Is It Permissible to Eat the Meat of an Injured Animal?

Answered by Ustadh Salman Younas

Question: I recently purchased some whole chickens from a muslim halal butcher. On cutting the meat at home, I found that 2 of the chickens had bloodied meat in the leg or wing, indicating that the bird has been injured during or a short time before slaughtering. Given the requirement that animals are “healthy” before slaughter to be permissible, what is the correct course of action for me?

Answer: assalamu `alaykum

As long as there is a valid slaughter, it would be permitted to consume the meat of such an animal. The health of the animal is not a condition that effects the validity of the slaughter. For more details on what constitutes a valid slaughter see the following links although for many of us following a reliable slaughter authority is sufficient:

Can We Eat Machine Slaughtered Meat?

Can We Eat Meat Slaughtered by Jews and Christians?

With the above, it is important to view this from an ethical perspective also. If the animals are injured due to poor and inhumane treatment, it is best to avoid purchasing meat from such slaughter houses and companies. This is not always possibly and although it would remain permitted to eat such meat we have been commanded to eat food that is wholesome as well.

Salman

Checked & Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani