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:

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh Brother.

I am writing to you today because I had a question about the term "zabiha". One of my fellow muslim classmates told me about this term yesturday in which he explained that "Zabiha" is a belief in which individuals pray a duah before eating food ( i.e. big mac or other non-halal foods). I didn't know what to say to this and I was wondering if you could please comment about this and maybe there is something I can learn as well as teach others. I really appreciate your time.

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Answer:

Meaning of Zabiha

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 none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Although the Arabic term ‘dhabhihah’ would literally mean ‘to slaughter’; when used in the Islamic terminology it would mean to duely slaughter a lawful animal in the manner prescribed by the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws).

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verses 3-4:

3 Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been invoked the name of other than Allah, that which hath been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by being gored to death; that which hath been (partly) eaten by a wild animal; unless ye are able to slaughter it (in due form); that which is sacrificed on stone (altars); (forbidden) also is the division (of meat) by raffling with arrows: that is impiety. This day have those who reject faith given up all hope of your religion: yet fear them not but fear Me. This day have I perfected your religion for you completed my favor upon you and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. But if any forced by hunger with no inclination to transgression Allah is indeed Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.

4 They ask thee what is lawful to them (as food): say: Lawful unto you are (all) things good and pure: and what ye have taught your trained hunting animals (to catch) in the manner directed to you by Allah; eat what they catch for you but pronounce the name of Allah over it: and fear Allah; for Allah is swift in taking account.

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.

Thus the flesh of animal to be considered as ‘dhabhihah’ or duely slaughtered, the following basic criteria have to scrupulously honored:

1.      The animal itself in its essence should be halaal in Shariah. (Swine, land animals with fangs, or birds who hunt with claws, etc. are unlawful)

2.      The animal should have been alive at the time of its slaughter.

3.      The one who slaughters the animal must either be a Muslim, or a Jew or a Christian. If any other person slaughters the animal, it will not be considered halaal.

4.      The animal has to be slaughtered in a manner that the blood should be oozed out naturally from its neck veins.

5.      No name other than the Name of Allah Subhanah should have been pronounced at the time of slaughter.

Your Question: One of my fellow muslim classmates told me about this term yesturday in which he explained that "Zabiha" is a belief in which individuals pray a duah before eating food ( i.e. big mac or other non-halal foods).

If the food is ‘haraam’ or unlawful in its essence (flesh of swine, or of a dog, or a tiger, or an eagle, etc.), or if any of the above listed conditions are violated during its time of due slaughter or ‘dhabhihah’……it does not matter if one recites the whole of the Glorious Quran, that food would remain ‘haraam’ and unlawful for the believers to consume!

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of being led astray.

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan