Ihsaan Magazine August 2016 | Page 53

• Ostric There are many other categories of animals which are not permissible for Muslims • Carnivores: lions, tigers, cats • Amphibians • Insects (except locusts) • Arthropods – scorpions, centipedes • Annelids and Nematodes • Rodents • Birds of Prey: falcons, eagles • Scavengers: vultures, corbeaux • Sea mammals: seals, manatee • Terrestrial wild animals: fox, bears, monkeys • Reptiles: snakes, crocodiles • Pigs Among the permissible animals some parts of these animals are not permissible. These include: • Blood and products made from blood, such as pudding • Bladder • Gall Bladder • Reproductive Organs • Glands Food & Dining • employees recite the Tasmiyah regularly as the birds pass them by. In the second method, wild animals are slaughtered by hunting. Hunting of wild animals may be done using a hunting animal, such as a dog or bird, a sharp pointed instrument such as a spear or arrow or even a gun using a pointed bullet. At the time of release of the animal or instrument or firing of the weapon, the Tasmiyah is recited. 3. Preparation Even after permissible animals have been slaughtered according to Islamic rites, its meat will only be permissible to consume if no non-halaal ingredients are used in its preparation. In many cases halaal meats and other food become haraam due to the addition of nonhalaal ingredients in the preparation of such foods. Some common ingredients and practices which are added to meats that would make them impermissible to consume include: • Alcohol such as cooking wine • Seasonings containing animal fat such as some Maggi 2. Slaughter products Permissible animals must be slaughtered according to • Stock made from non-halaal meats added to halaal Islamic method of slaughter. Animals’ which die without meats being slaughtered are not permissible to consume and • use of contaminated oil, utensils, containers, serving will be considered carrion or maitah. spoons etc. There are different methods of slaughter depending on • Addition of gelatin, bacon bits, lard, aspic savoury etc. whether the animal is under control or wild animal In the first method, for animals under one’s control there are two main ways in which slaughter is done: • Hand Slaughter • This is the most popular method of slaughter and is used for domesticated animals and birds. There are four requirements for hand slaughter to be accepted as Halaal : • The slaughterer must be a Muslim • The knife used for slaughter must be sharp • The name of Allah must be recited at the time of slaughter (Tasmiyah) • At least three or four vessels in the neck must be completely severed (these are the jugular veins, sarcophagus and trachea) • Hand slaughter may be accompanied by a pre-slaughter electric or gas stun which immobilises the animal before the vessels are severed. Some scholars do not accept this stunning as a valid practice • Machine Slaughter • This type of slaughter has not found favourability with many Islamic scholars, as many of the requirements listed above are not found. It is used usually in the slaughter of chickens and turkeys. The birds are passed along on a motorized conveyor belt; they are stunned then slaughtered using a rotating electric blade. In some cases a recording of the Tasmiyah is played while in other cases Muslim Ihsaan | Issue 1 | 51