Is Unethical Food Permissible to Eat?

Answered by Shaykh Faraz A. Khan

Question: Like many Muslims, I am increasingly concerned about not knowing the origins of my food. I have recently been given the opportunity to select and slaughter rabbits by a family that raises them in cages in their backyard for their own consumption. They have more than they need and made an offer to allow me to purchase and hand slaughter them myself. I inquired about their feed and determined that it is all natural. I also learned, however, that the rabbits are not let out of their cages and spend their entire lives there. My question has two parts:

1) Would it be acceptable to slaughter and consume these animals in light of their living conditions?

2) What is the appropriate method of slaughter? Is the non-Muslim immigrant allowed to do it for me, assuming he follows the rules of zabiha? Or should it be me?

Answer: Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah,

I pray this finds you in the best of health and states.

1) In terms of legal permissibility, one is allowed to consume such animals. As for ethical considerations, one would have to assess if there is any undue harm on the rabbits by being caged, if they are let out at all, how much room they have, etc., along with what effect those conditions have on them.

2) Please see these related answers:

Can We Eat Meat Slaughtered By Jews and Christians

Eating the Meat of the People of the Book

Can We Eat Machine Slaughtered Meat

And Allah knows best.
wassalam
Faraz

Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani