IMPORTED MEAT IN SAUDI ARABIA

It is an absolute necessity to all Muslims to refrain from Haraam and consume only Halaal food. When Haraam food is consumed it increases the impurities of the Nafs and the presence of Haraam elements in the body prevents the acceptance of Du’as in the Court of Almighty Allah.

On the ocassion of Hajj and Ziarat in which the Ibaadah of Almighty Allah is the purpose of the journey, one should exercise Taqwa and ensure at all costs that they acquire meat that is Halaal for eating. There is a tendency for the Saudi Government to import meat from various companies in Europe, America and Australia into Saudi Arabia. This meat is readily available at a very much lower price that the locally slaughtered Halaal meat.

When the Saudi authorities are questioned about the source of their meat and as to whether it is Halaal or not, they readily point to the Halaal stamp which is supplied by the European slaughterhouses. The people responsible for exporting such meat from their countries to Saudi Arabia are usually Christians, who supply a Muslim local agent to put on a Halaal stamp before the meat reaches Saudi Arabia. Saudi authorities accept this as Halaal whereas Shar’an ruling is that meat prepared for Muslims by non-Muslims should not leave the sight of a Muslim for even one second otherwise the meat becomes Haraam.

It is our sincere appeal to all Hajees to refrain from consuming meat imported from foreign non-Muslim countries whilst they are in Saudi Arabia.

In our Feb./March 1998 issue of RAZA, Vol. 3 No. 2, we published an article about the Saudi Government importing meat from various companies in Europe, America and Australia into Saudi Arabia. In the article we explained that when the Saudi authorities are questioned about the source of their meat and as to whether it is Halaal or not, they readily point to the Halaal stamp which is supplied by the European slaughterhouses. We also wrote that the people responsible for exporting such meat from their countries to Saudi Arabia are usually Christians, who supply a Muslim local agent to put on a Halaal stamp before the meat reaches Saudi Arabia. Saudi authorities accept this as Halaal whereas Shar’an ruling is that meat prepared for Muslims by non-Muslims should not leave the sight of a Muslim for even one second otherwise the meat becomes Haraam. We also appealed to all the Hajees, through the article, to refrain from consuming meat imported from foreign non-Muslim countries whilst they are in Saudi Arabia.

As a result of the article many Muslims became very upset about what we wrote and even complained to some “theological” bodies about our stand. Consequently, a very learned Sunni Aalim, Moulana Abdun Nabi Hamidi, who is the Chairman of Sunni Ulama Council (Transvaal), attended a meeting that was held before the Hajj season in Jeddah to discuss the issue of the time of performing Qurbani according to the Hanafi Fiqah. The United Ulama Council, a body comprising of leading Ulama organisations of South Africa, were also present. At the same time, on behalf of the Raza Academy, Moulana Hamidi had a discussion with the Head of Mu’assasa, Sheikh Adnan, a learned scholar and dignitary of Saudi authority, on the issue of imported meat in Saudi Arabia. Other Ulama present were too ready to point out that the Raza Academy published an article on this topic asking Hajees to refrain from consuming imported meat in that country.

Much to their surprise, Sheikh Adnan pointed out that the meat that is being imported in Saudi Arabia is doubtful according to the Shari’ah and the Shuyook, the Ulama and the pious Muslims of Saudi Arabia refrain from consuming it. He also said that the general public is not so conscious about this issue.

We would once again appeal to Hajees to refrain from consuming imported meat in Saudi Arabia. Insha-Allah, the Raza Academy is committed to serving the Muslim Ummah, and will continue informing the Muslim public about Haqq (Truth), much to the distaste of some!