Mechanical Slaughtering

Egypt's Dar Al-Ifta

Mechanical Slaughtering

Question

1- Chickens are hung upside down on a moving conveyer belt before slaughter; although they are shackled, the birds are still able to move their heads and wings.
2- Two machines are used for slaughter: The first subdues the birds by temporarily submerging them in electrically charged water tanks. This pre-slaughter process merely immobilizes the birds including their heads and wings; the birds neither drown nor die. Next, they are conveyed to an automated extremely sharp blade designed to cut their throats without completely severing their heads.
3- A cassette recorder, fixed above the slaughter machine, will play "In the name of Allah, Allah is the Greatest" [Ar.Bismillah-Allahuakbar] several times.
Does this method of slaughter conform to Islamic law [Ar. Shari'ah] and what is the ruling for it?

Answer


The majority of jurists maintain that it is permissible to slaughter an animal with any tool, except for a nail or tooth, that causes blood to gush out from its body and which severs the jugular veins. This is because the Prophet said: "If the tool, other than a nail or a tooth, used to slaughter an animal causes its blood to gush out and the name of Allah is mentioned, then eat [from the slaughtered animal]" [Reported by Al-Bayhaqi and Abu Dawud, may Allah be pleased with them].

Based on this, if the bird is not slaughtered and resumes its vitality after being electrically stunned, it is permissible to use this method and eat from the meat of this animal after slaughtering it. If the birds are not slaughtered after passing through the electrically charged water tank, but die from the effect of stunning, then they are considered unslaughtered animals which are prohibited to eat in Islam.

The Ruling
This method of slaughter is permissible according to the Islamic law if:
- If it is certain that the electrically charged water will not kill the birds nor cause blood to gush out from them
- The birds are slaughtered when they pass through the second machine.
Allah Almighty knows best.

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