Oct. 04 2018

Dear Enquirer: Peace Be Unto You

Technically, both system of slaughtering are Halal. On individual basis, on small production, one could appoint a Muslim person who uses knife and slaughters the chicken. On mass production, Automation helps produce Halal Slaughtered Chicken on mass scale.

It is up to an individual, what perception he / she keeps in mind. Of course, the customer is always right but the suppliers of the Halal Chicken may or may not agree with such a customer and so the resources provided.

All Halal Certifying Agencies commit to the Halal Islamic Jurisprudence as all would be accountable to Lord Almighty on the Day of Resurrection.

To make it clear for you Vince, I have clarified the details as per the following explanation. We at Canadian Halal Food Certifying Agency (CHFCA) support both of the process with strict Halal Quality Assurance Protocol.

HALAL SLAUGHTERING:

All lawful land animals should be slaughtered in compliance with the rules laid down in the Islamic Jurisprudence in priority, collectively agreed upon Islamic jurisdictions in Canada, followed by Codex Recommended Code of Hygienic Practice for Fresh Meat, Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) recommended guidelines and the following requirements:

• The person should be a Muslim who is mentally sound and knowledgeable of the Islamic slaughtering procedures.
• The animal to be slaughtered should be lawful according to Islamic law.
• The animal to be slaughtered should be alive at the time of slaughtering.
• The phrase Bismillah Allohu Akbar (In the Name of Allah - God is Greatest) should be invoked immediately before the slaughter of each animal.
• The slaughtering device should be sharp and should not be lifted off the animal during the slaughter act.
• The slaughter act should sever the Pulmonary, Esophagus, Jugular and Carotid of the neck region.

Machine Slaughtered Chicken:

Slaughtering of chicken through automation also requires at least a Muslim man who recites “In the name of God – God is Greater” on the chicken which are slaughtered by the automatic slaughtering blade with pre-determined measurement cutting carotid, jugular, pulmonary and oesophageal lines in the neck.  In order for chickens slaughtered by machine to be Halal, the following conditions must be strictly met. If they are not met, the poultry will be considered Non-Halal:

The machine operator and or slaughterer must be sane and Muslim, Jew or Christian. A blessing or recitation incorporating the name of Almighty God must be articulated by the above operator when pressing the button to turn the machine on. The recitation is "In the name of God – God is Greater."

A blessing or recitation incorporating the name of Almighty God must be articulated by the same operator on each and every chicken that is being slaughtered. Chickens must be alive during the ritual slaughter.

The slaughtering person who slaughters missed birds by the machine, must be a Muslim, Jew or Christian.

One should note that in mass production, with machine slaughter, requires Halal Quality Assurance to meet the critical demands of being Halal.

"So eat of that [meat] upon which the name of God has been mentioned, if you are believers in His verses" (Qur’an: 6:119).

"And do not eat of that upon which the name of God has not been mentioned, for indeed, it is grave disobedience" (Qur’an: 6:121).

"The food of those who were given the Scripture (religious Jews and Christians) is lawful for you and your food is lawful for them" (Qur’an 5:5).

Thank you my friend for asking the question.

Imam Qamrul Khanson

Director: HACCP and Halal Food Certification

Call Us: 905 673 6500 (O) / 647 833 8453 (Cell)

Write through E-Mail: info@chfcahalal.com

Learn through Web: www.chfcahalal.com   

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