[Q 254] Islamic perspective of consuming pre-stunned chicken

Question

What is the ruling on consuming pre-stunned chicken?

Majority of chicken comes from abroad in the UK and many halal butchers are selling without informing people.

Are we allowed to eat?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الجواب بعون الملك الوهاب اللهم هداية الحق والصواب

Answer

According to the mentioned method, slaughtering the chicken causes unnecessary suffering to the animal and sometimes the chicken dies before the slaughter due to electrocution or it is feared that it will die, so it is not allowed. However, the reason chicken being halal or haram is that if only the chicken has become unconscious due to this current, it has not died, and in that condition it is slaughtered in a manner according to Shariah, then eating the meat will be halal and permissible. And if it died before the slaughter, then it is forbidden.

The best and most cautious option is not to use such meat but only that which has not been stunned before slaughter.

Answered by: Mubashir Attari (AskMufti Scholar)

Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari

Translated by: Mawlana Gohar Madani