Is food from "the people from the book" considered halal?

To make it simpler, considering 5:5 from the Quran, would a fillet of beef from a christian butcher be considered halal?

I've read online before (don't have the link as it's been some time now) that it would be ok for a muslim, and he should pray over it when it is served to him on the table..

How correct is this?

As far as i know, if you go to a house of a Christian or Jew you don't have to ask whether the meat id halal or not. So based on that, i would say yes it's permissible.
But i'm not sure if it's okay if you get it from a butcher?

well to be completely clear, my husband is muslim right, and he lives in a country where we have only one islamic butcher and the butcher never has anything but chicken and lamb.. which I have now gotten sick of.

A bit of beef would be nice, you know..

Other times, it would be nice to have beef sausages on a barbeque, but if they're not labelled halal on the packet, he won't want to eat any.

help. lol

lol well other than the forbidden food such as pork, halal also determines whether the animal was slaughtered the correct islamic way or not. The only to slaughter a cow by giving it a quick and painless death is by slitting their throat. If pain was given to the animal before it was slaughtered then I guess the meat is considered non halal.

But anyways food like Kosher is considered as halal as far as I'm concerned.. but im not sure.

Halal meat or halal food with all its categories is described below. As usual, I referred to the most common online Islamic reference; IslamOnline. The topic of the article couldn't have been clearer, 'Eating Food Prepared by Non-Muslims':

Muslims are allowed to eat lawful foods prepared by anyone, whether they are Muslims or non-Muslims, this includes Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Jews, et cetera. This is a matter of common knowledge in Islam.

The foods that are considered as essentially unlawful for Muslims to consume have been stated in the following verse:

[He has forbidden to you only carrion, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that over which any name other than God's has been invoked; but if one is driven by necessity — neither coveting it nor exceeding his immediate need — no sin shall be upon him: for, behold, God is much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace.] (Al-Baqarah 2:173)

To the above is added intoxicants of all sorts as mentioned in the Qur'an (5: 90-91), any of the above items prepared by a non-Muslim or Muslim is unlawful for Muslims to consume.

Food such as vegetables, seafood, and meat (if slaughtered in a halal way) is lawful to consumed without any inhibition, regardless of whether the chef is a Muslim or non-Muslim and regardless of whether it is served by Muslims or non-Muslims.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), as well as his companions, used to drink water and eat foods prepared by their relatives and fellow countrymen who were mostly pagans in the early times. They only abstained from foods that were considered as unlawful such as carrion, foods immolated to idols, intoxicants, et cetera.

When the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ventured out of Arabia, they never refrained from eating foods prepared by the locals. They only stayed away from those foods which had been declared as haram.

In conclusion, Muslims are allowed to eat all foods that are considered lawful for us, whether they are prepared or served by Muslims or non-Muslims.

As you can see here, the main essential part is that the food is halal. If it's beef, it must be slaughtered in a halal way, otherwise, it is unlawful to a Muslim.

I hope that cleared out the issue :)

so, if the animal is given a stun, then slaughtered at the neck, (they stun the animal to stop it from thrashing about and hurting itself..), then hung for the blood to come out... that is halal?

What makes a slaughter halal? If it has not been prayed upon as it is slaughtered, is it still halal?

As my understanding the slaughter is halal only if it was prayed on correctly. We all know that Christians or Jews in a foreign country don't slaughter this way, so I would consider this meat haram and ALLAH knows best

A slaughter is halal if the name of the God of Abraham is mentioned while slitting the throat, or if it was slaughtered in His name.
If a Muslim, Christian or a Jew slaughters an animal without mentioning God's name (or didn't have the intention at least) then it is Haram!
I think it is called Kosher (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosher_foods) for Christians and Jews. Kosher food is Halal for Muslims

as i know if you dont know wether the food the halal or not you should simply say the name of god(bissmillah) before eating it
and god knows

A slaughter is halal if the name of the God of Abraham is mentioned while slitting the throat, or if it was slaughtered in His name.
If a Muslim, Christian or a Jew slaughters an animal without mentioning God's name (or didn't have the intention at least) then it is Haram!
I think it is called Kosher (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosher_foods) for Christians and Jews. Kosher food is Halal for Muslims
But, if it's not customary for Christians to mention God's name while slaughtering, how can food from "people of the book" we allowed?

In other words, slaughtering in the islamic way, is, well, exactly that - islamic. If christian food is allowed, what is the probability that it will be slaughtered the islamic way in the first place? (Islamic way such as the mentioning of God's name)... afaik, abattoirs and slaughterhouses are like a factory. With so many livestock to process, I highly doubt they pray when slaughtering. It's just a job dictated by Animal humane slaughtering laws and health and safety laws. If they do pray, then I am not aware of it.

Remember, that this isn't the times when people reared their own livestock and slaughtered them themselves. Much of today's food comes tinned, packed or frozen from huge facilities.

I read some time ago, that when a muslim is invited to dinner or on a plane, there is no need for him to ask if the food is halal (as long as it ain't pork or with alchy). He says Bismillah before he eats and that's all. (As yasirb said)

I haven't read a fatwa or something about that, I say bismillah in eat whether am in a muslim country or not :os
I'll look for that fatwa and come back! what you guys are saying makes sense to me tho.

In other words, slaughtering in the islamic way, is, well, exactly that - islamic. If christian food is allowed, what is the probability that it will be slaughtered the islamic way in the first place? (Islamic way such as the mentioning of God's name)... afaik, abattoirs and slaughterhouses are like a factory. With so many livestock to process, I highly doubt they pray when slaughtering. It's just a job dictated by Animal humane slaughtering laws and health and safety laws. If they do pray, then I am not aware of it.

Remember, that this isn't the times when people reared their own livestock and slaughtered them themselves. Much of today's food comes tinned, packed or frozen from huge facilities.


the butcher doesn't actually pray when he slaughters the cow. Rather he just says a short sentence something along the lines of "in the name of God...." Even during the eid where millions of sheep are slaughtered that day, the butcher always says it.

the butcher doesn't actually pray when he slaughters the cow. Rather he just says a short sentence something along the lines of "in the name of God...." Even during the eid where millions of sheep are slaughtered that day, the butcher always says it.
Yeah but if they say nothing? As in, your job is to prep and slaughter a cow every 6 minutes.. on a production line.. can you imagine? I highly doubt that it's carried out with that much 'passion' after a few months...

So basically, unless any other "god"'s name is mentioned, would it make a difference if nothing at all was said? (keeping in mind that this is a catholic country, not one with a majority of muslims or with muslim abattoires)

the point is, for a meat to be halal, it needs to be slaughtered (the blood has to come out) and it shouldnt be slaughtered for any idol or anyone but god.

the point is, for a meat to be halal, it needs to be slaughtered (the blood has to come out) and it shouldnt be slaughtered for any idol or anyone but god.
ok, I know this.. but what if it was slaughtered for no one? In no one's name? Slaughtered simply to end up as food on a table without religious connotations? Can't the person themselves say the prayer (Bismellah) at the table?

Dear Fengy,
This is one of the most debatable issue in the Muslim Fiqh, I have reviewed this issue two months ago and found out there is a wide gap among the different scholars and school of thought. Hanafi Muslims are the strictest about the issue and also Shia Muslim.
You can see this in the following, it is in Arabic:
20- ما حكم ذبائح أهل‎ ‎الكتاب من اليهود والنصارى وما يقدمونه من طعام في مطاعمهم ‏مع عدم العلم بالتسمية‎ ‎عليها؟‎
The question is answered by six scholars from different school of thoughts and countries, you can see the side difference in opinions.
Look at their answer of question 20.
http://www.fiqhacademy.org/fatawa.html

Dear Fengy,
This is one of the most debatable issue in the Muslim Fiqh, I have reviewed this issue two months ago and found out there is a wide gap among the different scholars and school of thought. Hanafi Muslims are the strictest about the issue and also Shia Muslim.
You can see this in the following, it is in Arabic:
20- ما حكم ذبائح أهل‎ ‎الكتاب من اليهود والنصارى وما يقدمونه من طعام في مطاعمهم ‏مع عدم العلم بالتسمية‎ ‎عليها؟‎
The question is answered by six scholars from different school of thoughts and countries, you can see the side difference in opinions.
Look at their answer of question 20.
http://www.fiqhacademy.org/fatawa.html
I really appreciate your help, but I can't read arabic.

Could you translate that please?

just take my advice n just say bissmillah before eating anything
thats it ! :XD:

I really appreciate your help, but I can't read arabic.

Could you translate that please?

:) Fengy, it is too long my mentor is writing a book on the issue, in English of course, if he will give me a free copy, I promise to scan it and send those pages to you. -:)
But here is the translation of the answer certified by the Islamic Academy based on the answers of the six scholars:

"The meat of an animal slaughtered according to the Islamic Code is acceptable even if the name of Allah is not mentioned, the Academy recommend further investigation on the issue in the next meeting."

If you are following a specific school of thought then this one might be far different from what your scholars think.

just take my advice n just say bissmillah before eating anything
thats it ! :XD:

hmmm Yassir, bismillah anyways but I do not think it is that simple.

The prophet asked us to avoid the ambiguous “Al-Shubuhat.”. It is always good to ask and make sure where we stand.

just take my advice n just say bissmillah before eating anything
thats it ! :XD:
can you call my husband and have a word with him then? LOL

:) Fengy, it is too long my mentor is writing a book on the issue, in English of course, if he will give me a free copy, I promise to scan it and send those pages to you. -:)
But here is the translation of the answer certified by the Islamic Academy based on the answers of the six scholars:

"The meat of an animal slaughtered according to the Islamic Code is acceptable even if the name of Allah is not mentioned, the Academy recommend further investigation on the issue in the next meeting."

If you are following a specific school of thought then this one might be far different from what your scholars think.
Thanks very much for your help. :)

I'll show that link to my husband.

ok, I know this.. but what if it was slaughtered for no one? In no one's name? Slaughtered simply to end up as food on a table without religious connotations? Can't the person themselves say the prayer (Bismellah) at the table?

if slaughtered by people of the book, then its automaticly considered Halal, even if it was for no one. This is what I understod from the verse in the Quran

"Then eat of that over which GOD's name has been pronounced, if you believe in His Revelations (118) And why do you not eat of that over which GOD's Name has been pronounced, when He has explained to you that which He has forbidden you, except if you are constrained to it. But surely many are led away by their caprices, out of ignorance, Indeed your Lord knows best of the transgressors (119)" Sura Al An'am

The key disagreement is that who is the people of the book? I am not sure but I don't think it refers to people who believe that Jesus is son of God?

"Then eat of that over which GOD's name has been pronounced, if you believe in His Revelations (118) And why do you not eat of that over which GOD's Name has been pronounced, when He has explained to you that which He has forbidden you, except if you are constrained to it. But surely many are led away by their caprices, out of ignorance, Indeed your Lord knows best of the transgressors (119)" Sura Al An'am

The key disagreement is that who is the people of the book? I am not sure but I don't think it refers to people who believe that Jesus is son of God?
People of the book, afaik, are Christians and Jews. So yes, it includes people who believe that Jesus was the son of God. (but still believe in one God) but let's not get into that argument...


--------------


thanks AP for your comment..

if anyone knows of a site that explains this, maybe in arabic for my husband, I'd really appreciate it.

^sure I don't want to get into that as well but that is "a" reason why some muslims don't eat food even if it was from Christians. Yes they do have one God but whos God? Is it the same God that muslims pray to? So islam says that its okay for muslims to eat food that other Gods' name where mentioned on? Are they refering to Unitirians? I have no idea.

Unless, the verse means that a muslims should say God's name on everything he/she eats, then its possible!

Never mind that anyhow, hope you get your answer.

^sure I don't want to get into that as well but that is "a" reason why some muslims don't eat food even if it was from Christians. Yes they do have one God but whos God? Is it the same God that muslims pray to? So islam says that its okay for muslims to eat food that other Gods' name where mentioned on? Are they refering to Unitirians? I have no idea.

Unless, the verse means that a muslims should say God's name on everything he/she eats, then its possible!

Never mind that anyhow, hope you get your answer.
yes, christians do believe in one God. It's confusing to non christians, but our first commandment is "There is one God and no other god except Him". And that God is the same god you pray to.

Even still, I do doubt that Christians mention anyone's name at all at a slaughtering. At least, I've never heard of it.

Kosher is a word used by Jews to relate to food that is prepared in the correct manner and food that is deemed okay to eat. It is not a word used by Christians.

^ True, it is a jewish word, but some christians recognize it I believe, the first time I ever heard this word was from a christian!
and Kosher food is considered halal

^^woow!! Now i feel that I take the religion so easily!! I tend to simplify things!!

I dunno i believe that is we were in a difficult position like lets say in fengy's husbandz possition God will want us to be practical!! I, for instance, study in a non-Muslim country, the Halal shop is so far and i dont have the time to go there!! I believe that God would want me to be practicaland make things simple thus, i eat non-Halal chicken n meat but say "bismelah" as yasrib said. I will howveer, make sure that it isnt pork or anything that Haram!! I think we should be more practical when being in a non-Muslim country or in a hard position!!

^ if there's a reliable fatwa then why not! Islam is the religion of simplicity :)

But you know Riyamino...
You'd get more reward if you actually bother to get the halal food instead of going the easy way, won't you think? I mean Fengy, isn't it possible that you take some of your Muslim friends and tell that butcher dude that you guys need some halal beef? Tell him that you'll buy it, so it won't cost him much! And hence you would've hit two birds with one stone: Got your beef and ensured it was halal! And as we said before all the butcher needs to say to make a cow halal is to say, 'Bismillah Allahu Akbar' or something of the sort before slaughtering it.

Threadlike!! so true!! its not only coz the halal shop is far but i cant... ma luv to fastfood is terrible!! i cant resist not eating burgers from BK or Mc!!

Another thing thats funny when i first went to NZ people were telling me that the meat all over NZ is halal. I was wondering why it would be halal and we aint in a muslim country. One of my friends told me that coz the meat is exported alll over the world so they slaughter it in a way that meats the Muslim's requirements. Instently, i was like "so u tryin to tell me that all the butchers in NZ are Muslims??" she was like "no, but they slaughter it removing all the blood but they dont mention God's name" This is tricky!! In this case is the meat Halal as they say?? or are the Muslims just fooling themselves?? at least i aint fooling myself ;)

But you know Riyamino...
You'd get more reward if you actually bother to get the halal food instead of going the easy way, won't you think? I mean Fengy, isn't it possible that you take some of your Muslim friends and tell that butcher dude that you guys need some halal beef? Tell him that you'll buy it, so it won't cost him much! And hence you would've hit two birds with one stone: Got your beef and ensured it was halal! And as we said before all the butcher needs to say to make a cow halal is to say, 'Bismillah Allahu Akbar' or something of the sort before slaughtering it.
A whole cow?

:hyper:

You must be out of your mind!! :p Here, my husband does that to simply slaughter a sheep! Now, imagine a cow! Where would we keep all that meat??

All I wanted was a fillet steak once in a while! :D ROFL

Or...

you could just buy the damn beef and say it was halal.

What he don't know won't hurt him.

:D

Or...

you could just buy the damn beef and say it was halal.

What he don't know won't hurt him.

:D
:hyper:

I don't have it in me to trick him .. I just can't bring myself to do that.

I can buy the beef and eat it myself... lol ... but the high fat content in lamb is really not good for him (or any of us for that matter) ... so I'm trying to find concrete evidence that he can infact eat our beef before I start nagging and ranting again. :hyper:

^ True, it is a jewish word, but some christians recognize it I believe, the first time I ever heard this word was from a christian!
and Kosher food is considered halal

The word Kosher is used by some people as a form of slang - I.E if we say that something is kosher we mean it is ok. It is not used in any other context - it does not (for Christians) relate to food preparation or the foods allowed to be eaten. For example: If some one asked me what i think about someone i may say 'Braiki, yes, he's kosher' ('yes, he's ok')

A whole cow?

:hyper:

You must be out of your mind!! :p Here, my husband does that to simply slaughter a sheep! Now, imagine a cow! Where would we keep all that meat??

All I wanted was a fillet steak once in a while! :D ROFL

I said take some of your friends too :mmhmm:
And hey, you wanna make an omlette, you gotta break some eggs. Some sort of money gotta be spent to have your halal beef...

And soon the matter would be out to the public Muslims :D

The word Kosher is used by some people as a form of slang - I.E if we say that something is kosher we mean it is ok. It is not used in any other context - it does not (for Christians) relate to food preparation or the foods allowed to be eaten. For example: If some one asked me what i think about someone i may say 'Braiki, yes, he's kosher' ('yes, he's ok')
okay thats something new to me, I learnt something new today! thank you :p

I said take some of your friends too :mmhmm:
And hey, you wanna make an omlette, you gotta break some eggs. Some sort of money gotta be spent to have your halal beef...

And soon the matter would be out to the public Muslims :D
yes but can you imagining having to buy a truck load of eggs to simply make an ommlette. A cow is huge. It would take many people to agree to buy a whole cow and it's usually hard to find just 3 people to share a sheep, can you imagine how hard it would be to find enough people to share a cow?

That's why the islamic butcher doesn't bring any beef. Because there isn't a market for it. It won't sell fast enough, and with one cow, you only have one liver, one heart, so much fillet and so much sirloin etc... and obviously, I don't want to buy all the rubbish bits. I want to walk into a butcher and choose to buy so much of this part of the animal and that's it. If the islamic butcher had beef and sold it this way, I have no problem with eating halal food myself. It doesn't make a difference to me. But the butcher doesn't have any.

If anyone could bring me a hadith or something concrete that explaines what one can do while in a foreign country, I'd appreciate it alot. :)

How about this one? (a bit long but it can answer your question). Its a response for someone who lives in the UK in a place where there is no halal meat;

In the first place, we would like to let you know that originally you should try your best to seek a halal store, and you will find that there are some stores which provide high quality halalmeat. If you have a deep freezer, you might purchase large quantities at one time from a distant shop so that you would have to travel there only a few times a year. You can contact the nearest Islamic center in this regard and they will surely guide you.

Here, we would like to stress that "Allah tells us in the Qur'an that we may eat of the good food of Christians and Jews. Therefore, unless there is a specific reason for the prohibition of a particular type of food prepared by such people, it is permissible to eat it.

In the case of Jews, they slaughter animals in the same way as we do. Christians, especially in Western Europe and America, have adopted different methods of slaughter. Scholars have different opinions on whether such meat is permissible for Muslims to eat. However, in such a matter there is no harm in choosing the easier option, since it is supported by sound arguments advanced by learned scholars.

A Muslim living in a non-Muslim country where the majority of the people are People of the Book (such as the UK) needs to familiarize himself with the methods of slaughter prevailing in that country. If he determines that the animals killed for eating are not dead before they are finally slaughtered (i.e., before the throat is cut), he may eat their meat after mentioning the Name of Allah. If he finds out that the stunning operation that is normally adopted in many of these countries actually kills the animal, he should not eat its meat.

In most cases, the large animals, such as sheep, cattle, etc. are only stunned by electric shock, which affects them for a short period while they are slaughtered. This is done in order to make the slaughter painless. That is acceptable from the Islamic point of view."

Excerpted with modifications from www.islamicity.com

Responding to the question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states the following:

"The question of meat slaughtered by the People of the Book has been a controversial issue among Muslim scholars. The vast majority of scholars from all of the four schools consider it permissible for us. They base this on the clear statement of the Qur'an: "Today, I have permitted for you all good things, and the food of the People of the Book is permissible for you, and your food is permissible for them." (Al-Ma’idah: 5)

According to Ibn `Abbas, the food of the People of the Book mentioned in the above verse refers to the meat slaughtered by them.

Based on this, the majority of scholars belonging to the four schools of thought consider it permissible for Muslims to eat animals slaughtered by the Christians and Jews so long as these animals are considered lawful for us to eat.

If you fall in this category of those who live among the People of the Book, then you may eat their meat, especially if you cannot find meat slaughtered by Muslims.

As for stunning the animal, it does not make the animal dead, for it is intended only to knock the animal unconscious so that it does not feel pain and it is brought under control. This itself does not render the animal impure and unlawful unless it is dead before slaughter.

My own experience with the slaughterhouses is that they do not make use of animals that are already dead before slaughter. Inspectors, who are appointed by the government (in countries such as Canada), do make sure that this is not the case.

As far as the wisdom of stunning is concerned, it is really in conformity with the wisdom established in the Prophetic hadith in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said, "Allah has prescribed excellence and compassion in all things, so when you kill, kill well; when you slaughter, slaughter well, and let him sharpen his knife and spare the animal pain."

In conclusion, we are definitely allowed to partake of such meat, especially if we do not find meat provided by Muslims."

Reference:
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1119503546926

Another one:


Question:
I have read several articles on what foods are halal and what foods are haraam. But when I go to a restaurant I still [doubt] if what I am eating is halal. I know that the meat needs to be slaughtered in the name of Allah, and it shall be done by the people of the book. Currently in the United States, the Christians and the Jews don't follow the true Bible and the Torah. The Christians call Isa (may Allah be pleased with him) the son of God. Is the meat cut by these people halal, can it be eaten?

Answer:

Al-hamdu lillah (praise be to Allah).al-hamdu lillah (all praise be to Allah). The Christians and the Jews of the People of the Book in our times are indeed those People of the Book that are mentioned in the texts of shari'ah in the Qur'an and sunnah, and they are the kuffar (unbelievers) of the Jews and Christians that existed at the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him). They are the people of the corrupted Torah and corrputed Injeel, as evidenced by the fact that Allah (swt) addressed them and named them "People of the Book" despite their being kuffar and their books being corrupted, as indicated in the following interpretations of the meanings of the aayaat:

Aala 'imran: 70:

O People of the Book! why do you reject the Signs of Allah, of which you are (yourselves) witnesses?

Al-maa'ida: 15:

O People of the Book! there has come to you Our Messenger, revealing to you much that you used to hide in the Book, and passing over much (that is now unnecessary): There has come to you from Allah a (new) light and a perspicuous Book.

Al-hashr: 2: (in regards to the Battle of Bani al-Nadeer):

It is He Who got out the Unbelievers among the People of the Book from their homes at the first gathering (of the forces)…

These kuffar among the People of the Book have certain abrogating qualities distinguishing them from the rest of the kuffar, by virtue of the fact that they are recipients of heavenly guidance and are people of previously revealed divine books—even though they corrupted them—unlike the remainder of the kuffar who have neither a previous book nor messenger, such as the Hindus, the Sikhs, the Buddhists, the communists, and others.

Because of this distinguishing quality, the shari'ah has specified special rulings particular to the People of the Book, and exceptions specific to them in some rulings, such as allowing marriage to the the chaste and virtuous (whether virgins or previously married) among their women and the permissibility of eating their slaughtered meat, as indicated in the following ayah (interpretation of the meaning):

Maa'ida: 5

This day are (all) things Good and pure made lawful unto you. The food of the People of the Book is lawful unto you and yours is lawful unto them. (Lawful unto you in marriage) are (not only) chaste women who are believers, but chaste women among the People of the Book, revealed before your time, when you give them their due dowers, and desire chastity, not lewdness, nor secret intrigues…

The preceding discussion is in regards to the general ruling with respect to slaughtered meat of the People of the Book; as for the specifics, the slaughtered meat of People of the Book can be one of several cases:

1. That he slaughters it via the known way specified by shari'ah and he speaks the name of Allah upon it. In this case there is no problem in the permissibility of eating it.

2. That he does not slaughter it by the way specified by shari'ah as is the case if he chokes it or electrocutes it until it dies or drowns it in water until it dies or kills it by a bullet, etc. In this case there is no doubt that eating it is forbidden since it is maita (meat of an animal that has died without properly being slaughtered) and Allah has forbidden it in the Qur'an (interpretation of the meaning): "… and forbidden unto you is maita…" (al-Maa'ida:3)

3. That he mentions the name of someone or something other than Allah upon it as he is slaughtering, such as the Messiah or otherwise. Likewise there is no doubt that the meat in this case is haraam, since it is among what has been dedicated to other than Allah, which is specifically forbidden in the ayah in surat al-Maa'ida: 3 (interpretation of the meaning): "Forbidden to you (for food) are: maita, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which has ben invoked the name of other than Allah; that which has been killed by strangling or by a violent blow…"

4. That we receive their meat and we don't know if it has been slaughtered properly or not. In this case the rule of thumb is that if we don't know the way of slaughter, the default is that it is permitted if it has been slaughtered by Muslims or Ahl il-Kitaab (Fatawa Islamiyya, Sheikh Abdel-Aziz Bin Baz, 3/404), as per the generally encompassing ayah (interpretation of the meaning) "and the food of the people to whom have been revealed the Book is permitted for you." (al-Maa'ida:5) If it becomes evident to us that they have not slaughtered it properly then it would not be permisible.

5. That we receive their meat and we don't know what they have mentioned upon it, and in this case likewise the preferrable and recommended opinion is the permissibility of eating it, as per the hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari via Aa'isha (may Allah be pleased with her) that some people said to the Prophet (peace be upon him) that a people come to them with meat which they do not know whether they have mentioned the name of Allah upon it or not. The Prophet replied "Mention the name of Allah upon it and eat it."



Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

The thing is if there are other halal options then better to avoide doubts and eat halal meat. Unless the person will die from hunger!

thanks for these links. :cute:


Icetea.. your final comment, if there are always halal options, then there would be no need for this part to exist:

"4. That we receive their meat and we don't know if it has been slaughtered properly or not. In this case the rule of thumb is that if we don't know the way of slaughter, the default is that it is permitted if it has been slaughtered by Muslims or Ahl il-Kitaab (Fatawa Islamiyya, Sheikh Abdel-Aziz Bin Baz, 3/404), as per the generally encompassing ayah (interpretation of the meaning) "and the food of the people to whom have been revealed the Book is permitted for you." (al-Maa'ida:5) "

I've repeatedly read that you believe that Islam is not meant to make your life more difficult. I would say not being able to eat in a restaurant or not eating anything but fish and chicken is making life rather difficult. Atleast for the wife who has to find enough different variations of cooking the same meat 365 days a year. :rolleyes:

Mrs.Fengy tell your husband to eat the beef and all other meats slaugthered by the people of the book ie.christians and jews as the brothers pointed out before and it's clearly mentioned in the holy Quran.

one thing he has to do before eating anything is to say "bismillah".

Plse tell your muslim husband there are more important things he must to strictly follow than bothering about eating halal beef:

1> pray five times a day in a mosque.

2> give zakat annualy.

3> fasting in the month of Ramadan.

4> going to Haj if he can afford it.

best regards.