Islam teaches us the process of slaughtering animals in the most humane way possible. The Islamic method of slaughtering animals has been a point of great criticism for many people, which has only been festering in this day and age where animal rights movements and scientific advancement are on the rise. Hence, this brings us to the question, what is Islam's take on the subject? Can we back it up with science?
According to Islamic law, the Arabic word for the ritual of slaughtering animals is known as Dhabihah, which essentially deems the slaughtered meat as 'halal' or permissible to eat. It is applicable on the slaughter of lawful (halal) animals like chicken, sheep, goat, cow etc., and becomes null and void on the slaughter of unlawful animals like pigs, dogs, cats etc. The method of zabihah is governed by a set of strict rules which need to be followed.
1. The slaughter needs to be carried out by a Muslim or Ahlul Kitab
Only a Muslim or someone who is Ahlul Kitab (people of the Book), can carry out the task for the meat to be deemed halal.
2. Start by reciting Allah's (SWT) name
The first step is to recite the name of Allah (SWT). This is to take Allah's (SWT) permission and to carry out the slaughter under His name and His name only; the slaughter cannot be made under the name of any other deity.
3. Slaughter the animal with a sharp knife (sharp cutting tool)
The animal must be sacrificed with a sharp knife in order to minimize the pain and it must be done quickly. A blunt knife will only prolong the whole ordeal, causing more pain to the animal.
4. Directly pierce the throat, windpipe and blood vessels of the animal
The person must place the knife directly over the throat and windpipe of the animal and make the cut as precisely as possible, cutting off all the blood vessels but not the spinal cord itself (cutting the spinal cord can damage the nerve fibers which can cause the animal to go into cardiac arrest, stagnating the blood). This causes the animal to die quickly and with minimal pain.
5. Drain the blood
All the blood needs to be drained from the body before the head of the animal is removed. This is to purify the animal's body of any type of bacteria, toxins or germs that may reside in the blood of the animal, which can lead to different types of illnesses.
Do you know that it is the undrained blood that contaminates the meat, which makes it unhealthy? What many non-Muslim butchers do is to completely chop off the head because of which the connection between the brain and the heart is lost. Hence, the heart stops pumping or beating almost instantaneously.
Therefore, there is no driving force to push the blood out of the body. As a result, the blood stagnates in the veins and arteries and contaminates the meat. Scientifically, blood is one of the best culture mediums to grow bacteria.Consuming meat contaminated with blood makes humans more vulnerable to infections and joint pains due to high uric acid levels in the blood.
So, what is the Halal way? We do not chop off the head completely.
Instead, we cut the main vein (jugular vein) in the neck first. This vein contains venous blood in high pressure, and it directly connects to the atrium of the heart without any interference. This method of slaughtering preserves the connection between the brain and the heart which allows neural transmissions to be delivered. This keeps the heart pumping until all the blood is drained off completely from every vein and artery in the body making the meat pure and healthy, SubhanAllah!
What makes fish Halal? even though it is not slaughtered this way?
Allah (SWT) has created fish in such a way that the moment it is removed from the water the entire blood in its body is redirected to a part called the epiglottis in its mouth which turns bright red thus indicating that the blood is drained, and the meat is pure..........
