Can I Trust a Restaurant That Says Their Food Is Permissible (Halal)?
Shafi'i Fiqh
Question
I live in a country wherein it is illegal to slaughter animals. There is a Turkish store that has “100% halal” signs. All their finished food products have a halal label, and these products are produced in Germany. The owner sells meat that is slaughtered in this country. He says it is halal.
There is no guarantee that this is halal. And I have doubts about the meat because it is illegal in this country to slaughter according to Islamic Law. Should I trust the store?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
First, are there local scholars who know about the restaurant in question, and what do they say?
Second, are the restaurant owners practising and God-fearing Muslims? If that is the case, then the meat is lawful since the seller is Muslim, and the actions and arrangements are considered legal till proven otherwise, with clear evidence and not based on doubts or suspicions.
The evidence for the above is the narration of ‘A’isha (may Allah be pleased with her), who said: “A group of people said to the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace): ‘Some people bring us meat, and we do not know whether or not they have mentioned Allah’s Name upon slaughtering the animal.’” He (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Mention Allah’s Name on it and eat.” Those people had embraced Islam recently. [Bukhari]
If you have confirmed with reliable sources or know that the seller deals with meat not slaughtered according to Islamic Law, you should not purchase from them. Allah knows best.
I pray that this benefits.
[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.
Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Mawlana Yusuf Karaan, 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 served as the Director of the Discover Islam Centre and Al Jeem Foundation. For the last five years till present, he has served as the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town.
Shaykh Irshaad has thirteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town). He is currently building an Islamic online learning and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and pursuing his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy living and fitness.
