السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته
Was pleased to read how slaughtering takes place in the uk, but at the same time shocked to read that dog meat exists in the food chain....and with the attitude and underhand tactics of some abattoirs, butchers and takeaways....
Downing Street calls for clearer labelling on halal meat
A REVIEW of labelling of halal meat will be conducted if the industry fails to deliver more transparency within the next few months, Downing Street has said.
Much of the meat sold in British supermarkets and served in restaurants comes from animals slaughtered according to Muslim custom, but in many cases it is not labelled halal.
Ukip leader Nigel Farage has said labels should carry details of the method of slaughter, and said the UK would have to break with EU rules to ensure this is done.
But the Prime Minister has said the issue is a matter between retailers and restaurants and their customers.
Mr Cameron said: "Do we need a national labelling scheme? I would rather hope not. I would rather hope it could be dealt with by the restaurants and businesses.
"We should start from the approach that the greater the transparency the better, and I hope we can achieve that transparency without necessarily having a full-on national labelling scheme."
HFA have officially stopped certifying Mechanical slaughtering, Alhumdulillah.
Jazakallah to all those who had protested and contacted HFA to pressure them for changes. Alhumdulillah.
So now, the question is, how far do they do go in allowing a chicken to be stunned before hand slaughtering?
For the benefit of visitors to our site we have compiled a list of commonly asked questions with their respective answers. If you feel that there are other questions that we should add to this page, then please let us know via our contact us page.
Q 1. Does Halal Food Authority have Muslim Slaughterman/men performing slaughter?
A. Yes, licensed Muslim Slaughterman/men are present at the slaughtering stations, all slaughter is done by Muslim hands whilst Bismillahi-Allahu Akbar is recited.
Q 2. Does HFA accept mechanical slaughter?
A. As of 3rd March 2014, the HFA has abandoned the use of mechanical slaughter. For further details on this please see our press release on the matter here
Q 3. Does Halal Food Authority allow stunning of birds and animals?
A. Yes, however, one has to be reminded that HFA has always maintained “no stunning to kill”.
Captive Bolt Stunning – proscribed – prohibited
Percussion Stunning – proscribed – prohibited (although above procedures for cattle are allowed by some Ulema’s in Africa & Germany)
Gas Stunning – proscribed – prohibited (although Turkish Ulema’s have approved this method for pre-slaughtering of chicken)
Halal Food Authority allows controlled electric stun-with-minuscule amperage, with official Veterinary Surgeon validating that the animal or the birds do not die prior to slaughtering.
There are two types of electric stunning that Halal Food Authority approves:
Water-bath Stun – for Poultry
Electric-Tong Stun – for Ovine meat
Q 4. Does HFA approve/allow slaughtering whilst Shahada is played on tape recorder in the back ground?
A. The answer is emphatically ‘no’. All slaughter is done by Muslims by hand reciting Bismillahi Allahu Akbar.
Q 5. Does HFA allow any one of other faiths to do halal slaughtering in Halal Food Authority approved slaughterhouse/s?
A. Answer is No – although the Book of Fiqh and Fatawas permits non-Muslims to do halal slaughtering. HFA believes that their Ni’yat – Intention for rendition of Shahada would not be the same as of a Muslim. Halal Food Authority in fact insists that Muslim Slaughterman/men in slaughter houses should be trained and licensed by the MHS. HFA approved slaughterhouses always have, even in automated plants, Muslim Slaughterman/men.
Q 6. How does Halal Food Authority approve Muslim Slaughterman/men? Does HFA licence them? Does HFA employ Slaughterman/men?
A. HFA approves and validates on declaration by
The applicant of them being performing Muslims. Believers in Eiman, Salat, Saum, Zakat and Hajj. Additionally that they believe Mohammed (SAW) to be the last prophet.
Successful candidates are licensed by the Meat Hygiene Services, York, through the official Veterinary Surgeon or his/her representatives.
HFA does not employ Slaughterman/men, However, they are responsible to HFA and are deployed to be HFA eyes and ears – the resident inspectors for HFA.
Q 7. Does HFA rules require slaughtering facing Qibla?
A. Yes, notwithstanding that slaughterhouses in the UK had been constructed on orientation of light etc. HFA would surely insist for future constructions to be Islamically inclined to observe this edict.
Q 8. Does animal/bird hear the Shahada or Tasmiya recited by the Slaughterman/men at slaughtering station?
A. Books of Fatawas, does not make it mandatory. One should be mindful that the decibels in modern plant are so high that at times even the Slaughterman has to wear the earplugs. Ni’at or intention of slaughterer to slaughter in the name of Allah is compulsory and necessary – after all we are borrowing one from His flocks for our sustaining, consumption & nourishment.
Q 9. Does Halal Food Authority (HFA) London certify Romford Halal Meats Ltd?
A. Yes, Alhamdulillah Halal Food Authority works with Romford Halal Meats Ltd to certify their slaughterhouse for halal lamb, sheep and mutton only. Halal Food Authority does not certify beef at present.
I've been meaning to send them a further email for more answers.
What do you guys suggest? If someone can draft an email and share it here, inshaAllah, we can pass it onto them to clear any doubts.
The reason I ask is because Mufti Yusuf Sacha had witnessed the voltage and state of the chickens and only then deemed a certain poultry to be halal. This means, not all voltages are accepted (as we know)
Once upon a time, HFA used the evidence provided by the scholars mentioned below to allow mechanical slaughtering.
Quote:
Does ‘Mechanical Slaughtering’ of Chicken meet all the requirements and conditions of Shariah? Is mechanical slaughtering of chicken halal?
Some say that ‘mechanically slaughtered chickens are not halal’ and arguments are:
1. Saying of ‘Bismillah Allahu Akbar’ once is insufficient for more than one chicken slaughtered by machine; hence it is mandatory to recite for every chicken slaughtered; and,
2. It does not meet all the conditions and requirements of Sharia’h Islamic Fiqh Academy India dedicated two seminars (1994/1995) to consider mechanical slaughter. Failing to reach a consensus on the issue, following prominent scholars put their names to the validity of mechanical slaughter:
Qazi Mujahidul Islam Qasmi, rahmatullah Alaih
Shaikh Khalid Saifullah Rahmand, Secretary General, Islamic Fiqh Academy
Maulana Yaqub Ismail Munshi Qasmi, Dewsbury, UK
Maulana Jalaluddin Ansar Umary
Mufti Naseem Ahmad Qasmi
Maulana Ijaz Ahamd Qasmi
Raisul Ahrar Nadwi
Maulana Sadrul Hasan Nadwi
Sulatan Ahamd Islahi
Sabahuddin Malik Falahi
(booklet: Zabiha ke Shar’Ie Ahkam, IFA publications, New Delhi www.download.ifa-india.org/pdf/Animal_Slaughter.pdf ) Also see resolution on their website: www.ifa-india.org/index.php?do=home&pageid=technology
Alhumdulillah, HFA now do not allow this method in their criteria. They allow stunning. But unfortunately, many people who once followed this ruling, continue to do so and still use HFA as their evidence.
This cannot be undone and I am sure it will be greatly appreciated.
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