✦ The Shari‘ah Ruling on Meat Slaughtered by Shia and Precautionary Guidelines ✦
Can the slaughtered meat of Shia individuals be consumed by analogy with the permissibility of meat slaughtered by the People of the Book?
Shaykh Abdul Sattar Hamad (Hafizahullah)
Shaykh Abdul Wakeel Nasir (Hafizahullah)
Shia are not a monolithic group; they include various sects such as:
Certain core Shia beliefs lead to serious doubts about the permissibility of their slaughtered meat:
◈ Belief in the distortion of the Qur’an (taḥrīf)
◈ Belief in the infallibility of twelve Imams, akin to the infallibility of Prophets
Due to these theological concerns, equating Shia with Ahl al-Kitāb in this matter is not considered appropriate, especially when:
It is incorrect to categorically declare all Shia slaughtered meat as forbidden or permissible. A balanced, cautious approach is advised:
◈ If it is confirmed that the meat was slaughtered for other than Allah,
◈ Or Bismillah was intentionally omitted,
◈ Or it was part of a non-Islamic ritual or celebration,
→ Then such meat is clearly ḥarām (forbidden).
However, in the absence of clear evidence, it is better to avoid unnecessary harshness and adopt a moderate approach.
✔ General precaution is required regarding meat from Shia sources, especially from Tabarrā’ī Shia, whose beliefs and practices contradict foundational Islamic teachings.
✔ If there is no proven Shar‘i violation in their method of slaughter, some scholars allow leniency under general circumstances.
✔ It is always better to prefer meat from clear, trusted, and ḥalāl-certified sources, in order to avoid doubt and religious confusion.
❖ Question:
Can the slaughtered meat of Shia individuals be consumed by analogy with the permissibility of meat slaughtered by the People of the Book?
❖ Answer by:
Shaykh Abdul Sattar Hamad (Hafizahullah)
Shaykh Abdul Wakeel Nasir (Hafizahullah)
❖ Shia Beliefs and the Issue of Slaughtered Meat
Shia are not a monolithic group; they include various sects such as:
- Tafdīlī Shia: Those who consider Ali (RA) superior to other Companions, but generally do not hold extreme beliefs that would classify them as disbelievers.
- Tabarrā’ī Shia: Those who curse the Companions (RA) and hold severely deviant beliefs.
❖ Theological Doubts Regarding Shia Slaughter
Certain core Shia beliefs lead to serious doubts about the permissibility of their slaughtered meat:
◈ Belief in the distortion of the Qur’an (taḥrīf)
◈ Belief in the infallibility of twelve Imams, akin to the infallibility of Prophets
Due to these theological concerns, equating Shia with Ahl al-Kitāb in this matter is not considered appropriate, especially when:
- Intentions or phrases during slaughter are unclear
- There is no confirmation that the name of Allah was mentioned during slaughter
❖ A Balanced View Between Leniency and Caution
It is incorrect to categorically declare all Shia slaughtered meat as forbidden or permissible. A balanced, cautious approach is advised:
◈ If it is confirmed that the meat was slaughtered for other than Allah,
◈ Or Bismillah was intentionally omitted,
◈ Or it was part of a non-Islamic ritual or celebration,
→ Then such meat is clearly ḥarām (forbidden).
However, in the absence of clear evidence, it is better to avoid unnecessary harshness and adopt a moderate approach.
❖ Summary and Guidance
✔ General precaution is required regarding meat from Shia sources, especially from Tabarrā’ī Shia, whose beliefs and practices contradict foundational Islamic teachings.
✔ If there is no proven Shar‘i violation in their method of slaughter, some scholars allow leniency under general circumstances.
✔ It is always better to prefer meat from clear, trusted, and ḥalāl-certified sources, in order to avoid doubt and religious confusion.
