WHAT ARE THE GUIDELINES FOR HALAL (LAWFUL) SLAUGHTERING OF POULTRY AND WHAT ARE THE LEGAL JUSTIFICATIONS FOR THESE OPTIONS?
For slaughtering poultry to be halal, the following guidelines MUST be met:
1.The name of Allah (SWT) MUST be mentioned at the BEGINNING of the slaughtering. If the poultry is large in number, it suffices to mention Allah (SWT) once, when the first animal is slaughtered. However, it is preferable to mention Allah’s (SWT) name at the beginning of slaughtering for EVERY bird. 2.Slaughtering must be done WITHOUT electric stunning or suffocating by gas. It should be known, however, that MOST POULTRY ARE STUNNED BEFORE SLAUGHTERING. 3. Slaughtering MUST be done by hand and with a sharp knife although the slaughterer need TO be a Muslim. With regard to slaughtering by hand and with a sharp knife, the Prophet (SAW) said,
"Allah has commanded good performance in every deed … when you slaughter, slaughter well. Sharpen your blade and save your slaughtered animal unnecessary pain." (Muslim) 4. The windpipe or the trachea, the gullet or the esophagus, as well as the blood vessels or the jugular veins, MUST be cut. The ONLY way to save slaughtered animals unnecessary pain is by this method. The Prophet (SAW) is also quoted as saying,
"You can eat the meat of animals whose blood gushes out and the name of Allah is mentioned when they slaughtered." (Muslim)
It is preferred not to cut off the head when you slaughter an animal. However, if it happens by mistake, it is OK.
