Darul Uloom Trinidad & Tobago

Question:

Assalaamu Alaikum,

Someone told me that eating foods slaughtered or sold by “people of the book” meaning Christians and Jews are OK to eat. I just wanted to clarify. Jazackallah

Answer:

Wa Alaikum As Salaam,

The meats slaughtered by the people of the book would only be permissible if they uttered the name of Allah (God) at the time of slaughtering. If this did not take place then it would not be permissible to eat.

With respect to the meats sold by them, one can eat these only if he knows that these are halal. Being sold by ‘the people of the book’ does not mean that the meats were slaughtered by them. The People of the book sell anything and everything. They sell meats that are slaughtered by anyone. Even pork and pork products are sold by them. As such, simply on account of the fact that meats are sold by them, does not give any indication that it is halal and permissible for Muslims to consume.

And Allah knows best,

Mufti Waseem Khan

19/6/2013