About Pronouncing God’s Name While Slaughtering

July 10, 2024

2 min read 2 min

Question

Me and my wife live in Norway and like so many Muslims in the west we also face the issue of halal food/meat several times in our daily lives. Our question is about the verse 6:121 and its practical implications. The first sentence of the verse, as translated by Mohammad Asad, says: Hence, eat not of that over which Gods name has not been pronounced: for this would be sinful conduct indeed.”

We would be very great full to know you opinion on each of the following four aspects.

1. Firstly what is the subject of the verse? Is it a general verse and concerns every thing we eat or does it only concerns meat.

2. Secondly what does it mean to pronounce God’s name?

3. Thirdly who is to pronounce God’s name?

4. Fourthly when is it to be pronounced?

– Slaughter

– Eat

– Any time before eating

Answer

In line with the verses that come later in the chapter (145, 146) the verse is only about meat.

It means what it the directive literally says, that is, to mention the name of God when slaughtering the animal.

Naturally this needs to be one who believes in God and normally it has to be the one who slaughters the animal.

As mentioned above, it has to be when slaughtering the animal. The understanding that pronouncing of the name can be while or before eating is not inline with the wording of the verse (the passive verb that is used for ‘pronouncing’). Also this understanding does not fit with a related verse that comes earlier, i.e. verse 119. It does not make any sense to consider verse 119 to refer to any point of time other than when slaughtering the animal.

Answered by: Farhad Shafti

Date: 2015-03-23