulness. There is no blame. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.
This is a question sent by the listener Al-'Umrī Muhammad, of Moroccan nationality, residing in France. In reality, he has two questions. The first is: You know the custom of those who were given the Scripture, which differs from the custom of the Arabs in slaughtering animals. However, we eat from their cattle, sheep, and goats. Is there any sin upon us in doing so, or not?
Answer:
Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, has permitted us the food of the People of the Book. He said: :
This day [all] good foods have been made lawful, and the food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you and your food is lawful for them
الْيَوْمَ أُحِلَّ لَكُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتُ وَطَعَامُ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ حِلٌّ لَكُمْ وَطَعَامُكُمْ حِلٌّ لَهُمْThis indicates that there is no blame on us for eating from their food, and their food is their slaughtered animals. As for fruits and the like, these are eaten from all kinds of people, even from those who are not People of the Book, even from the polytheists in all their varieties. There is nothing wrong with eating from their fruits, grains, and produce. However, what is forbidden is the slaughter. The slaughter of those who are not People of the Book, such as polytheists, Zoroastrians, and those who have no religion, is absolutely not lawful for Muslims. Only the slaughter of the People of the Book, specifically the Jews and the Christians, is permitted for us.
So if you do not know how they slaughtered it, eat it, and praise be to Allah, and do not ask, as long as you know that this is from the slaughter of the People of the Book, the Jews or the Christians. It is lawful for you. But when you know that they slaughtered it in a non-legitimate manner, for example, by strangling it, then do not eat it. Because they are not more noble than Muslims. If a Muslim strangled it, it would be forbidden. If he struck its head until it died, it would be forbidden. If he struck its belly until it died, it would be forbidden. And he is a Muslim, so what about the Jew and the Christian? The Jew and the Christian are lesser than the Muslim. So if he neglected the proper slaughter, and you know that he slaughtered it in a non-legitimate manner by strangling it or striking it until it died, it is not lawful.
The presenter: Or by means of electricity, for example.
The Shaykh: Or by means of electricity, drawing its blood, draining its blood from its veins until it died, or striking its head until he burst its head, it is not lawful.
Likewise, if he resorted to another type of method other than these known things, but not slaughter, or if he slaughtered it for other than Allah, dedicating it to the Messiah, or to 'Azir, or to other idols, it is not lawful. Because Allah has forbidden what is dedicated to other than Allah.
As for if you do not know, then you eat. Or if you know that they slaughtered it in a legitimate manner in the windpipe, the esophagus, and the two carotid arteries. The legitimate slaughter is in the windpipe, the esophagus, and the two carotid arteries. This is the legitimate slaughter. If he cuts the windpipe and the esophagus and the two carotid arteries, this is a complete slaughter. If he cuts the windpipe and the esophagus, it suffices. If he cuts one of the carotid arteries with them, that is good. But the perfection in slaughter is to cut the windpipe, the esophagus, and the two carotid arteries all together. They are the two vessels surrounding the neck. If the slaughterer cuts these four things, it is the most complete. If he is content with the windpipe and the esophagus, it is lawful according to the correct opinion. If he cuts one of the carotid arteries with them, it is likewise lawful. If he cuts all four, this is the most complete in slaughter.
And the Sunnah is to mention the name, saying: In the name of Allah. In fact, this is obligatory. When mentioning the name, he mentions Allah. If he forgets it or is ignorant of the ruling, there is no blame if he slaughters without mentioning the name, whether he is a Muslim or a disbeliever, out of ignorance or forgetfulness. There is no blame. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.