Animals Slaughtered by Disbelievers Other Than the People of the Scripture

Question :

I am a Somali student studying in China. I face many difficulties regarding food in general and meat in particular; and the problems are:

1. Before going to China, I heard that animals which have been slaughtered by unbelievers or more precisely, been killed by them are not permissible for the Muslim to eat. In the University, we have a small canteen for the Muslims and in it there is meat, but I am not convinced that it was slaughtered according to the Islamic way and I doubt it; but my colleagues are not in doubt like me and they eat it. Are they right, or are they eating what is forbidden?

2. Regarding the food vessels, the Muslims' vessels are not distinguished from the others what must I do regarding these matters?

Answer:

It is not permissible to eat animals slaughtered by disbelievers other than the People of the Scripture, the Jews and Christians. It does not matter whether they are Zoroastrians, idolaters, communists or any other kind of disbeliever. It is also not allowed to eat food mixed with their slaughtered animals, such as the stock or anything else. Because Allah, Most Glorified has not permitted any of the food of the disbelievers for us except that of the People of the Scripture.. He said in Surat Al-Ma'idah:

"Made lawful to you this day are At-Tayyibāt [all kinds of Halal (lawful) foods, which Allah has made lawful (meat of slaughtered eatable animals, milk products, fats, vegetables and fruits)]. The food (slaughtered cattle, eatable animals) of the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) is lawful to you and yours is lawful to them."

And their food means the animals they slaughter, as Ibn 'Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them, and others said. As for fruits and the like, there is no sin in them, because they are not included among forbidden foods. As for the food of the Muslims, it is permissible for the Muslims and for others, if they (i.e., the slaughterers) are true Muslims and do not worship anything besides Allah and do not supplicate to anyone besides Him, such as the Prophets, peace be upon them, the Awliya', the inhabitants of the graves and others whom the disbelievers worship.

As for the vessels, it is incumbent upon the Muslims to have vessels other than those of the disbelievers, which are used for their food and their alcohol and the like. And if they do not find them, the Muslim cook must wash the vessels used by the disbelievers, then place the Muslims' food in them, according to what has been confirmed in the Two Sahihs, on the authority of Abu Tha'labah Al-Khushani, may Allah be pleased with him, in which he asked the Prophet about eating from the vessels of the polytheists and the Prophet said to him:
"Do not eat from them, unless you do not find any others, in which case, wash them and eat from them."

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