The Islamic Laws of Animal Slaughter: A Discussion on the Islamic Laws for Slaughtering Animals & a Survey of Modern-Day Slaughtering Methods

by Muhammad Taqi Usmani, Amir A. Toft (Translator)

There is a growing sense of concern today among consumers, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, about the healthfulness of what they eat. Health food stores have gained a prominent status in the US, and many consumers review every last ingredient listed in a food item's nutritional facts list to ensure that they meet their dietary standards. Muslims must be even more conscientious of what they consume, as a Muslim's diet must, above all, be lawful (halal) under Islamic law, as well as wholesome (tayyib). The Qur'an states, "O people, eat from whatever is upon the earth that is lawful and wholesome" (2:168).

Of all types of food, one that has become the cause of controversy among Muslims the world over is slaughtered meat. Muslim sources without the guidance of scholars have spread inaccurate information about Islam's rules and regulations for animal slaughter, leaving Muslims confused about the facts. Authored by a Muslim scholar recognized worldwide for his mastery of Islamic jurisprudence, The Islamic Laws of Animal Slaughter clears up the confusion. The author presents a brief, structured analysis of Islam's laws for animal slaughter, as well an overview of their practical application in the modern world. A couple of articles, appended specially for this translation, round off the discussion by addressing matters particularly relevant to Muslims in the US and other Western nations.

Genres: Islam

160 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2006

About the author

Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani is one of the leading Islamic scholars living today. He is an expert in the fields of Islamic Jurisprudence, Economics, Hadith and Tasawwuf. Born in Deoband in 1362H(1943 CE), he graduated par excellence form Dars e Nizami at Darul Uloom, Karachi, Pakistan. Then he specialized in Islamic Jurisprudence under the guidance of his eminent father, Mufti Muhammad Shafi, the late Grand Mufti of Pakistan. Since then, he has been teaching hadith and Fiqh at the Darul-Uloom, Karachi. He authored many books in Urdu, Arabic and English language.

Reviews

[Lumumba Shakur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Should be required reading for all Muslims living in the West. Mufti Taqi masterfully summarizes the relevant contemporary concerns surrounding the issue of ritual slaughter according to mainstream scholarly understanding. In this, he also undermines the erroneous fatwas and opinions that seem to now dominate Muslim communities in the West outside of the Indo-Pak community which for some reason tenaciously adheres to the Hanafi school even those who would not describe themselves as religious. The appendices further add to the relevancy of the work and the brief article proving scientific proof that the Islamic and Jewish methods of slaughter are in fact the most humane is simply icing on the cake.

Why 4 stars instead of 5? I think I only wish it was longer and am a little disappointed that I read the entire book in only a few hours. I am sure the original urdu article by Mufti Taqi was not intended to be exhaustive, but it would have been nice if there was a chapter or appendix that expanded what Mufti Taqi did with Qadi Abu Bakr's opinion to Sh. Qaradawi and Sh. Ibn 'Uthaymin since they perhaps are single-handed responsible for the laxity amongst Muslims in America and the individuals who follow those two scholars are unlikely to bother picking up the work of a Deobandi mufti.

[Abdullah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masha Allah ... an enlightening book explaining the laws around Halal meat. A real eye-opener ... highly recommended for both people living in the West as well as in countries that import their meat from Western countries, with practical suggestions for both categories.