Question
On your webpage, I found the following:
About Halaal Meat
I would like to ask some questions about Haraam and Halaal meat.
I am very confused about it. I am not eating meat here (US), but some people told me that I can eat this meat. I will be thankful to you if you can give me answer according to Islam.
You write:
According to the Qur’an, of the things which have normally been used by man for eating, the following are haraam or prohibited.
Flesh of pig;
Dead animals;
Flowing blood; and
Animals which are not sacrificed in the name of God.
** I thought number 4 is really:
Animals that are sacrificed in any other name but God.
That to me means that one can eat it as long as it is not sacrificed in another person’s or god’s name.
As I am just starting to study Islam, please clarify this to me with a reference to the original Arabic form of the Qur’an.
Answer
In a reply to an earlier question (which you have alluded to in your letter), I tried to enumerate the kinds of meat that are prohibited by God.
There is nothing wrong with eating meat in the US, if it does not fall in any of the categories enumerated in my reply.
As far as your question regarding my statement: “Animals which are not sacrificed in the name of God.” is concerned, my opinion is based on Surah Al-An`aam 6, verse 121. It says: Do not eat of that on which God’s name has not been mentioned”. My statement covers both the aspects, i.e. Animals sacrificed in names other than God and Animals sacrificed without pronouncing God’s name.
23rd October 1998