Assalaam Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu
As mentioned in Surah al-Maidah, we can eat the meat that is slaughtered by Christians and Jews, is that correct in this era? If not then what’s the proof against it?
JazakAllahu Khaira
الجواب وباللہ التوفیق
The Ahlay-Kitab (Jews and Christians), who are steadfast on the teachings of their religion, believe in the books revealed by Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala, are not just proponents of science and astronomy, do not take the name of anyone besides Allah on their slaughter, only take the name of Allah while performing the slaughter, then the slaughter of such ahlay-kitab will be considered halal. However, Imam Ibn-e-Humam Rehmatullah ‘Aleh has written that without a dire need, it is preferable not to consume their zabihah. (Shamee, Vol.5, Pg.258, Fathul-Qadeer)
The Jews and Christians of this era, although from a categorization and census standpoint, they are considered Jews and Christians but a vast majority of them are openly agnostic, atheist, religion-less, pure proponents of science and astronomy and thus considered ahlay-kitab just nominally. This vast majority does not have any interest in religion or religious teachings rather a lot of them fundamentally despise religion. In addition, regarding the Christians of Banee-Taghlab, Hazrat ‘Ali RaziAllah Ta‘ala ‘Anhu mentioned:
لا تاکلوا من ذبائح نصاریٰ بنی تغلب فانھم لم یتمسکو ا من النصرانیۃ بشی الا شربھم الخمر ، روی ابن الجوزی بسندہ عن علی رضی اﷲ عنہ ۔
ورواہ لشافعی رحمہ الہ بسند صحیح عنہ تفسیر مظھری ج ۳ ص۳۴)
Imam ash-Shaf‘ai Rehmatullah ‘Aleh has also documented this riwayat from Hazrat ‘Ali RaziAllah Ta‘ala ‘Anhu and has further qualified that those people (i.e. Banee-Taghlab) did not subscribe to any teachings of Christianity except for indulging in the consumption of alcohol. In addition, when Hazrat ‘Ali RaziAllah Ta‘ala ‘Anhu observed the moral corruption of the people of Banee-Taghlab, he rendered their zabihah as haram during that time. Considering the moral situation and corruption of people in general in today’s era which is so much worse, how can they be considered ahlay-ktaib and how can their zabihah be accepted as halal?
The issue of consuming halal meat is of extreme importance and until there is complete proof and surety that it is halal, it is considered impermissible to consume it. Therefore, it is mandatory for us to refrain from things which are mustabeh (suspicious) and thus refrain from their zabihah entirely.
(Fatawah Darululoom, Vol.1,2, Pg.160)
وقال اﷲ تعالیٰ: وَطَعَامُ الَّذِیْنَ اُوْتُوْا الْکِتَابَ حِلٌّ لَکُمْ۔ [سورۃ المائدۃ، رقم الآیۃ: ۵]
کل من یعتقد دینا سماویا، ولہ کتاب منزل کصحف إبراہیم علیہ السلام وشیث، وزبور داؤد فہو من أہل الکتاب، فتجوز مناکحتم وأکل ذبائحہم۔
(ہندیۃ، کتاب النکاح، القسم السابع: المحرمات بالشرک، ۱/ ۳۴۷)
فقط واللہ اعلم بالصواب