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Religious permission includes conditions
Islam permits meat from certain animals subject to requirements about the animal and slaughter. God's name is invoked, and the process follows religious rules. The permission to eat meat does not mean that every way of transporting, holding or killing an animal is acceptable.
Care is a duty
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) — Sahih Muslim 1955a — instructs care in slaughter, including sharpening the blade and sparing the animal unnecessary suffering. The broader responsibility includes humane handling and avoiding needless distress. A religious label should not be used to excuse cruelty or poor practice.
It is also important to distinguish a religious ideal from evidence about a method's actual effects. A statement that halal slaughter is always painless would be inaccurate. Animal welfare depends on handling, restraint, effective technique and other conditions. The World Organisation for Animal Health identifies pain and fear risks in slaughter without stunning and recommends effective stunning before slaughter.
Reducing suffering in practice
Stunning aims to make an animal unconscious before slaughter. Animal welfare requires careful handling, suitable equipment and properly trained workers. Religious requirements, veterinary guidance and applicable rules need to be followed throughout the process.
Islamic teaching calls for care towards animals. This responsibility includes reducing suffering, preventing cruelty and avoiding waste. Claims about a particular method should be checked against evidence from its actual use.
Qur’anic verses
Qur'an 5 : 3
Forbidden to you are animals found dead, blood, pork, and animals dedicated to anyone other than God; animals killed by strangling, beating, falling or goring, and those partly eaten by wild animals, except what you are able to slaughter properly before it dies; and animals sacrificed on stone altars. Also forbidden is seeking decisions through divining arrows. These are sinful practices. Today those who disbelieve have lost hope of overcoming your religion, so do not fear them; fear Me. Today I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you and chosen Islam as your religion. But whoever is forced by severe hunger, without intending sin, will find God Forgiving and Merciful.
Read the verse and Arabic text
Qur'an 6 : 118
Eat from that over which God's name has been mentioned, if you believe in His revelations.
Read the verse and Arabic text
Hadith
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) — Sahih Muslim 1955a
Plain-English meaning
God requires excellence and care in everything. Even when taking life, do it with care; when slaughtering an animal, slaughter carefully. Sharpen the blade and spare the animal unnecessary suffering.
Sources: Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) — Sahih Muslim 1955a [18]; WOAH slaughter [36]; Stunning ruling [37]
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