Can I Consume Meat Sold in My Country if No Halal Options Are Available?

Answered by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick

Question 

We live in a small town in Germany, and there are no halal butcher shops except one with a small variety. The others are not Islamic; we don’t know if they’re from Ahl al-Kitab or atheists.

Is it allowed to eat meat in Germany since many Germans are atheists, even though Germany is considered a Christian Country? Note that I tried to argue with my parents, and they don’t want to buy halal meat from other towns and force me to eat with them.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate. May Allah alleviate our difficulties and guide us to what pleases Him. Amin.

May Allah reward you for your concern only to eat what Allah has made lawful for you and abstain from the unlawful, and may He guide your parents to share in this noble concern.

Meat not being slaughtered according to Sacred Law specifications is unlawful to eat. The scarcity of lawful meat does not justify consuming unlawful meat because eating meat is not a necessity, and Allah knows best.

Allah says: “Prohibited to you are dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah […] That is grave disobedience. This day those who disbelieve have despaired of [defeating] your religion; so fear them not, but fear Me. This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as your religion. But whoever is forced by severe hunger with no inclination to sin, indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. [Quran, 5:3]

Alternative Options

You may consume the lawful meat you can acquire from the halal butchers, purchase live animals and slaughter them according to Sacred Law specifications, eat seafood, or eat mostly vegetarian food. Allah will reward you for the effort you make in this regard.

Your Parents

With wisdom and respect, impress upon your parents the importance of consuming only that which is lawful. If they dismiss your advice, you should not eat with them but continue to respect them. You may seek assistance from local scholars or senior family/community members to speak with your parents about this issue if that would help to convince them, and Allah knows best.

I pray this is of benefit and that Allah guides us all.

[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar Shaykh Taha Karaan (Allah have mercy on him), where he taught.

Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Shaykh Muhammad Awama, Shaykh Muhammad Hasan Hitu, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.

He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has been the Director of the Discover Islam Centre, and for six years, he has been the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town.

Shaykh Irshaad has fifteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town). He is currently building an Islamic podcast, education, and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and has completed his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy Prophetic living and fitness.