Q: A Somali student studying in China asks: I study in China and I face many difficulties in finding proper food, particularly meat products. Before I came to China, I heard that a Muslim is not permitted to eat from the animals that atheists slaughter, or better said, killed. There is a cafeteria serving meat to Muslim students at the University but I am not certain if the animals are slaughtered in the Islamic manner. I am in doubt but my colleagues are not and eat from them. Is it permissible for Muslims to eat such food? Moreover, there is no distinction between the utensils in which food is offered to Muslims and nonMuslims. What should a Muslim do in this case?
A: It is not permissible for Muslims to eat the slaughtered animals of the disbelievers, except that of the People of the Book i.e. the Jews and Christians. The ruling applies equally to the disbelievers such as the Magi, Pagans, communists or any other disbeliever. Also, a Muslim is not permitted to eat soup or anything mixed with their slaughtered animals because Allah (may He be Praised) did not make food of the disbelievers lawful to us except the food of the People of the Book. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) states:
Made lawful to you this day are AtTayyibât [all kinds of Halâl (lawful) foods, which Allâh has made lawful (meat of slaughtered eatable animals, milk products, fats, vegetables and fruits)]. The food (slaughtered cattle, eatable animals) of the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) is lawful to you and yours is lawful to them.
Surah (Qur'anic chapter) AlMa'idah.Food of the People of the Book refers to their slaughtered animals, as stated by Ibn `Abbas and others. There is no blame on a Muslim to eat their fruits or the like, since they are not included in the unlawful foods. Muslims' food is lawful to both Muslims
and nonMuslims so long as those who cook the food are true Muslims, worshipping none but Allah, and associating with Him no prophet, pious man, deceased person ,or anything else like those worshipped by the disbelievers.
Muslims must have utensils other than those with which the food and wine of the disbelievers are served. If there are no other utensils, the Muslim cook must wash utensils the disbelievers use, then put the food of Muslims in them. It is authentically reportedin the Two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e. AlBukhari and Muslim) on the authority of Abu Tha`labah AlKhushani(may Allah be pleased with him) that
He asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) about eating in the vessels of the polytheists and he (peace be upon him) said to him: Do not eat in them unless there is no alternative. In this case, you should wash them before eating.
May peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions!