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QUESTION: I live in UK, and its hard to find halal meat, am I allowed in Islam to eat non-sacrificed meat? ANSWER: In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful, It is incorrect to say that finding Islamically slaughtered Halal meat (zabiha) is difficult in the UK, as Halal meat is available and can be found in many cities of the UK, Insha Allah. To determine whether the meat of a particular restaurant, takeaway or butchers is Halal or otherwise, one needs to inquire and investigate.

If the owner is a reliable pious Muslim, you may take his word if he says that his meat is slaughtered in a proper Islamic way, provided there is no other reason to doubt his claim.

However, if the owner is not too reliable or there are other reasons for you to doubt his claim, then you must investigate yourself. Inquire as to from where the meat is supplied, pay a visit to the relevant slaughterhouse and see for your self whether the method implemented in the slaughterhouse conforms to the Shariah guidelines.

There are also some Halal certifying bodies of which one has recently been established by the name of Halal Monitoring Committee (HMC). The procedure of inspection implemented by this group is very rigorous; hence the slaughter of each individual animal is thoroughly inspected at the abattoirs and slaughterhouses, as to whether it complies with Shariah guidelines or otherwise. This organization is based in Leicester, UK and is at the moment only operating in Leicester with a view of moving to other cites in the future. I am also a member of this organization. (For more details, see: www.halalmc.org )

Consuming unlawful (haram) meat becomes permissible only in dire and compelling situations, when one’s life is in danger.

Allah Most High says:

He (Allah) has only forbidden upon you dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that on which any other name has been invoked besides that of Allah. But if one is forced by necessity, without wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits, then he is guiltless. For Allah is Oft-forgiving Most Merciful.” (Surah al-Baqarah, 173)

Therefore, even if you were unable to find Halal Zabiha meat, it would not be permitted to consume unlawful meat. One would have to suffice on vegetables, fish and other Halal food.

And Allah knows best

Muhammad ibn Adam
Darul Iftaa
Leicester, UK

[Source: Darul Iftaa]