Machine-cut Chicken

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Beneficent.

All creation is the property of Allah.


Recently, I was asked the question about machine cut chicken. If it is halal to consume the chicken meat that is cut by machines. I was amazed that muslims are still not sure about halal food. Why is it so difficult for us to figure this out? It is not rocket science as some old men have made it to be.

It is very easy to decide if a food is halal, and a muslim should learn this from childhood. There should be no difference of opinion in this, as it has been made so clear. As an evidence, I will show you that a person like me who has no "ijaza" certificate can also figure this out.

Following is a very detailed article which provide a well thought of opinion. It is precise, but not accurate.

http://hma.jucanada.org/mechanical_slaughter.aspx/user_submission_system/machine-slaughtered_meat

This person makes the case that machine cut chicken are completely halal, except for the rate of the pronounciation of the name of Allah. Argument is that if the name of Allah is not said before every slaughter, it is not halal anymore. Lets examine that.

"So when you recite the Qur'an, [first] seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the expelled [from His mercy]." (Quran 16:98)

Above verse makes it obligation for Muslims to seek refuge in Allah before reading quran. So, does that mean we need to do that before every verse of the reading or before every chapter? Does the Imam read that before every Surrah during Taraweeh, or just at the begining of Rakat is enough? Of course not, once at the begining of the recitation is enough.

"O you who believe! When you intend to offer As-Salât (the prayer), wash your faces and your hands (forearms) up to the elbows..." (Quran 5:6)

Another example. Above verse command us that when we stand for the salat, we should make wudu. So, does that mean if you make wudu in Maghrib, you are not allowed to pray Isha in the same wudu? Of course, you can pray  in the same wudu, as long as there has been no interruption to break the state.

Similarly, when a person switch on the machine in the Name of Allah, the intention is to cut all the chicken with Allah's name. Requiring a person to repeat utterance for every single cut is splitting hairs. There is no place in Islam for undue-burden.

In the above fatwa, case is made that if one forgets to say Allah's name, it is still halal because of the intention. Similarly, if one is turning the machine on with Allah's name, it is sufficient.

I know that many still doubt what I say here, and they will stick to their religions based on their four saints, who seems to have more weight in their life then Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Allah will judge them for their sincerity. If they sincerily foolish enough to beleive that 100 years after Prophet's death one Imam explained the religion for them, which Prophet (PBUH) couldn't do himself, but 1300 years after that Imam, there is no debate, then Allah may forgive them. If they do taqleed, because they think it is a religion, they have gone astray.

For the 73rd group who is willing to listen, if a person tells you that something is halal, and that person understand what it means to be halal, you are not obligated to research, unless someone brings you evidence otherwise. Also, if you have a doubt that the other opinion may be correct, then you should not consume that meat, because the intention is more important than the action.

Although it is easy to figure out what is halal and what is haram, it is vital that we are not supressing our doubts for financial gains or personal conveniences.

Once again, following 3 conditions are required on meat to be halal. Meat from publix and McDomalds is haram.

1- Animal slaughtered with permission of Allah
2- The animal is not prohibited in Quran and Sunnah
3- Blood has oozed out

No, meat from christian stores are not halal, because they are not slaughtering according to their book anymore.  Kosher is halal, since they still meet the requirements.

Again, we cook machine cut meat at my home, and will serve you that, so if you eat from my home, it will be halal. Alhamdulilah!

And Allah knows best.

JazakAllah Khairin

A no non-sense Muslim
AbuArman