Food of the Ahlul Kitaab

Is It Permissible To Eat Meat Slaughtered By The People Of The Book?

Allah Taala says in the Noble Quran:

'Today I have made permissible for you pure things and the food of those who were given the Book (Ahlul Kitaab) is also Halal for you'. (Surah Al-Maa'idah: Ayat 4)

Overtly the above ayat reads that the Zabeeha (slaughter) of the Ahlul-Kitaab is permissible, but the fundamental principle must be understood in order to understand the Qur'an i.e.

One part of the Quran explains the other.

Therefore, this verse should be understood in the light of another verse relating to the same matter:

"Do not eat unless Allah's name has been taken and this (not taking Allah's name) practice is transgression" (Surah Al-An'aam: Ayat 121)

While the former verse explicitly states that the Zabeeha of the Ahlul Kitaab is permissible and the latter says, 'Do not eat unless Allah's name has been mentioned.' In the light of both these verses, it is understood that the Zabeeha of the Ahlul Kitaab is permissible only if the name of Allah is mentioned at the time of slaughter.

In the past, the Ahlul Kitaab used to mention Allah's name when slaughtering an animal, therefore, their Zabeeha was also halal for Muslims. It is for this same reason that an animal slaughtered by the Mushrikeen, etc. is not permissible.

In contrast, the Ahlul Kitaab of today are recognised by name, but less faith. There is no guarantee that they take the name of Allah/God when slaughtering an animal. Furthermore, they cannot be trusted anymore in matters pertaining to Halal-Haram. So there is uncertainty in the manner of how they slaughter.

Also the Jurists are unanimous that it is not permissible to consume meat which is doubtful. Only if there is certainty that the Ahlul Kitaab read the 'Tasmiyah' i.e. mentioned the name of Allah when slaughtering an animal, will the meat from their slaughter be permissible.