Halaal poultry

[Hafiz Yakub Ashrafi]

Assalaamu-alaikum.

Please could you tell me what the Ulema say on the following method of slaughtering chickens: Chickens are cut by machine--95000 chickens are cut in 24 hours, which means less than one second per chicken.

Only Takbir-Allah is read on each chicken and each chicken is touched by the person reciting the Takbir.

Is this method of slaughtering considered to be Halaal? Here some Ulema say it is Halaal and some do not accept it as Halaal.

Please guide us in this very important matter. May Allah bless you through the waseela of His Beloved Habib salelahu alayhi wasalam.

Please reply A.S.A.P.
Jazakallah.

From Hafiz Yakub Ashrafi

[Imam]

Bismillahir RahmanirRahim

Wa’laykum 'Assalaam


It is necessary to say the words ‘Bismillahi Allahu Akhbar’ when slaughtering an animal. Because of the number of consumers of chicken, and fulfilling orders of shops and markets, vasts amount of chickens are slaughtered, and in order to read ‘Bismillahi Allahu Akhbar’ on all the chickens would be impossible, therefore reducing the number in the order, and for everyone who eats chicken.

In durr-e-Mukhtar, there is mention of that if two goats were laid on top of one another, and takbir was read once as they were slaughtered, then both goats would be rendered halal. This seems to be the justification, of rendering halal, thousands of chickens that are slaughtered under a single blade, yet the takbir is only read once, but the takbir must be read by the person who is operating such machinery, and that he be one of the people of the book ie. Muslim. However there does remain some difference of opinion in this.

In a country where the governments rules and regulations prevents one from slaughtering animals at home, and also threaten the closure of Muslim slaughterhouses, because of the rights that they give to the animals, then in such instances, it is the Muslims who become compelled, constrained, and helpless due to such regulations, then it is they who have to resort to alternative means of halal consumption. The above is a classical example of this, of having to slaughter thousands of chickens at once, which may also comply with the governments regulations. However, this does not mean that the traditional method is lost, and that we are all eating haram food. It simply means that Islam provides an alternate technique, yet the method and the tradition still remains the same. The takbir remains the same, and the person who is slaughtering an animal, he is also a Muslim.


Ma'assalam

M Waseem Ashrafi

[Hafiz Yakub Ashrafi]

Assalaamu-alaikum.Jazakallah for your reply. One more question on this topic: the chickens are cut by a blade and sometimes the chicken is cut by the throat and sometimes it is cut by the back of the neck as it may move just before cutting.Is this acceptable-halaal ?
Salaams.Hafiz Yakub Ashrafi.

[Imam]

Bismillahir Rahamnir Rahim

Wa’laykum as-Salaam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakaatuhu,


The chicken which is cut at the back of the neck is not halaal if the four veins that are on the foreside of the neck bone are not cut. The cutting of these veins is what makes the animal halaal, by reading the takbir. The four veins are known as ‘halqum’ (breathing vein), ‘marri’ or ‘murri’ (eating and drinking vein), and two veins on either side of these known as ‘dawjayn’ (in which the blood flows). It has been unanimously decided that if three of the four veins are cut, then the animal will become halaal. (‘aalamghiri)

What also is of importance is the placement of the chickens, as when they are not slaughtered with a machine, then traditionally sometimes, the legs are tied, the horns are held, it is laid down on its right side etc in cases of other animals. These methods are so that the animal goes through minimal pain. It would therefore be anticipated that importance is given to any animal, whether chickens, turkeys, lamb, or sheep, that it is held in a firm position and slaughtered correctly so that any consumption by the Muslim will undoubtedly be halaal, and methods are not rushed so that doubts arise to whether a slaughtered animal is halaal or not.


Wallaho a’lamo bithawaab.


M. Waseem Ashrafi