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Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No. (315) : "Ruling on Pre-Slaughter Electrical Stunning of Birds."

Date Added : 17-07-2022

Resolution No.(315), By The Board of Iftaa', Researches and Islamic Studies:

"Ruling on Pre-Slaughter Electrical Stunning of Birds"

Date (27 of Thilgidah, 1443 AH), corresponding to (27/6/2022 AD).

 

 

Praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions

In its ninth meeting held on the above date, the Board of Iftaa` reviewed the resolution of the joint commission in charge of examining the use of electrical stunning of birds (Poultry) before slaughter in local slaughterhouses.

After thorough deliberations, the Board decided what follows:

Slaughtering an animal in accordance with Islamic Law is the condition that makes an animal`s meat lawful to eat and distinguishes it from dead animal, as reflected in the following verse (What means): "unless ye are able to slaughter it (in due form)." {Al-Ma`idah, 3}. Moreover, the Prophet (PBUH) said: "As long as it causes blood to flow, and Allah's Name has been mentioned over it, then eat it." {Agreed upon}. When jugular veins, food tract and windpipe of the animal whose life is stable are cut, its meat is lawful to eat, whether the slaughtering was done with or without the electrical stunning. What counts is that the stunning doesn`t lead to killing the animal on the spot or later, in case it was left without slaughtering, since the purpose behind the stunning is to relieve that animal and facilitate the slaughtering process. In order to achieve this purpose, the Board is of the view that using the electrical stunning based on the afore-stated conditions is permissible according to Islamic Law. The Board also considers that it is essential to implement the Jordan Standard Specification No.2060/214 issued by the Jordan Standards and Metrology Organization (JSMO) to guarantee the implementation of all the general requirements of the sanitary and safety standards of the product.

Given the difficulty of implementing technical requirements or specific standards on all the local slaughterhouses, due to their using different machines and production lines, the Board is of the view that the management of each slaughterhouse should submit an individual application to the (JSMO). This concerns its production line and in the event it uses electrical waterbath stunning of poultry before manual slaughtering by knife. In fact, this enables a special commission from the Iftaa` Department to participate with specialized technicians to arrive at a special Fatwa regarding the method used by the applicant slaughterhouse. The Fatwa will either permit or prohibit this method of slaughter based on the ground reality and after the joint commission carries out its checks. 

In addition, the Iftaa` Board recommends that a "Halal" certificate, which is issued by the Jordan Standards and Metrology Organization (JSMO) Conformity Certificate Directorate, is required. It also recommends strengthening the role of oversight regarding this certificate and the stunning process. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best. 

 

 

 

Grand Mufti of Jordan, Sheikh Abdulkareem Al-Khasawneh

Sheikh Sa`eid Hijjawi/ Member

Prof. Amjad Rasheed/ Member

Prof. Adam Nooh Al-Qhodah/ Member

Dr.Majid Darawsheh/ Member

Dr. Jameel Khatatbeh/ Member

Dr. Ahmad Al-Hasanat/ Member

Dr. Mohammad Younes al-Zou`bi/ Member

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

Is the marriage contract considered valid if concluded at home by the marriage official (Ma`zon)?

Yes, it is valid as long as it is registered at the court.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law regarding one who purchases a sacrificial animal (uḍḥiyah) and it then develops a defect before slaughter?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
If a defect that invalidates the sacrifice (uḍḥiyah) arises after its purchase — for example, if one purchased a sound, defect-free animal, and it then developed a limp, blindness in one eye, or a similar defect before slaughter — it does not fulfill the requirement of a valid uḍḥiyah, according to the Shāfi'ī school.
It is stated in Asnā al-Maṭālib fī Sharḥ Rawḍ al-Ṭālib (Vol.1/P.535): "Even if the limp develops [in the animal] while the knife is upon it, it still does not fulfill the requirement, because it is lame at the moment of slaughter — this is analogous to a case where a sheep's leg breaks and one hastens to slaughter it [in that condition]."
The Ḥanbalī school, however, held that if the one offering the sacrifice purchased the animal while it was sound and defect-free, and a defect then befell it afterward, the sacrifice remains valid and there is no obligation to replace it.
It is stated in Masā'il al-Imām Aḥmad, one of the Ḥanbalī reference works (Vol.8/P.4021): "I said: If a person purchases the sacrificial animal while it is sound, and it is then afflicted with illness, blindness in one eye, or a broken limb [before slaughter]? He [Imam Aḥmad] said: It is said that it still fulfills the requirement. Isḥāq said likewise, because he purchased it while sound, and the defect befell it only afterward, so it remains sufficient on his behalf." [End of quote]
Accordingly, a sheep afflicted with a defect that invalidates the sacrifice does not fulfill the requirement of a valid uḍḥiyah — whether the defect arose after purchase or during the slaughter itself — according to the Shāfi'ī school. However, there is no objection to following the Ḥanbalī position on this matter [as a valid alternative]. And Allah, the Most High, knows best.

Is it permissible to purchase the Udhiyah on installments?

It is permissible to purchase the sacrificial animal (uḍḥiyyah) on installments or by borrowing its price. However, it is not recommended for the poor to do so, because they are not required to offer a sacrifice, and Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity. If doing so would lead to negligence in providing for one's dependents (nafaqah wājibah), then giving precedence to obligatory maintenance over borrowing to buy the sacrifice is appropriate. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "It is sufficient sin for a person to withhold food from those whom he is responsible to support."
 
Furthermore, the sacrifice is valid from one who has a debt, but it is preferable (awlā) to repay the debt first, especially if the debt is due immediately (ḥāll). And Allah Almighty knows best.

Can someone who begins a voluntary fast break it?

It is preferable for someone who begins an act of worship not to break it.
Allah the Exalted has said {what means}: "and let not your [good] deeds come to nought!" [Muhammad/33].
However, if a person starts a voluntary fast (nafl) and needs to break it, they are going against what is preferable, but there is no sin upon them.

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