CHM CHM Animal Welfare and Halal Slaughter Requirements 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the Arabic term for the Islamic method of slaughter required for meat to be considered halal?
- Zabiha (Dhabihah) (Correct answer)
- Shechita
- Jhatka
- Kaporos
Correct answer: Zabiha (Dhabihah)
Zabiha (also spelled Dhabihah) refers to the Islamic prescribed method of slaughtering an animal by cutting the throat with a swift, sharp blade.
Question 2: Which of the following animals is considered inherently haram (forbidden) and cannot be made halal through any slaughter method?
- Pig (Correct answer)
- Cow
- Lamb
- Chicken
Correct answer: Pig
Swine (pigs) are categorically forbidden in Islam regardless of how they are slaughtered, as the prohibition applies to the animal itself.
Question 3: According to Islamic halal slaughter requirements, who must perform the act of slaughter?
- A sane adult Muslim (or a person from the People of the Book — Christian or Jew, in many scholarly opinions) (Correct answer)
- Only an imam or religious scholar
- Any adult employee of the slaughter facility
- A USDA-certified inspector
Correct answer: A sane adult Muslim (or a person from the People of the Book — Christian or Jew, in many scholarly opinions)
Islamic jurisprudence requires the slaughterer to be a sane, adult Muslim, though many scholars also permit slaughter by Christians or Jews under certain conditions.
Question 4: What must the slaughterer say before or during the act of halal slaughter?
- Bismillah (In the name of Allah) (Correct answer)
- Allahu Akbar alone is sufficient
- A prayer of thanks to the animal
- No verbal statement is required
Correct answer: Bismillah (In the name of Allah)
Reciting 'Bismillah' (In the name of Allah) before slaughter is a required condition for the meat to be considered halal.
Question 5: Which vessels must be severed during a valid halal slaughter (zabiha) to ensure the animal's death and blood drainage?
- The trachea, esophagus, and both jugular veins/carotid arteries (Correct answer)
- Only the spinal cord
- Only the femoral arteries
- The aorta and pulmonary artery only
Correct answer: The trachea, esophagus, and both jugular veins/carotid arteries
Halal slaughter requires cutting the trachea, esophagus, and the two carotid arteries/jugular veins to ensure rapid blood loss and death.
Question 6: What is the halal ruling regarding the consumption of blood?
- Blood is haram (forbidden) and must be fully drained from the carcass (Correct answer)
- Blood is halal if the animal was slaughtered properly
- Blood is only forbidden if the animal was sick
- Blood may be consumed in small quantities
Correct answer: Blood is haram (forbidden) and must be fully drained from the carcass
The Quran explicitly prohibits the consumption of blood; therefore, proper blood drainage after halal slaughter is mandatory.
CHM CHM Animal Welfare and Halal Slaughter Requirements 1
What is the Arabic term for the Islamic method of slaughter required for meat to be considered halal?