Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear Brothers

As Salaam O Alaikum

May Allah bestow his mercy upon you and reward you for your great service to the community. I have a question if you would answer it in the light of references from authentic sources.

Allah (ST) says in Quran that (meanings) “forbidden are to you dead (meat of animals), blood, meat of swine and that on which the name of other than Allah has been called”

Now the question is what about those slaughters where no name has been called. (Especially chicken which is slaughter by machines)?

1- Can we call name of Allah (Bismillah-er-Rahma-nir-Raheem) before eating?

2- What about other meats slaughter by hand yet no name is called?

I recall I read somewhere that on one occasion some kind of meat was brought in front of the prophet SAW. Someone objected and placed doubt that the name of Allah may have not been called before slaughtering the animal. The prophet SAW stopped him and advised to take the name of Allah now and eat. He SAW ate as well. Please correct me if it is not authentic reference.

I would appreciate your detail answer on the subject.

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Answer:

Slaughter haraam halaal meat name

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: Now the question is what about those slaughters where no name has been called. (Especially chicken which is slaughter by machines)?

Can we call name of Allah (Bismillah-er-Rahma-nir-Raheem) before eating?

2- What about other meats slaughter by hand yet no name is called?

There is absolutely no harm if the chicken or any halaal animal is slaughtered by a machine or hands, provided the person who operates the machine is either a believer or a Jew or a Christian. If a person from either of these faiths operates the machine forgets, or has not pronounced the name of Allah Subhanah, the food will still be considered halaal for the believers.

But if the person who slaughters by hand or while operating the machine that slaughters the animal, calls upon any name other than Allah Subhanah, then even if the person is a muslim, such food will not be considered halaal for the believers.

If the animal is in its essence ‘halaal’ and is subsequently slaughtered by a muslim, a Jew, or a Christian; one may declare ‘Bismillaah’ and consume the halaal food.

But if the animal is haraam in its essence, or the animal is dead before it is slaughtered, or the person who slaughters the animal calls upon any deity other than Allah Subhanah; then even if a muslim slaughters this animal, it will not be considered halaal food for the believers. And when the food is ‘haraam’, simply declaring ‘Bismillaah’ at the time of eating does not make it halaal.

Your Question: I recall I read somewhere that on one occasion some kind of meat was brought in front of the prophet SAW. Someone objected and placed doubt that the name of Allah may have not been called before slaughtering the animal. The prophet SAW stopped him and advised to take the name of Allah now and eat. He SAW ate as well. Please correct me if it is not authentic reference.

Al-Muwatta Hadith 24.1

Yahya related to me from Malik from Hisham ibn Urwa that his father said, "The Messenger of Allah (saws) was asked, ' O Messenger of Allah! Some people from the desert bring us meat, and we do not know whether the name of Allah has been mentioned over it or not.' The Messenger of Allah (saws) said, 'Mention the name of Allah over it and eat.' "

Imam Malik in his comment on the above authentic hadith says, "That was in the beginning of Islam."

Beloved brother in Islam, the above hadith is indeed considered authentic; but one must understand that the Messenger of Allah (saws) allowed this in the beginning when the precise Aayahs of the halaal and the haraam foods were not yet revealed.

Subsequently when the Aayahs in Surah Anaam 145 and Surah Maidah 3 were revealed declaring the exact nature of what makes the meat halaal, then the believers were required to follow the exact injunctions of the Glorious Quran in determining the haraam from the halaal.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan