Question
I just need to clear some confusion. You have quoted a verse of the Holy Qur’ān telling that if Allah’s name is not invoked, then the animal is not permissible for us to eat. It works for me. But there are certain schools of thought that allow eating American chicken on the grounds that the electric shock doesn’t kill it and when it’s slaughtered, blood is drained. Certain Islamic websites and some scholars agree and I have seen people reading it and then eating the chicken. According to them beef is not allowed for whatever the reasons. Or is it that animals are properly slaughtered in nobody’s name and the blood drains out completely and thus they grant it permissible, and so I simply end up being more confused!!!!
Answer
Some scholars have the opinion that if blood drains from the animal this suffices and the name of God can be pronounced when one wants to eat the meat (rather than at the time of slaughtering). I think those Islamic websites are following this view.
Majority of the scholars (including Mr. Ghamidi) however have the view that the Name should be pronounced at the time of slaughtering. According to these scholars therefore, it is not permissible to eat from the meat you referred to unless the name of God is pronounced at the time of slaughtering (and assuming that the blood drains out). I found this view to be closer to the directives of the Qur’ān. The Qur’ān says: “And do not eat from the meat of animals on which God’s name has not been pronounced.” (6:121)
Answered by: Farhad Shafti
Date: 2015-03-28
