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"Zabiha" or "slaughter" by a non-Muslim is Haraam and
falls within the laws of carrion or dead meat. To consume the Zabiha of a
non-Muslim is like eating swine. Any animal that has been slaughtered by a
non-Muslim is regarded as carrion and as a "major impurity" or
"Najaasat-e-Ghaliza". It is not permissable to consume such an animal or touch
it. The only circumstances under which it can be touched is to throw it away.
This law applies in the case of non-Muslims. But it also be
known that if a Muslim does not say "Bismillah" when slaughtering an animal,
then such and animal is also considered to be Haraam. The law concerning meat is
so strict that even if the meat leaves the sight of a Muslim into the care of a
Kaafir at any time after slaughtering till the time of consumption, then such
meat cannot be eaten and is said to be Haraam. But, if one has a trustworthy
non-Muslim servant who you know without doubt will not allow any contamination
in your meat, then it is allowed to send him to a well-recognised Muslim butcher
to purchase your meat in your absence.
Likewise, to buy or consume meat or chicken from any shop or
poultry farm where it is known that there are non-Muslim slaughterers, is also
Haraam and a sin. If a Muslim gives meat to non-Muslim staff to be sold, then it
is also Haraam to purchase such meat even though he says that it was slaughtered
by a Muslim. Muslims should be very particular in these circumstances. It is
better to buy live chickens, slaughter, clean and separate the pieces yourself.
Muslim women could rather have their Muslim workers clean and make pieces of the
chicken. There should not be any problem in this, since their Muslim maids, do
all the other household chores.
If all these are not possible, then one should make the
following conditions with the butcher who sells chickens:
- Only Muslims must do the slaughtering,
- A Muslim must clean and cut the chicken into portions,
- A Muslim must deliver the chickens to the stores,
- A Muslim must do the home deliveries and should make it
clear that the chicken did not go into the care of a Kaafir or out of the sight
of a Muslim from the time of slaughter till the time it was delivered to be
consumed.
Another simple method is to send a Muslim to the farm,
instructing him to personally slaughter and clean the chicken, and then have it
brought to you.
To separate Haraam from Halaal in our food products is Fardh
(obligatory) upon each one. Negligence in this case will result in a number of
problems for a person in this world and in the Hereafter. The Punishment of
Almighty Allah and the Fire of Jahannum (Hell) awaits that person who eats
Haraam things. Such a person will be faced with two major calamities in the
Duniya: his Duas will not be accepted and he will become disgraced and insulted
even though he may be a millionaire or the King of his time. (The Ashrafia
Monthly, Vol. 20 No. 4, April 1995)
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