Question:
Assalaamu aleykum wr wb. At the beginning of Surah Al-Maeda, Allah Almighty says “The food of the People of the Book is lawful unto you and yours is lawful unto them.” Does this mean we can eat meat sold by People of the Book and therefore eat meat served in countries such as USA, UK, Germany, Greece, etc? I see many Arabs eating/buying meat from McDonalds, and other fast food restaurants so would like your guidance on this ayah please. I have been told we can eat this meat as long as we say Bismillah before consuming it. I have also been advised that to make something unlawful that Allah Almighty has made lawful is a big sin. Jazakallah Khairan
Answer:
wa `alaykum salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakutuh,
There are different diverging opinions on this issue and it is complex to discuss on this forum for the time being. Based on their ijtihad, some scholars say “no you may not” and some say “yes, you may.” This is a summary of the opinions of scholars and it is your choice, either way.
One group of scholars say it is not acceptable because it is slaughtered by a non-Muslim while the other group of scholars says it is permissible because of that verse you mentioned, so as long as it is slaughtered by cutting the jugular veins and carotid arteries of both sides but leaving the spinal cord intact, not shot or hanged, and as long as you didn’t hear the one slaughtering say, “I slaughter this as a sacrifice to Jesus” or to any other diety. It must be for Allah alone. If you didn’t hear them say it is for other than Allah and if it is not killed improperly then it is permissible. This fatwa was issued by Shaykh Yusuf al-Qardawi and that is why many Arabs eat that meat.
If you ask me, however, I say I like to eat Islamically-slaughtered meat. You will not be able to convince me otherwise. I will say “I am sorry but this is my belief.” That means if no halal meat is available, then there is no need to eat meat, period!
w’Allahu `alam.
Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani
