Is it halal to eat meat from the People of the Book if we aren't sure if the slaughtering was proper?
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My spouse and I are having a friendly debate on this topic. We both understand that the Qur’an permits the food of the People of the Book, but we differ on what that means in practice today.
- Her view: We can't be sure if the animal was slaughtered according to
Islamic requirements (e.g., invoking Allah’s name, proper method,
etc.), so the meat might not be halal.
- My view: If we don’t know exactly how it was slaughtered, we can
still say “Bismillah” before eating and it becomes halal, based on
the hadith where the Prophet ﷺ said:
> The Prophet's Companions once complained to him and said: "We receive meat and we do not know if God's name has been invoked on
> it." The Prophet ﷺ replied, "Recite God’s name and eat of it."
(Narrated in Bukhari)
Could someone please explain why scholars differ? Why do some scholars rely on this hadith and others seem to disregard it? I’m originally from the U.S and the opinion I follow is commonly practiced here that meat from the People of the Book is generally permissible if we don’t have clear evidence that it’s haram and we can eat it as long as we say bismillah. My wife is from Southeast Asia, where the more cautious view is followed that meat is only halal if we are sure it was slaughtered properly according to Islamic guidelines.
I’d really appreciate understanding why these differences exist across regions.
Thank you for your time. Jazakallah Khair
Asked by Avidar Al Kurdi
(21 rep)
Jul 5, 2025, 01:50 PM
Last activity: Jul 5, 2025, 06:09 PM
Last activity: Jul 5, 2025, 06:09 PM