Question:

Salamu Alaykum rahmutullahi wa barakhatu (muhammad) Shoyab,

In regards to Zabiha meat is it an obligation upon a Muslim to eat Meat that has been killed in the name of Allah (SWT)?
1) I get many different mixed answers saying “Oh, it’s a Hanafi thing”, 2)“It was only applicable during the time of the Prophet (SAW) because every one killed animals by hand”, 3) and then there are those who read me the ayah “Eat from that which the name of Allah has been mentioned, if you are believers in His signs” from surah Al-Anaam.
4) And then there’s that issue of if that Animal was fed and raised accordingly. Now animals are fed excessive growth hormones and byproducts.

Jazakallahu khair Imaam.

Answers: ?????? ?????? ????? ???? ???????

1)When people don’t want to do something, they will claim it is a Hanafee, Shafee, Bosian, African, European, etc. thing. This is called escape arguments. For example, when the Arabs did not want to convert to Islam, they would want miracles, insist on particular revelations, etc. In today’s time, such crafty people would also tell you, we only like to follow Quran and Hadith. (go figure)

2) This argument shows narrowness. They are arguing that sharia is limited to a specific time and place. They are limiting the universality of religion. Such narrow-minded people must be avoided. They hurt themselves and limit the progress of those of us that prefer to be more broadminded regarding the dynamic appeal and advancement of our religion. Islam is not for just the past, it is for all times. Share this reminder to such deviants

3) In all due respect, you have an ayah, you also have Allah (Subhanahu Wata’Ala) giving you advice, for the Quran talks to the one that has a heart and vision to accept it. Yet you chose to let Hanafee, Shafee, etc. arguments deter you from His path. You are begging for ignorance, or begging to delve in the futility of life. Yet Allah (Subhanahu Wata’Ala) is choosing better for you. Allah (Subhanahu Wata’Ala) seems to love you, so don’t let this Love go to waste.

4)This is claim for those people that act out their life in total conjunction with the sharia in every aspect of their lives. They eat with earnings that are derived from halal areas, they read all their salah on time, they do not look for loopholes in matters of religion, they distribute their zakat and sadaqah as prescribed, they do not pollute their bodies with impurities, dress as Islam dictates.

To eat such foods are not haram. It can be makrooh (disliked) for those that are conscientious in their matters. It is halaal for the one that is used to eating haram foods. More significantly, it is better to have an animal slaughtered properly then concern ourselves with matters of hormones, grazing patters, etc. We are not saying the latter is not important, rather we begging you to test your priorities on the gradations of halal and haram and understand it for what it is — not based on some mere emotional pull!

Once our society has created enough awareness to eating purly halaal, then we can go to the next step of what the animal eats, etc. Islam is a gradual religion, lets not overwhelm ourselves. Trying to overpower matters of deen only over oneself (Hadith).

http://islaminaction.wordpress.com/2009/07/17/we-are-what-we-eat

http://islaminaction.wordpress.com/2009/05/16/yummy-yummy-fries-you-are-what-you-eat

May Allah bless you for taking out the time to share with us your concerns. They are legitimate and important

Allah Certainly Knows Best