Question:

Are the MapleLodge Zabiha halal meat products that generally appear in green packages halal?

If not, is it permissible to pray behind someone who eats these items?

As well, are Crescent and Frodoz items like chicken burgers, fingers and samosas halal?

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

At the outset, salah behind someone who does an act of fisq etc. is valid. The fact that he is a fasiq does not invalidate the salah.

In regards to your question about Maple Lodge Farms:

a. I am unable to practically monitor their on-field process for slaughter. What is available to myself is their online description at : http://www.zabihahalal.com/process.php and http://www.zabihahalal.com/process-faq.php.

b. There has been previous researches on the issue of Maple Lodge as well. A detail write-up of Sheikh Sikandar Hashmi Saheb can be read here : http://www.eat-halal.com/maplelodge

The issue involved ought to be two fold.

i. Manual vs Machince slaugher: While there is great discussion on the topic, there are ways in which a machine slaughter can be made halal. Mufti Ebrahim Desai Saheb has mentioned in one of his fatawa, “The chickens are transported by means of the conveyer belt to many slaughter blades and every blade is controlled separately by a Muslim who recites the name of Allah upon effecting the mechanical slaughter. This procedure conforms to the principles of Sharée Zabh set out by the Fuqahaa.”

It is vital that every slaughterer has an autonomous ability and control over the slaughtering. Even if he does not control the actual slaughter, he should be the initiator for the blade cutting that particular animal (Mubashir). In many of the current machine slaughter cases I have a doubt whether this is kept in check or not. This also seems to be an area of doubt for Maple Lodge Farms.

ii. Recitation of the Tasmiya : The process described by the Maple Lodge Farms website mentions that,

“The Four basic requirements in Halal Slaughter are as follows:

1. Allah’s (God’s) name must be pronounced at the time of slaughter (Bismillah Allahu Akbar).

2. Killing instrument must be very sharp so as to not cause undue pain to the animals.

3. Blood should be drained out properly.

4. The above steps should be performed by a Muslim.”

and

“This person stands in front of a rotary blade to say the blessing (Tasmiyah), while the other two blessers stand after the blade to ensure that the neck is properly cut for bleed out. If the blade misses the chicken, then one of these two blessers will cut the chicken by hand while restating the required blessing”

It is unclear whether the person uttering the tasmiyah is the actual slaughterer. In light of “i”, it seems that the process is automated where the blesser merely utters the tasmiyah as the blade is about to cut the chicken. If this is the case, then the first of the four requirements above for halal slaughter as suggested by Maple Lodge Farms is incorrect according to Shar’i dictates.

The first requirement should be reworded to say:

“1. Allah’s (God’s) name must be pronounced at the time of slaughter (Bismillah Allahu Akbar) by the person carrying out the slaughter.“

In absence of such clarification, we are not sure whether the person blessing the slaughter is himself the mubashir in the act or not. The indication seems to suggest that he is not.

In light of this, status of Maple Lodge Farms’ chicken is doubtful and hence should be avoided until complete clarity is attained.

In regards to Crescent Halal Food [*] and Frodoz:

I have had communication with the owner of the Crescent Halal Foods personally. I have been assured that they strictly follow the manual hand slaughter method for all their meat products along with halal ingredients in preparation of the food products. Hence I am confident of their Halal status.

I do not have any information about Frodoz Foods, hence cannot comment.

If you wish to read further on machine slaughter, please take a look at Mufti Faraz ibn Adam’s writeup at : http://darulfiqh.com/a-research-on-mechanical-slaughter/

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mufti Faisal bin Abdul Hameed al-Mahmudi
www.fatwa.ca

Checked and concurred by,

Mufti Faraz ibn Adam al Mahmudi
www.darulfiqh.com

[*] The information mentioned in our fatwa is old and the current status of “Crescent Halal Foods” is not known to us. It would be prudent that a review be conducted. Until then one should exercise caution. [13th April, 2023]