In The Name od Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

السؤال
هذه رسالة وردتنا من فرنسا، يقول ابنكم عبد الرحمن محمد العسيري فرنسا: هل يجوز لنا أكل اللحوم المذبوحة بغير الطريقة الإسلامية علماً بأنه لا يوجد في المطعم المخصص للغداء أثناء الغداء غيرها، فإن كان ذلك جائز لأنها من ذبائح أهل الكتاب فإني أعرف أنها لا تذبح، بل بطريقة الخنق أو إطلاق الرصاص عليها أو بمكائن خاصة؟

الجواب:
الشيخ: ذبائح أهل الكتاب حل لنا لقوله تعالى: ﴿وَطَعَامُ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ حِلٌّ لَكُمْ﴾. ولا يجوز لنا أن نسأل ولا يجب علينا أن نسأل كيف ذبحوها، وهل سموا عليها أم لم يسموا، بل إنه ليس من المشروع لنا أن نسأل؛ لأن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كما في صحيح البخاري سأله قوم فقالوا: يا رسول الله، إن قوماً يأتونا باللحم لا ندري أذكروا اسم الله عليه أم لا. قال: «سموا أنتم وكلوا». قال: حديث عهد بكفر. فدل هذا على أنه ليس من المشروع أن يسأل الإنسان عن ذبيحة من تحل ذبيحته كيف ذبحها؟ وهل سمى أو لم يسم؟ ثم إن النبي عليه الصلاة والسلام لما أهدت له اليهودية الشاة في خيبر أكل منها صلى الله عليه وسلم ولم يسألها كيف ذبحت، فليس من المشروع ولا من السنة أن يسأل الإنسان عن ذبيحة من تحل ذبيحته كيف ذبحها وهل سمى أم لم يسم؟ ولكن إذا تيقنت أن هذه الذبيحة المعينة التي قدمت لك ذبحت على غير الطريقة الإسلامية بأن ذبحت خنقاً أو بالرصاص أو بإلقائها في الماء الحار أو ما أشبه هذا مما ليس ذكاة شرعية فإنها لا تحل لك حينئذ كما لو ذبحها مسلم، فإنه إذا ذبحها مسلم بهذه الطريقة -والمسلم خير من اليهودي والنصراني بلا شك وأحب- فإنها لا تحل، فمن باب أولى إذا ذبحها اليهودي أو النصراني بغير الذكاة الشرعية أنها لا تحل. وإذا كان الذبح عند النصارى أو اليهود متنوعاً؛ يعني أن بعضهم يذبح بطريقة الخنق، وبعضهم بطريقة الذبح أو النحر فإنه يكون من المشكوك فيه هل هو من هؤلاء أو من هؤلاء؟ وحينئذ ينبغي للإنسان أن يتحرز منه؛ لأن طريقة الاحتياط في ترك الإنسان ما يريبه إلى ما لا يريبه خير وأولى وأحسن

Message Received From France:

Question : Your son Abdur Rahman Muhammad Al-Asiri says, “Is it permissible for us to eat meat slaughtered in a manner other than the Islamic way, knowing that there is no other restaurant designated for lunch during lunch time? Even though that is permissible because it is from the meat slaughtered by the People of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), however I know that it is not slaughtered, but rather it was done by way of strangulation, shooting or with specific machines?”

Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saaleh al-Uthaymeen [may Allaah have mercy upon him] responded: The meat slaughtered by the people of the Scripture is lawful for us due to the statement of Allaah [وَطَعَامُ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ حِلٌّ لَكُمْ – The food (slaughtered cattle, eatable animals, etc.) of the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) is lawful to you]. [Al-Maa’idah. Aayah 5]

Neither is it permissible for us to ask nor is it obligated on us to ask how they slaughtered them; and whether they uttered the name of Allaah over it or not; but rather it is not legislated for us to ask, because the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] – as reported in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree- was asked by a people, who said, “O Allaah’s Messenger! Some people bring us meat, but we do not know whether they mentioned the name of Allaah over it or not”. He said, “You mention (the name of Allaah over it) and eat”. [Al-Bukhaari 2057]

This shows that it is not legislated for a person to ask about the slaughtered meat of someone whose slaughtered meat is permissible (to eat) as to how he slaughtered it? And whether he did mention the name of Allaah over it or not? Moreover, when a Jewess gave a goat to the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] at Khaybar, he ate from it and did not ask her how it was slaughtered. Therefore, neither is it legislated nor is it from the Sunnah for a person to ask about the slaughtered meat of someone whose meat is permissible as to how he slaughtered it, and whether he mentioned the name of Allaah over it or not?

But if you are certain that this particular animal that was presented to you was slaughtered in a way other than the Islamic way, by strangulation, shooting, or by throwing it into hot water, or something similar to this, which is not the Islamic way, then it is not lawful for you; just as it is not lawful for you if a Muslim slaughtered it in this way- and the Muslim is undoubtedly better than the Jew and the Christian, and more beloved; then more so (i.e. unlawful) if a Jew or a Christian slaughtered it in manner other than Islamic way. And if the slaughtered meat of the Christians or Jews is varied -meaning, some of them kill (the animal) by strangulation, some by Dhabh [i.e. permissible slaughter at the top of the neck, such as what is done to cows, sheep, goats etc] and  Nahr [permissible slaughter at the bottom of the neck, such as what is done to camels], then indeed there is doubt in the affair as to whether it is from these or one of those? Then a person should be cautious, because the path of precaution for a person – in leaving what is doubtful for what is not doubtful – is better, more appropriate, and more excellent. [End of quote]

Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said:

Allaah [Glorified be He and free is He from all Imperfections] said:

الْيَوْمَ أُحِلَّ لَكُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتُ وَطَعَامُ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَابَ حِلٌّ لَّكُمْ وَطَعَامُكُمْ حِلُّ لَّهُمْ

The food (slaughtered cattle, eatable animals, etc.) of the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) is lawful to you and yours is lawful to them. [Surah Al-Maa’idah. Aayah 5]

This verse makes it clear to us that the food of the People of the Scripture is permissible for us- the Jews and Christians – unless we know that they slaughtered the animals that are permissible to eat in a way other than the Sharee’ah way, such as when they kill it by strangulation, electrocution, hitting the head, and so on, then it is considered a strangled animal or one beaten to death, and thus forbidden for us (to eat), just as an animal strangled and beaten to death by a Muslim is forbidden for us to eat. But if we do not know the reality (or true state of affairs), their slaughtered animal is permissible for us based on the noble verse. As for the fact that they do not mention the name of Allaah on the animal, this is due to their ignorance, and it does not hinder the lawfulness of their slaughtered (animals), just as if a Muslim forgets to mention the name of Allaah, or is ignorant of its ruling at the time of slaughter. [An Excerpt from Majmoo Al-Fataawaa 7/23]

Also visit: The meat of the Muslims, Jews and Christians: Ahlul-Kitāb: Halāl and Harām in Islam (Islam 4.3): https://abukhadeejah.com/the-meat-of-the-muslims-and-the-meat-of-the-jews-and-christians-halal-and-haram-islam-4-3/