The issue concerning the meat from the people of the book has been an issue which has caused concern especially for the Muslims living in the west. Many of the Muslims are confused with regards to the permissibility of eating their meat and the rulings connected to that. We have found many of the people spreading different statements from the scholars in this time but we have found little or no principles written in this issue in the English language. For this reason we have gathered in this small treatise some of the rulings laid down by the greatest scholars from our pious predecessors as well as the noble scholars of our time. May Allah (the most high) shower them with His mercy and forgiveness. I pray Allah (the most high) accepts this effort in clarifying this issue and guides myself and anyone who reads it to that which pleases him. Ameen.
Abu Junaide Yusuf Bowers
Part 1
Who are the people of the book?
The people of the book are those who ascribe themselves to the religion of the Jews and the Christians whether they were born into it or they embraced the religion.
Where does Allah (the most high) allow the Muslims to eat their meat?
Allah (the most high) says: {This day we have made lawful to you all types of good (food) and the food (slaughtered meat) which come to you from the people of the book (Jews & Christians) is lawful for you just like your food is lawful for them.)
Al Maaidah 5/5
What is said about the meaning of this ayat?
Ibn Abbas, Mujahid, Saeed ibn Jubair and other than them (may Allah be pleased with them) said:
"This refers to their food and their slaughtered meat."
At- Tabari & Ibn Katheer (declared sound)
Is there wisdom behind this allowance?
Ibn Katheer (may Allah have mercy on him) says
"This ruling has total agreement amongst the scholars which is that the slaughtered meat of the Jews and Christians is permissible for the Muslim. This is because they (the Jews & Christians) hold it forbidden to slaughter for other than Allah and they do not mention any other name upon their slaughtered animals except for the name of Allah. This is because they hold the consummation of meat slaughtered for other than Allah to be strictly forbidden...."
Furthermore he says
"....Because Allah the most high made it permissible to eat the meat of The Jews & The Christians this does not mean it is permissible to eat the meat which Allah (the most high) name was not mentioned upon when being slaughtered. This (allowance) is because the Jews & the Christians mention the name of Allah (the most high) upon their slaughtered meat and they hold this as a part of their religion and a way of drawing close to Allah (the most high). For this reason Allah (the most high) did not allow the consummation of the meat of their (the Jews & the Christians) enemies from the people of idolatry and those who resemble them because they (the idolaters) did not mention Allah (the most high) upon their slaughtered animals...."
Tafseer Ibn Katheer vol 3 pg36-37 Shabi Edition
Ibn Jawzee says
"...that which is correct is the allowance for the consumption of their slaughtered meat is general because the origin with the Jews and Christians is that they mention the name of Allah (the most high) upon their slaughtered meat."
Tafseer Ibn Al Jawzee vol 2 pg296
Imaam Sadi says
"This is because the Jews & Christians connect themselves to the Prophets and the Books (previously revealed) and all the prophets were in total agreement in the forbiddance of slaughtering for other than Allah (the most high) because this is Shirk. So it is a part of their religion that it is forbidden to slaughter for other than Allah (the most high) and this is why their meat was made permissible for the Muslim as opposed to the meat of the other religions."
Tafseer Sadi vol 2 pg247
Are there any conditions specified for the meat consumed by the Muslims?
Yes, we find the scholars have laid down a number of conditions which must be present for slaughtered meat to become permissible for The Muslim
What does Shaykh Salih Al Uthaymeen (May Allah shower him with mercy) say?
The Noble Shaykh said The first condition for slaughtering
At Tasmiyah (mentioning Allah's name over the animal at the time of the slaughter)
We have mentioned previously the differences between the scholars with regards to its ruling. The Tasmiyah is said when you intend to carry out the action not when you unsheathe the knife or when you place the arrow within the bow or when you load the rifle but rather at the time when you will carry out the action.
The second condition of slaughtering
The releasing of blood so that it flows out. This should be done firmly and will not be truly completed until the jugular vein is cut.
The third condition for slaughtering
It is a must that the slaughterer has a sound state of mind and full comprehension and is not insane or lacking in comprehension otherwise his slaughtering will become invalid even if he says the Tasmeyah. This is because a sound intention cannot be established for the person who is insane or lacks full comprehension.
The forth condition of slaughtering
The slaughterer must either be a Muslim, Jew or a Christian. The issue of the Muslim is clear but as for The Jew & the Christian Allah (the most high) says {This day we have made lawful to you all types of good (food) and the food (slaughtered meat) which come to you from the people of the book (Jews & Christians) is lawful for you just like your food is lawful for them}. ( Al Maaidah 5/5
Should the conditions of the slaughtered meat of The Jew & the Christian comply with the conditions of the slaughtered meat of The Muslim?
The Noble Shaykh Salih Al Uthaymeen (May Allah shower him with mercy) says
In this issue there are two positions
The first position
The position of the majority of the scholars which is no doubt the blood of the slaughtered animal of The Jews and The Christians has to flow just as the blood of the slaughtered animal of The Muslim has to flow.
The second position
The position of The Maliki school of thought which is whatever The Jews & The Christians consider as slaughtering then we accept it as slaughtering even if they strangle (the animal to death). This is because of the generality of the ayat where Allah (the most high) says {... and the food (slaughtered meat) which comes to you from the people of the book (Jews & Christians) is lawful for you...} ( Al Maaidah 5/5 So if this Meat is present with them then it is permissible.
The shaykh continues
But we say in refutation to this The ayat where Allah (the most high) says {... and the food (slaughtered meat) which comes to you from the people of the book (Jews & Christians) is lawful for you...} Is general and is restricted by the saying of The Prophet (May peace be upon him) who said
"That which releasing the blood until it flows out and Allah (the most high) name is mentioned upon it then eat that....."
Saheh Al Bukari 5509 & 1968
So if this is a condition for the slaughtered meat of The Muslim, and The Muslim is better than The Jews & the Christians then it being a condition for The Jew & the Christian goes without saying And this is the truth.
Sharh al mumti vol 7 pg485-489
Imaam Sadi (commenting on the saying of The Prophet) (may peace and blessings be upon him)
"That which releasing the blood until it flows out and Allah (the most high) name is mentioned upon it then eat that....." Says
"Indeed the conditions of the slaughtered meat is A. To release the blood of the slaughtered animal at the place of slaughter. B. The slaughterer must be a Muslim, Jew or Christian. C. Allahıs name must be mentioned upon the slaughtered animal (At Tasmeyah)"
abu.junaide
11-02-2009 @ 11:05 PM
25-09-2010 @ 9:54 PM