[zenihan]

Asslamo Allaikum,

With the advent of “Halal KFC” in the UK, British Muslims are rightly confused over which organisation to believe and trust while ordering their “Finger-Lickin-Good” Buffalo wings, the same issue opens up from time to time over Nandos so here is my humble understanding of their respective stances:

1) HMC (Halal Monitoring Committee): Backed by Islamic scholars who routinely monitor and inspect the establishments engaged in Halal Meat business:

a. Mechanical slaughter of chicken: Not allowed
b. Stunning: Not allowed
c. Bismillah read personally by manual slaughterman on every animal: Necessary
d. Inspector on site at time of slaughter: Yes
e. Outlets checked regularly: Yes

2) HFA (Halal Food Authority): The HFA licenses slaughterhouses, distribution centres, retailers and providers of meat and poultry for human consumption. These licenses are granted on an annual and contractual basis. The HFA inspectors are there to audit and monitor compliance of both Islamic laws and MAFF and EC regulations of slaughter.

a. Mechanical slaughter of chicken: Allowed
b. Stunning: Allowed
c. Bismillah read personally by manual slaughterman on every animal: Not Necessary
(as machine slaughter allowed so no manual slaughterman)
d. Inspector on site at time of slaughter: No
e. Outlets checked regularly: No

Problem: No idea who the scholars are behind this organisation and when contacted and enquired, actively dismissed the roll of scholars in its functioning.

3) Halal Food Guide (Mufti Abduallah Patel, http://www.gmwa.org.uk/foodguide2/index.php): An online Fatwa portal with good research and contacts.

a. Stunning: Accept that its Makruh-Tahreemi but still allow it
http://www.gmwa.org.uk/foodguide2/in...uestion&id=161

Problem: An online Fatwa portal with good following but their support of stunning although correct “Academically” but in practical terms provides a backdoor for those who use it.

4) Mufti Yusuf Sacha: A leading British Mufti who has been active on Halal Food front for over a decade.

a. Stunning: Allow the practise
http://www.gmwa.org.uk/foodguide2/in...uestion&id=161

Problem: Those who practise stunning stick to Mufti Saheb’s opinion and consider it absolutely legitimate! Random inspections are often not carried out and certificates renewed by post after the initial inspection, service has been on decline and Mufti Yusuf Sacha states that he is too busy with other projects.

5) Mufti Taqi Usmani: A leading Hanafi Faqih

a. Stunning: If the animal is alive (before slaughter) permits it but warns Muslims to avoid this practise and meat produced thereby

http://salim7860.tripod.com/id1.html

6) Mufti Ibraheem Desai: A leading Hanafi Faqih from South Africa

a. Stunning: Much more aggressive stance on condemning stunning as a practise but agree with Mufti Taqi Usmani that if the animal is alive (before slaughter), it will be permissible to consume

http://www.askimam.org/fatwa/fatwa.p...3424a0278524eb

http://www.askimam.org/fatwa/fatwa.p...daf0f2271d778a

7) 40 of the country’s top Islamic scholars a UK unanimously reject Machine Slaughter

8) BONUS: Detailed refutation of those consider commerically available super-market meat HALAL