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No halaal meat in area
Anik
12/10/01 at 03:37:31
asalaamu alaikum, Anyone know of any rulings about halaal availability? What if there is no halaal meat in your town- do you have to go veggie? or no Kosher meat either? Is it then permissible to eat regular meat?  Can today's Post-Christian society be coinsidered Christian meat? No right, because Allah SWT's name wasn't mentioned on it right? Don't worry about giving conflicting answers or views, I am NOT asking because of a personal reason, just bored and wondering some responses. And sorry I had to point that out because I feel sometimes it's good to hear conflicting views because you end up learning more. asalamau alaikum. abdullah,.

Re: No halaal meat in area
kareema
12/10/01 at 04:02:47
Personally, I don't know any particular'pass 50 miles and haram is ok' rulings. My family eats fake meat(veggie-soy)stuff because the nearest halal meat place is 50 miles and we never plan for long after we go done there. My Um doesn't know how to prepare meat or like it, so that's the real reason we don't eat meat much. We eat Kosher, I heard the Jews don't pronounce the name of allah over it, so I wonder if we should be eating that. I don't think it's permissible to eat regular meat, because of what the Quran says and the hadith'just say bismillah' might have had special circumstances. In another hadith, we are told to avoid doubtful things, so I wonder how the two relate to each other. Basically, it comes down to what you want to sacrifice for the sake of Allah, though I love meat, I want to only eat Zabiha.
NS

Re: No halaal meat in area
Rehana
12/11/01 at 08:16:31
[slm] Meat is not a pre-requisite to the Islamic diet...the Prophet Muhammed (SAW) preferred veggies...and in particular..pumpkin I think. However, just an idea here... if there is no Halaal butchery or meat supplier in your area, how about purchasing a sheep (for example) to slaughter in the correct manner.  You then have your Halaal meat supply. I know of people here who go to the farms and have a sheep or lamb slaughtered to stock up with meat at home as it is cheaper than buying sometimes from the butchery. And you also have peace of mind :-) [wlm]

Re: No halaal meat in area
farah
12/11/01 at 12:35:21
As salaamu alaikum -- If no halal meat is available, fish is a tasty alternative.  Better for your health, too! :-) Pearl

Re: No halaal meat in area
akbalkhan
12/12/01 at 09:59:13
Anik, As Salamu Alaika, There is a hadith that in so many words says that, Umar ibn Khattab? restrained from eating meat due to its' being like wine.  Not in the sense that what is lawful is unlawful, but in that the stomach gets used to it, and the body craves it if not satiated.  Also, the reasoning was along the lines of not seeking to indulge in the luxuries of this dunya to the extent that many have to go without meat products for a lack of its availability or price, and that to forgo something like meat for these reasons is noble and may merit its' own reward in the next.  Kind of like not using silverware or wearing silk since those who use them in the dunya may not have access to it in the akhira for their indulgence. Easy for me to day with a hundred halal zabiha butchers near me, but for 2 years I only ate fresh fruit and vegetable, and only purified water and 100%juice, and I have never before that time or after that time felt better, more healthy, clear-headed, and alive.  Insha 'allah I may return to that diet, for different reasons than I began it, you know, different niyah. Its better to go without and make the intention to do so for a good reason, to stand to gain some reward, than to go without and to be missing the reward and the meat. Regards, QAK

Re: No halaal meat in area
bhaloo
12/12/01 at 01:40:01
slm Question: I'm vegain, I mean I do not eat any meat product or dairy from milk , eggs, cheese , or honey , any think that have to do with animal I just I don't eat it, and the thing that I like the religion of the Islam I would like to be a part of it , so my question can I be a Muslim and still don't eat meat and animal product ? Thank you so much Sheikh Munajjid Answered: Praise be to Allaah. Yes, you can be a Muslim without eating these animal products, but you need to be aware of the following: You should not think that these things are haraam (forbidden), because Allaah says (interpretation of the meanings): “O you who believe! Make not unlawful the tayyibaat (all that is good as regards foods, things, deeds, beliefs, persons, etc.) which Allaah has made lawful to you, and transgress not. Verily, Allaah does not like the transgressors.” [al-Maa’idah 5:87] “Say: who has forbidden the adornment with clothes given by Allaah, which He has produced for His slaves, and al-tayyibaat [all kinds of lawful things] of food? Say: they are, in the life of this world, for those who believe, (and) exclusively for them (believers) on the Day of Resurrection (the disbelievers will not share them). Thus We explain the aayat (Islamic laws) in detail for people who have knowledge.” [al-A’raaf 7:32] “Say: Tell me, what provision has Allaah sent down to you! And you have made of it lawful and unlawful. Say: Has Allaah permitted you (to do so), or do you invent a lie against Allaah?” [Yoonus 10:59] You should not think that it is better to abstain from these foods, or that doing so will be rewarded, or that a vegetarian is closer to Allaah than others, and so on. It is not permitted to draw closer to Allaah in this way. The Prophet  (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), who is the best of mankind and the closest to Allaah, used to eat meat and drink milk and honey. When one of his Companions wanted to give up meat, he told him that this was wrong. Anas reported that there was a group of the Companions of the Prophet  (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), one of whom said, “I will never marry women”; another said, “I will not eat meat”; another said, “I will not sleep on a bed”; and another said, “I will fast and never break my fast.” News of this reached the Messenger of Allaah  (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). He praised and thanked Allaah, then said: “ What is wrong with the people who are saying such and such? I pray and I sleep; I fast and I break my fast; and I marry women. Whoever deviates from my Sunnah (way) does not belong to me.” (Reported by al-Nisaa’i; the story is also to be found in the two Saheehs of al-Bukhaari and Muslim). There is a great difference between not eating a certain kind of food because one does not like it, or it does not agree with one, or one has been put off – for example by seeing an animal slaughtered when one was a child, which may leave one with a distaste for meat – and other similar reasons, and thinking that meat is haraam and that abstaining from it is an act of worship, as is done by Brahmins, monks and others who are misguided. Once this matter is clear in your mind, there is nothing wrong with not eating foods that you do not like. We will be happy to welcome you soon as our sister in Islam. We ask Allaah to give you the strength to do good and to protect you from every evil. Allaah is the One Who guides to the Straight Path.

Re: No halaal meat in area
akbalkhan
12/12/01 at 09:58:37
As Salamu Alaika, Book 49, Number 49.10.36:       Yahya related to me from Malik from Yahya ibn Said that Umar ibn al-Khattab said, "Beware of meat. It has addictiveness like the addictiveness of wine."       Yahya related to me from Malik from Yahya ibn Said that Umar ibn al-Khattab saw Jabir ibn Abdullah carrying some meat. He said, "What is this?" He said, "Amir al-muminin. We desired meat and I bought some meat for a dirham." Umar said, "Does one of you want to fill his belly apart from his neighbour or nephew? How can you overlook this ayat? 'You squandered your good things in the life of this world and sought comfort in them.' " (Sura 46 ayat 20). This is the hadith I was referring to.  It is very clear about compassion for our fellow Muslims in that we should not indulge ourselves to such an extent that we look upon a luxury like meat as an obligation or sunnah? I am definitely not trying to argue with the Sheikh, audhu billah, I just believe that the circumstances in the particular question the Sheikh was answering and the one Abdullah has is a bit different. I mean how many people have come from the Hindu, Sikh or other religion whose practice may have been certain dietary requirements, and they still adhere to them after becoming Muslim?  One may try and rationalize that they just do not like meat and dairy, but if in fact it was a practice from a religion other than Allah SWT and you retained it after reverting, then may Allah SWT decide on your abstention and may Allah SWT reward the refraining of one who does it for fear of eating non-zabiha halal meats, or has compassion for their fellow starving Muslims.  That is very different from a childhood trauma, or a physical repulsion/developed allergy to certain foods.  I guess one could go into the psycho-babble about it but there is no need for that. (I am just talking about rewards here and not whether someone is a Muslim or not) Again, Anik, if you are living in an area where zabiha halal meat is not available, then brother make the niyah to abstain from the meat of area with the basis of something that may merit reward: such as remembering the brothers and sisters in al-Islam who are starving right now, who have no wheat, barley, or grain nonetheless meat to eat; or with the niyah that you will not eat the meat for the good pleasure of Allah SWT in that you do not want to taste of meat that has not had Allah SWT pronounced over it, etc.  These are noble intentions, and Allah SWT rewards us based upon our intention, alhamdulillah. I would not suggest just refraining from the meat in the area, and wishing that you could sink your teeth into a succulent kafr burger, or Naar side of lamb, its just counterproductive. I mean, think of it like when you first became Muslim, and if you are not a revert like myself, then think of when in the recent past, you felt recharged in your desire to follow the deen, and it was a bit challenging to recover some sunnah.  At first the intention is one of merely accomplishing the completion of an action, after some inconvenience in time or circumstance of place.  However, once the particular sunnah becomes habit, insha allah you make the intention to be one of pleasing Allah SWT, and squeezing every possible reward from remaining engaged and focused in the practice, alhamdulillah.  The reward from just doing an action to get it over with, or after struggling much to incorporate it into a busy schedule may be different from the reward of someone who is very deeply involved in the very same action with much devotion and consistancy, insha allah. Please notice my frequent use of the word 'may'.  I am implying not a certainty or complete knowledge but an opinion or possibility. Regards, QAK

Re: No halaal meat in area
humble_muslim
12/12/01 at 13:43:43
AA Shaikh Uthameen, one of the great scholars of the last century, gave a detailed answer about the food of Ahle Kitab in the west today.  In short, he said it was OK, siting a number of proofs. He also said that something like : people should be more concerned with the sins which they know for sure are haram, instead of being so devoted to avoid what may be halal. I avoided eating non-zabiha meat in the UK and the US for many years until I heard about Shaikh Uthammeen's fatwa. Having said that, I think I should also add : 1. This is a matter of dispute amongst scholars. So IMHO, we should NOT criticize each other for eating or not choosing to eat non-zabiha meat. 2. Use your own taqwa when it comes to making a decision. 3. What Br. Akbal Khan is said is true, but (with repsect) not relevant to the issue.  We could talk about zuhd (ascetisim), but that would be a different thread. 4. There is no reason AT ALL why Kosher meat coul dnot be considered halal.
NS

Re: No halaal meat in area
amal
12/12/01 at 15:13:02
slm, [quote] 1. This is a matter of dispute amongst scholars. So IMHO, we should NOT criticize each other for eating or not choosing to eat non-zabiha meat. 2. Use your own taqwa when it comes to making a decision. [/quote] I agree with humble_muslim.Shaikh Yusuf Al-Qardawi covers this in great detail in his book "The Lawful and Prohibited in Islam". The following is an excerpt from the book: [i][color=purple]The Requirement of Slaughtering in the Islamic Manner[/i] [/color] Land animals which are permissible as food are of two kinds. The first consists of those animals which are tame or domesticated, such as camels, cows, goats, poultry, and other fowl which are raised on a farm or in the house, while untamed and wild animals are of the second type. In order to render their flesh halal, Islam requires that animals of the first category be slaughtered in the manner prescribed by Islam. [color=purple]The Conditions of Islamic Slaughtering[/color] According to the [i]Shari'ah[/i], the legal purification of the flesh of animals requires that the following conditions be met: 1.The animal should be slaughtered by a sharp object which is capable of making it bleed by severing blood vessels, even if the sharp object is a stone or a piece of wood. 'Adi bin Hatim narrated that he said to the Prophet (peace be on him), "O Messenger of Allah, we go hunting and sometimes we do not have a knife with us. We may find a sharp rock or a piece of wood or a reed." The Prophet (peace be on him) said: [color=blue]"The object is to make it bleed with whatever you have and mention the name of Allah over it.''[/color] [color=red](Reported by Ahmad, Abu Daoud, Nisai, Ibn Majah, al-Hakim, and Ibn Hibban.) [/color] 2.The slaughtering is to be done by cutting the throat of the animal or by piercing the hollow of the throat, causing its death. The best way is to cut the windpipe, the gullet, and the two jugular veins.[color=red] (Some jurists have cited further conditions, but we have omitted them as we did not find explicit texts mentioning them. The slaughtering of animals is known instinctively to all people, and to go into depth and detail concerning it does not accord with Islam, which keeps matters easy and simple. The more details these jurists have attempted to list, the more confusion they have caused; for example, is it necessary to cut all four parts - the windpipe, the gullet and the two jugular veins - or only some of them? Should the knife point downward or upward? Can the hand be raised before the slaughtering is completed or not? and so on, without end, with each alternative answer to these questions finding support among some jurists.)[/color]However, if it becomes impossible to slaughter the animal in the specified manner, this second condition is cancelled; for example, the animal may have fallen headlong into a well so that its throat is inaccessible, or it may become wild and start kicking and running. Such cases are treated in the manner of game animals and it is sufficient to wound the animal at any place to make it bleed. On the authority of Raf'i ibn Khadij, both al-Bukhari and Muslim report the former as narrating:[color=blue] We were on a journey with the Prophet (peace be on him) when one of the camels bolted away. As the people did not have a horse, a man shot an arrow which struck the camel and wounded it. The Prop(peace be on him) said, 'Some of these animals are like wild beasts. If any of them behaves like this, treat it in this fashion.'[/color][color=red] (Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim.)[/color] 3.No name other than Allah's should be mentioned over the animal at the time of slaughter; concerning this condition there is a consensus among all the jurists. The people of the time of[i] jahiliyyah[/i] sought to propitiate their deities and idols by sacrificing animals to them, either by invoking their names while slaughtering or by immolating them on altars specified for them. As mentioned previously, the Qur'an prohibited all this in the words,[color=green] Forbidden to you are...that which has been dedicated to anyone other than Allah...and that which has been sacrificed to idols.[/color] (5:4 (3)) 4.The name of Allah should be mentioned while slaughtering the animal. [color=red](The correct manner of mentioning the name of Allah at slaughtering is, "Bismillah Allahu akbar" (in the name of God, God is the most great). On this occasion the words al-Rahman al-Raheem (the Compassionate, the Merciful) do not follow Bismillah as they ordinarily do, since slaughtering is not an act of mercy. (Trans.)) [/color]This is clear from Qur'anic texts and [i]ahadith[/i]. Allah Ta'ala says:[color=green] Then eat of that over which the name of Allah has been mentioned, if you believe in His signs. (6:118)And do not eat of that over which the name of Allah has not been mentioned, for truly that is impiety.... (6:121) [/color]And the Messenger of Allah (peace be on him) said:[color=blue] If the blood is drained (from the animal) and the name of Allah has been mentioned over it, you may eat of it.[/color][color=red] (Reported by al-Bukhari and others.)[/color]This condition is further supported by other sound [i]ahadith[/i] which state that Allah's name must be pronounced while hunting just before an arrow is shot or a hunting dog is sent for the chase. This point will be discussed later in the section on hunting.Some scholars are of the opinion that although the name of Allah must be mentioned, it is not necessary to mention it at the time of slaughtering the animal; one can mention it at the time of eating, since in that case it cannot be held that it was eaten without mentioning the name of Allah over it. In the [i]Sahih[/i] of al-Bukhari we find a [i]hadith[/i] narrated by 'Aisha, who said,[color=blue] Some people who had recently become Muslims said to the Prophet (peace be on him), 'People bring us meat and we do not know whether they have mentioned the name of Allah over it or not. Shall we eat of it or not?' The Prophet (peace be on him) replied, 'Mention the name of Allah (over it) and eat."[/color][color=red] (The correct invocation when one begins to eat or drink is Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem, "In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful," coupled with a supplication such as, Allahumma, barik lana fi ma razaqtana wa qina adhab an-nar, "Our Lord, bless us in what You have provided for us and save us from the punishment of the Fire." (Trans.)) [/color] [i][color=purple]The Wisdom of the Islamic Manner of Slaughtering[/color][/i] The wisdom of the Islamic rules of slaughtering is to take the animal's life in the quickest and least painful way; the requirements of using a sharp instrument and of cutting the throat relate to this end. It is forbidden to rend the throat by using teeth or nails since this will cause pain to the animal and is likely to strangle it. The Prophet (peace be on him) recommended sharpening the knife and putting the animal at ease, saying, [color=blue]Allah has ordained kindness (or excellence) in everything. If killing is to be done, do it in the best manner, and when you slaughter, do it in the best manner by first sharpening the knife and putting the animal at ease. [/color][color=red](Reported by Muslim on the authority of Shaddad bin Aus.) [/color]In another [i]hadith[/i] narrated by Ibn'Umar, the Prophet (peace be on him) said, [color=blue]"When one of you slaughters, let him complete it," [/color][color=red](Reported by Ibn Majah.) [/color]meaning that one should sharpen his knife well and feed, water, and soothe the animal before killing it.Ibn 'Abbas reported that once the Prophet (peace be on him) saw a man who was sharpening his knife after laying down a sheep to be slaughtered. The Prophet (peace be on him) rebuked him saying, [color=blue]"Do you intend to make it die two deaths? Why did you not sharpen your knife before laying it down?" [/color][color=red](Reported by al-Hakim, who classified it as "sound" according to the standard of al Bukhari.) [/color]Once 'Umar saw a man dragging a sheep by its leg to be slaughtered. He said, [color=blue]"Woe to you! Lead it to its death in a decent manner." [/color] [color=red](Reported by 'Abd ur-Razzaq.) [/color]Thus the main intent here is to be kind to the unfortunate animal and spare it unnecessary suffering insofar as this is possible. The people o f [i]jahiliyyah[/i] were fond of cutting off the humps of live camels and the fat tails of live sheep in order to eat them. In order to put a stop to this barbaric practice, the Prophet (peace be on him) forbade the eating of any part obtained in this fashion, saying, [color=blue]"Any part cut off a living animal is dead flesh," [/color] [color=red](Reported by Ahmad, Abu Daoud, al-Tirmidhi, and al-Hakim.) [/color] [i][color=purple]The Significance of Mentioning Allah's Name[/i] [/color] Mentioning the name of Allah to purify the act of slaughtering has a subtle significance which we would do well to ponder. [color=red]First[/color], this practice is in opposition to the practice of the idolaters and the people of [i]jahiliyyah[/i], who mentioned the names of their non-existent deities while slaughtering animals. Since the polytheist mentions the name of a false deity, how can the Believer fail to mention the name of the true God?[color=red] Second[/color], these animals, like human beings, are creatures of Allah, and like them they have life. How then can a man take control of them and deprive them of life unless he first obtains permission from his, and their, common Creator, to Whom everything belongs? Mentioning the name of Allah while slaughtering the animal is a declaration of this divine permission, as if the one who is killing the animal were saying, "This act of mine is not an act of aggression against the universe nor of oppression of this creature, but in the name of Allah I slaughter, in the name of Allah I hunt, and in the name of Allah I eat." [i][color=purple]Animals Slaughtered by the People of the Book[/i] [/color] We have seen that Islam emphasizes that the animal must be slaughtered in a prescribed manner. The polytheists of Arabia and other nations had made animal sacrifice an act of worship, or rather an integral part of their belief system and a pillar of their religion, seeking to propitiate their deities by sacrificing animals either at their special altars or by mentioning their names over them. Islam abolished these pagan rites and ordained that no name except that of Allah be mentioned while slaughtering, and it prohibited what was sacrificed at an altar or dedicated to anyone other than Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala.Now although the People of the Book—the Jews and Christians —are essentially believers in one God, some Muslims nevertheless supposed that in matters related to food the People of the Book were to be treated in the same manner as idolaters. Thereupon Allah Ta'ala granted special permission to Muslims in the matter of eating with the People of the Book and in the matter of marriage to their women. In [i]Surah al-Maidah[/i], the last [i]surah[/i] of the Qur'an to be revealed, Allah says,[color=green] Today whatever is good is made lawful to you. And the food of those who were given the Scripture (before you) is permitted to you and your food is permitted to them.... (5:6 (5)) [/color]The meaning of these verses is, in brief, that from this day forward all good, pure, and wholesome things are permitted to you Muslims; consequently, there can be no more [i]bahirah, saibah, wasilah, [/i] or [i]ham[/i]. Since Allah did not prohibit it, the food of the Jews and the Christians is permitted to you on the basis of the original permissibility of things, and likewise you can share your food with them. Accordingly, you can eat the flesh of the animals they have slaughtered or hunted, and they can eat what you have slaughtered or hunted. While Islam takes an uncompromising attitude toward polytheists, it is lenient toward the People of the Book, for they are closer to Muslims in their belief in divine revelation, prophethood, and other fundamentals of . Islam permits us to eat with them, to marry their women, and, in general, to have social relations with them. It may be that, by interacting with Muslims in an Islamic environment and observithe beliefs, practices, and characters of Muslims, they may come to realize that Islam is in truth their own religion but with a higher level of spirituality, a more perfect Shari'ah, and books of greater authenticity, [color=red](That is, the Holy Qur'an, the books of Ahadith, and the Sirah (biography) of the Prophet. (Trans.)) [/color] while also free of the influence of paganism, man-made concepts, and falsehood.The application of the phrase, "the food of those who were given the Scripture," is general and includes their meats, produce, and other foods. All of these are [i]halal[/i] for us excepting what is [i]haram[/i] in itself, e.g., the flesh of a dead animal, pork, and flowing blood, as these are [i]haram[/i] regardless of whether they are obtained from a Christian, a Jew or a Muslim.We now turn to various questions which are of sufficient importance to Muslims to require an answer here. [i][color=purple]Animals Slaughtered for Churches and Christian Festivals[/i] [/color] If one does not hear from a Christian or a Jew that a name other than Allah's such as that of Jesus or a saint, was mentioned at the time of slaughter, the meat he offers is [i]halal[/i]. If, however, he says that a name other than Allah's has been mentioned, it is [i]haram[/i], according to the opinion of some jurists who argue that it falls under the heading of what has been dedicated to other than Allah. Some others hold the opinion that the food of the People of the Book has been permitted to us by Allah, Who is aware of what they say when slaughtering an animal.Someone asked Abu al-Darda whether he could eat the flesh of a lamb, slaughtered for the Church of St. George, which had been given to him. Abu al-Darda answered, "O Allah, may You pardon us! Are they not the People of the Book, whose food is halal for us and ours for them? He then told the person to eat it. [color=red](Reported by al-Tabari.) [/color]Imam Malik was once asked about eating the flesh of animals slaughtered for Christian festivals and churches. He replied, I classify it as [i]makruh[/i] but not [i]haram: makruh[/i] because I am afraid it may have been dedicated to someone other than Allah but not [i]haram[/i] because perhaps, with respect to the People of the Book, the meaning of the phrase, 'that which has been dedicated to any other than Allah,' applies only to those animals which they slaughter for the purpose of seeking the pleasure of their deities [color=red](This may refer to Jesus, Mary, or to other saints. (Trans.)) [/color]and not to eat. As for what they slaughter to eat, it is their food, and Allah says,[color=green] 'The food of those who were given the Scripture is permitted to you.'[/color][color=red] (This ruling by Imam Malik demonstrates his humility, piety, and caution in religion. He did not rush to the conclusion that it was haram, as some jurists do today but confined himself to stating that it was makruh. As we can see, faced with the problem of reconciling two conflicting general categories, that which is dedicated to anyone other than Allah and the permissibility of the food of the People of the Book, he exercised caution and deliberation.) (5:6 (7))[/color] [i][color=purple]Animals Slaughtered By Electric Shock and Other Methods[/i] [/color] The second question is this: Is it necessary that the method of slaughter of an animal employed by the People of the Book so that it is [i]halal[/i] in their religion be the same as ours, which is to cut the throat? A majority of jurists stipulate this as a condition, while a number of Maliki jurists have ruled that it is not a condition.Qadi Ibn al-Arab), in explaining the verse of [i]Surah al-Maidah[/i],[color=green] "The food of those who were given the Scripture is permitted to you," (5:6 (7)) [/color]says: This is a decisive proof that the game and food of the People of the Book are among the good things which Allah has allowed for us. He, the Most High, has repeated it twice in order to allay doubts and to seal the mouths of those mischievous objectors, who would raise questions and prolong the discussion. I was asked: 'If a Christian kills a chicken by cutting off its head and then cooks it, is it permissible to eat with him or to partake of his food?' I said: 'Eat it, as this is his food and the food of his priests and monks. Although this is not our way of slaughtering the animal, yet Allah has permitted their food to us unconditionally, and also other things in their religion excepting those which Allah says they have falsified.' Our scholars have said: They give us their women in marriage and it is permissible to engage in sexual intercourse with them. In matters concerning [i]halal[/i] and [i]haram[/i], sexual intercourse is of graver import than eating; how then does it make sense to say that their food is not [i]halal[/i]?This is the opinion of Ibn al-Arab). On another occasion he says: "What they eat without intending to make it lawful for eating, as for example by strangling the animal or smashing its head, is [i]haram[/i]." There is no contradiction between these two statements of his. What is meant here is that what they consider as religiously lawful to eat is [i]halal[/i] for us, even though the method of killing the animal in their religion may be different from ours, and what is not religiously lawful to them is [i]haram[/i] for us. What is meant by killing the animal in their religion is killing it with the intention of making it lawful as food according to their religion. This is the opinion of a group of Maliki jurists.In the light of this ruling, we know that imported meats, such as chicken and canned beef, originating with the People of the Book are [i]halal[/i] for us, even though the animal may have been killed by means of electric shock or the like. As long as they consider it lawful in their religion, it is [i]halal[/i] for us. This is the application of the above verse from [i]Surah al-Maidah[/i]. [i][color=purple]The Meat of Zoroastrians and Others Like Them[/i] [/color] A difference of opinion exists among jurists concerning the meat of animals slaughtered by the Zoroastrians or Parsees [i] (Majus) [/i]. The majority forbids the eating of it because they are polytheists, while others say that it is [i]halal[/i] because the Prophet (peace be on him) said,[color=blue] "Treat them as you treat the People of the Book." [/color] [color=red](Reported by Malik and al-Shafi'i. What comes at the end of this hadith, "Do not marry their women nor eat their meat," is not considered authentic by the compilers of Ahadith.) [/color]The Prophet (peace be on him) accepted jizyah from the Zoroastrians of Hajar. [color=red](Reported by al-Bukhari and others.) [/color]In the chapter on slaughtering in Ibn Hazm's book, Al-Muhalla,[color=red] (Vol. 7, p. 456.) [/color]the author says, "They are also a People of the Book; hence all the rules related to the People of the Book apply to them." [color=red](Ibn Hazm's opinion undoubtedly carries great weight. He was very meticulous in applying the texts of the Qur'an and Ahadith, as well as being knowledgeable concerning the history of nations and their customs. Al-Baghdadi, in his book Al-Farq Bayn al-Firaq, states: "The Magians (Zoroastrians) claim that Zoraster was a prophet" Some modern Islamic scholars who have conducted researches into ancient cultures, such as Abul Kalam Azad, support this view.)[/color] Likewise the Sabeans are classified by Abu Hanifah as belonging to the category of People of the Book.[color=red] (Some researchers of our time have attempted to extend the circle of People of the Book to include idolatrous such as Hindus and Buddhists, but they are stretching the matter too far. See, for example, Tafsir al-Manar, vol. 6, in the interpretation of the ayah, "The food of those who were given the Scripture is permitted to you," in the chapter dealing with the food of idolatrous and marriage to their women.) [/color] [i][color=purple]A Rule: What We Do Not See Should Not Be Probed Into[/i] [/color] It is not required of the Muslim to inquire about what he has not witnessed, i.e., How was the animal killed? Did the manner of 6laughter meet the Islamic conditions? Was the name of Allah mentioned while slaughtering or not? If the animal was slaughtered by a Muslim, even if he is ignorant or sinful, or by someone from among the People of the Book, eating it is [i]halal[/i] for us.We have already narrated a [i]hadith[/i] in which it was said to the Prophet (peace be on him):[color=blue] "People bring us meat and we do not know whether they have mentioned the name of Allah over it or not. Shall we eat it or not?" [/color] and the Prophet (peace be on him) replied, [color=blue]"Mentionthe name of Allah (over it) and eat." [/color]Concerning the application of this [i]hadith[/i], scholars say: This is proof that the actions and practices of people are ordinarily considered to be correct and appropriate, while deviation or error must be proved.

Re: No halaal meat in area
Rehana
12/13/01 at 06:20:34
Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Raheem [slm] I am sure that this is common knowledge, however, I thought I'd mention it all the same. Halaal does not only pertain to the manner in which meat is slaughtered.  For example, if the meat is slaughtered in the correct manner and is transported in a container with eg. pork, this would make the meat haraam. In the same manner, we should also look at possible contamination (as a result of using common utensils, common preparotory areas) of halaal meat with haraam food (eg. haraam meat products, alcohol etc) when it is being prepared in restaurants and non-muslim homes. Secondly, halaal is also other items that are permitted to us as explained in the following article obtained from http://www.jamiat.org.za/chalaal.html THE CONCEPT OF HALAAL IN ISLAM Islamic Law has given very clear guidance as far as Lawful (Halaal) and Unlawful (Haraam) is concerned. Halaal is a term used to define those articles, foods, items, commodities, products, animals, consumables, etc. that are permissible and lawful for a Muslim. Halaal has been defined in Islamic Law in terms of the Book of God, 'Al-Quran' as explained by his Prophet (Peace be upon Him). The Quran lays down values and norms for all moral actions including eating and drinking. Almighty God declares in His Holy Sacred Book, 'O you people! Eat of what is on earth, lawful and good, and do not follow the foot-steps of the devil (the evil one), for he is to you an avowed enemy'. God Almighty further states, 'O you who believe! Eat of the good things that we have provided for you, and be grateful towards God, if it is Him you worship'. Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) - Halaal Dept. Some more useful information : http://www.jamiat.org.za/hguideline.html :? Are there organisations in eg. UK and USA that monitor the consumer industry and validate halaal from haraam products?....Just curious :-) [wlm] :)

Re: No halaal meat in area
Rehana
12/14/01 at 10:15:30
[slm] me again! :) I just found a site that lists Halaal businesses in USA...maybe it will help someone??? http://www.excite.co.za/guide/lifestyle/religion_and_beliefs/islam/products_and_services/halal_products/ [wlm]
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