Butcher Haram or Halal?

Is this Halal Meat?

WELL, IS IT?

Thanks for your question about meat being Halal or Haram.
As Muslims, we are instructed to eat only Halal (permissable).

The problem is here in the West, we are not sure what the status of the meat is unless we slaughter if ourselves.

We are unique and Blessed by Allah, we still have all the
original information for understanding how to live according to
revelation from Above (Quran and Sunnah).

Allah says in His Recitation:
"But no, by your Lord, the can have no Faith, until they make you (Muhammad ﷺ) the judge in all matters of dispute between them, and find in themselves no resistans against your decisions, and accept with full submission.

ReciteQuran.com/4:65

1. "O you who believe! Fulfil (your) obligations. Lawful to you (for food) are all the beasts of cattle except that which will be announced to you (herein), game (also) being unlawful when you assume Ihram for Hajj or 'Umrah (pilgrimage). Verily, Allah commands that which He wills."

Let's us ask a few basic questions to get to our subject today:

What restricts our diet?
The Quran and prophet ﷺ laied out the restrictions many times.

2: What are the restrictions?
Answer: Everything is halal (permissible) except for those things that are specifically forbidden.

1. Swine or pork products of any kind (Quran)
2. Donkey meat (hadeeth narrated by Ali, in Sahih Al Bukhari)
3. Animals of prey (eagles, falcons, lions, tigers, bears, etc.)
4. Animals already dead
5. Animals dead of disease, old age, etc.
6. Dead from falling, breaking neck, etc.
7. Violent deaths
8. Animals killed by other animals
9. Animals partially eaten by other animals
10. Animals sacrificed to other gods than Allah

3: How are the animals to be slaughtered by Muslims?

1. Animal place on side, relaxed (if possible)
2. Very sharp knife (hidden from animal's view)
3. One quick slice of knife across throat
4. Mention Allah's Name (Bismillah)
5. Single, firm cut just at the knot on the neck
6. Do not break the neck
7. Allow to bleed until unconscious
8. Butcher only after animail is completely dead

4. Who is allowed to do the slaughtering and butchering? - Muslims, Jews and Christians (Ahl Kitab)

5. If a Jewish Rabbi slaughters it, is there anything else to be concerned about?

"No. This is all you need" - But if there is any real doubt, check with your local imam who has slaughtering experience.

6. What about Christians who might say, "In the Name of Jesus" during slaughtering? - 

Allah tells us in the Quran that we can eat their meat.

It is very doubtful any Christian is saying "Jesus" or "Trinity".

Even if they did it, but you didn't know about it, just say, Bismillah and eat it.

7. What about others who are not Christian or Jew?

If you know someone is not Christian or Jew, involved in the slaughter -- don't eat it.

If you know they offer meat as a sacrifice to some other God than Allah - don't eat it. 

If you doubt a Christian or Jew didn't slaughtered the meat, then don't eat it.

8. What about the meat in the grocery stores and fast food chains?

Remember the rule - "If in doubt - don't eat it" 
If you doubt about the religion of the one slaughtering - Don't eat!

Be careful of ground meat from regular stores.

If it does not say "Ground Beef" they mixed pork and other things in with the meat.

Some fast food restaurants have halal meat.

More and more we learn of Muslim owned shops.

Just ask for non-meat, vegetarian or halal sausage or bacon.

9. What about fish and seafood?

Everything from the sea is halal for us to eat.

Seafood has no special way to be slaughtered or butchered.

10. What about wild game? -

Whatever you shoot that dies as a result is halal.

If your hunting animal eats from it -- then it is haram to you.

11. What should a family do that lives in the West and halal is just not available in most places?

1. Form a group to buy from places selling it
2. Have a place (masjid?) to keep a freezer full of halal meat
3. Muslims pay to cover expences
4. Gather in Muslims homes, community centers, masjids and eat
5. Order halal (or kosher if Halal not available) at your local butcher shop or grocery store
6. Eat vegetarian meat substitutes
7. Eat fish etc.

Keep in mind, eating halal is a condition to have our prayers answered by Allah.