HALAL LIVING

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	International Vegetarian Union
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Facts about the source of some "halal" meat.

Problem 5: Slaughter Methods Violate Halal Teachings

Many animals arrive at the slaughterhouse seriously injured or dead.

Bukhari and Muslim, compilers of the Prophet's (SAWS) authentic ahadith, both report that the Prophet (SAWS) forbade a quadruped or any other animal to be kept waiting for slaughter. Cattle in India are routinely kept waiting long periods before they are finally killed, and their legs are sometimes even intentionally broken and slung around their necks to prevent them from wandering. Throughout this suffering, they are denied food and water.

Much of the slaughter itself is also contrary to Islamic teachings. An hadith reported by Muslim states, "[W]hen you must kill a living being, do it in the proper way - when you slaughter an animal, use the best method and sharpen your knife so as to cause as little pain as possible." When he saw a man sharpening his knife in the presence of the animal he was to kill, the Prophet said, "Do you intend inflicting death on the animal twice - once by sharpening the knife within its sight, and once by cutting its throat?" Most cattle killed in India are not afforded the "luxury" of a sharp knife and a quick deadly cut to the jugular. Instead, in smaller slaughterhouses, their throats are sawed and hacked at with dull, small blades. The animals' legs are often cut off before the occurrence of death, and sometimes the animals suffer the agony of being skinned alive.

Slaughter is not always better in large export operations. While cattle at these slaughterhouses are sometimes provided with some shade and water, the PETA India delegation observed improper and inhumane slaughter. For example, at the Al-Kabeer slaughterhouse in Hyderabad, while the captive-bolt stunning was used properly and effectively prior to slaughter, the delegation found several violations of halal principles. The most flagrant was the savage beating of cattle who were reluctant to move from the holding pen to the killing floor. These cattle were viciously beaten all the way to the stunning area. Such beatings contrast sharply with Islamic teachings. In addition, cattle were killed side-by-side in Al-Kabeer, in full view of one another, in violation of Muslim admonitions to shield the animal from the knowledge of impending death or danger.

The situation was even worse at the Deonar slaughterhouse in Mumbai. Animals driven to this slaughter area were savagely beaten about their legs, neck, and face. These beatings, coupled with the appallingly rough treatment the animals received during transportation, left many of the cattle with open and bleeding wounds all over their bodies. At the actual time of slaughter, the cattle are lined up, bound, and thrown on the floor in full view of all the other animals.

The Solution:

Muslim scholars believe that the following seven practices need to be implemented in order for the meat obtained from Indian cattle to be considered halal:

The knives used for slaughter should be constantly sharpened and of a sufficient length (a minimum of 18" for cows, 24" for buffaloes).
Domestic cattle should not be thrown, but rather walked into a pen and should have their necks raised by a halter to a standing wall hook. With a proper and sharp knife, the cow's neck can be almost severed with a simple upward cut, at which time the head should be released from the ring.
Beating or striking cattle at any time must be prohibited.
Cattle should be held in covered enclosures and be provided with water and food prior to slaughter.
Cattle must not be subjected to the cruel practice of tail, or leg-breaking.
Cattle must be dead before they are dismembered or skinned.
It should be prohibited to torment cattle by rubbing tobacco, salt, chili peppers, or any other substance into their eyes.

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