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It is an absolute necessity to all Muslims to refrain
from Haraam and consume only Halaal food. When Haraam food is consumed it
increases the impurities of the Nafs and the presence of Haraam elements in the
body prevents the acceptance of Du'as in the Court of Almighty Allah.
On the ocassion of Hajj and Ziarat in which the Ibaadah of
Almighty Allah is the purpose of the journey, one should exercise Taqwa and
ensure at all costs that they acquire meat that is Halaal for eating. There is a
tendency for the Saudi Government to import meat from various companies in
Europe, America and Australia into Saudi Arabia. This meat is readily available
at a very much lower price that the locally slaughtered Halaal meat.
When the Saudi authorities are questioned about the source of
their meat and as to whether it is Halaal or not, they readily point to the
Halaal stamp which is supplied by the European slaughterhouses. The people
responsible for exporting such meat from their countries to Saudi Arabia are
usually Christians, who supply a Muslim local agent to put on a Halaal stamp
before the meat reaches Saudi Arabia. Saudi authorities accept this as Halaal
whereas Shar'an ruling is that meat prepared for Muslims by non-Muslims should
not leave the sight of a Muslim for even one second otherwise the meat becomes
Haraam.
It is our sincere appeal to all Hajees to refrain from
consuming meat imported from foreign non-Muslim countries whilst they are in
Saudi Arabia.
In our Feb./March 1998 issue of RAZA, Vol. 3 No. 2, we
published an article about the Saudi Government importing meat from various
companies in Europe, America and Australia into Saudi Arabia. In the article we
explained that when the Saudi authorities are questioned about the source of
their meat and as to whether it is Halaal or not, they readily point to the
Halaal stamp which is supplied by the European slaughterhouses. We also wrote
that the people responsible for exporting such meat from their countries to
Saudi Arabia are usually Christians, who supply a Muslim local agent to put on a
Halaal stamp before the meat reaches Saudi Arabia. Saudi authorities accept this
as Halaal whereas Shar'an ruling is that meat prepared for Muslims by
non-Muslims should not leave the sight of a Muslim for even one second otherwise
the meat becomes Haraam. We also appealed to all the Hajees, through the
article, to refrain from consuming meat imported from foreign non-Muslim
countries whilst they are in Saudi Arabia.
As a result of the article many Muslims became very upset
about what we wrote and even complained to some "theological" bodies about our
stand. Consequently, a very learned Sunni Aalim, Moulana Abdun Nabi Hamidi, who
is the Chairman of Sunni Ulama Council (Transvaal), attended a meeting that was
held before the Hajj season in Jeddah to discuss the issue of the time of
performing Qurbani according to the Hanafi Fiqah. The United Ulama Council, a
body comprising of leading Ulama organisations of South Africa, were also
present. At the same time, on behalf of the Raza Academy, Moulana Hamidi had a
discussion with the Head of Mu'assasa, Sheikh Adnan, a learned scholar and
dignitary of Saudi authority, on the issue of imported meat in Saudi Arabia.
Other Ulama present were too ready to point out that the Raza Academy published
an article on this topic asking Hajees to refrain from consuming imported meat
in that country.
Much to their surprise, Sheikh Adnan pointed out that the
meat that is being imported in Saudi Arabia is doubtful according to the
Shari'ah and the Shuyook, the Ulama and the pious Muslims of Saudi Arabia
refrain from consuming it. He also said that the general public is not so
conscious about this issue.
We would once again appeal to Hajees to refrain from
consuming imported meat in Saudi Arabia. Insha-Allah, the Raza Academy is
committed to serving the Muslim Ummah, and will continue informing the Muslim
public about Haqq (Truth), much to the distaste of some!
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