Followings are my individual part on the Study of Religion 1 class- specifically we did on Judaism on their Kosher food. Under supervision of Dr. Fatmir Shehu
Introduction
Kosher and Halal are two terms used in describing
what is fit and proper to eat for both groups of Jews and Muslims respectively.
Despite these terminologies are used to define a wide group of food and
beverages that are appropriate to consume according to Halacha and Shar’i, this
section will only concentrate on meat.
Regulating Kosher and Halal Meat
Man has been consuming meat from the very early time and it
became one of the main sources for human being to give energy for their bodies.
Meat can easily classify into two; red meat and white meat. Red meats are
usually come from beef, mutton and et cetera. Meanwhile, white meats are
commonly acquired from fishes, birds. Either it is red or white meat, all type
of these foods is providing good protein, iron, and zinc, which are important
for humans' health.
Hence, all thinkable means used in order to get the
animals' meat. A part of living animals might be cut and eaten, and peoples
also took the dead animals’ flesh. There were no consideration in reducing the
animals' pain; no sympathy, concern, and sensitivity towards other creatures
feeling; and for their own health too. For this reason, the sacred law towards
regarding matter indicates how true God love and blessed humanity and other
creatures.
Both semantic religions: Islam and Judaism (in this
research), are adhering to the specific rules and regulations when dealing with
this case. Slaughtering was became their method, distinguishing part of
Semantic peoples' identity and this is already became scientifically proven as
the best way in killing the animals, and the meats are healthier to be consumed[1].
There are resemblances between both religions in the
way of slaughtering the animals. The emphasizing on the sharpness of the
blades, knives is needed in order to give a painless and quick slaughter. The
slaughtering process only can happened onto the animals that are still alive.
There is no purpose to kill the dead animals, as their meats were no longer
good to be eaten. In addition, the knife must cut the arteries of the animals.
The research found that when the those parts were cut off, the animals will
feel no pain anymore and this portrays how religion teach its peoples to be
nice and gentle towards those defenseless creatures. Furthermore, the right
process of slaughtering will drained out all the blood from animals' bodies. Moreover,
it is common knowledge that blood were consider as treif, haram or forbidden to
feed on according the Halacha and Shar’i laws.
Even though, some people will regard Halal and Kosher meats are the same as both are practicing slaughtering
process, yet there are differences between both two laws. In Halacha's law, only shochet are eligible
in doing the process, whereas in Shar’i
law, anyone can slaughter the animals; either man or woman, known as good
person, sane and have knowledge in that particular law. The strict rule in
obtaining Kosher meat is also
including the observant towards the knife used for slaughtering. The knife has
to be perfect and at least two times bigger than then size of animal's neck.
This kind of rule not imposed in Shar’i
law, as the matter should be observed is the sharpness of the knife even it has
some scratch or imperfection. Jewish law requires one continuous stroke, moving
the knife back and forth. Meanwhile in Shar’i
law, one proper and perfect one stroke is preferable, but the meat will not be
haram if the slaughterer quickly follows the first improper way with the second
stroke. And it should be noted also, pertaining to the stunned animal, Jewish
law is totally prohibiting this manner, but in Shar’i law stunning is acceptable as long as the animals still has
pulse, alive- the slaughtering should be regard as Halal[2].
However this matter is still on discussion among the fuqaha'.
Key Issues
for Kosher and Halal Meat
The differences between Halacha
and Shar’i laws on the previous
paragraph can be pertain to the group of minor difference, and will not give
any big impact to both groups especially Muslim. But surely, Jews are not allowed
to eat Halal meat as it is
slaughtered by a Muslim. Thus, any Halal
meat is considered as not Kosher
according to Halacha, despite in Holy
Book Al Quran clearly said that Jewish are welcoming to eat what Muslim served;
This Day are (all) things good and pure made lawful unto you,
the food of the people of the Book is lawful unto you and yours is lawful unto
them. (Al Maidah: 5)
And referring to the verse also, Muslims are allowed
to eat Jewish food. One of the prominent exegesis, Ibn Kathir interpreted the
word food in previous verse indicates specifically the animals slaughtered by
the People of the Book-Christian and Jews[3]. However,
the problem among the Muslim in taking Kosher
meat is pertaining the major difference between both processes, which is Tasmiyya.
Tasmiyya can easily
interpret as the blessing word that has to be invoking during the process.
Muslims are obliged to pronounce the name of Allah on animals while
slaughtering. Whereas in Halacha, there is no such rule as what Muslims
did. Hence, Muslims are feeling insecure to eat Kosher meat. There are
few verses that are indicating the significance of invoking the name of Allah
on slaughtered animals;
Prohibited to you dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine,
and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah... (al Maidah: 3)
And do not eat of that upon which the name of Allah has not
been mentioned, for indeed, it is grave disobedience... (al An'am: 121)
There are two groups in Muslim society; accept the Kosher meat and the other one who is reject
it. The ideas in rejecting Kosher
meat are because of issue regarding Tasmiyya.
Even some scholars accept the way of Jewish blessing during slaughter, but the
other reason is the schocet does not repeat the blessing word for the second
slaughtering. In Shar’i law, Tasmiyya
should start every slaughtered animal. In addition, they also regard Jewish
nowadays are no longer in a group of People of the Books.
Meanwhile, some Muslims are consuming Kosher meat as for them it is Halal according to Shar’i law pertaining to Chapter Maidah verse five. Regarding Tasmiyya issue, scholars found that
particular verse bestowed to Prophet Muhammad after the law of obligation in
invoking the name of Allah in slaughtering. Furthermore, the hadith narrated by
Aisha r.a also helps in solving that particular issue[4]. On the
other issue of Tasmiyya for the
second slaughtering, some mazhabs say that it is accepted to pronounce
it only once in the beginning of the process[5]. Pertaining
to the status of Jewish today- they are still the same as Jewish in the back
time of Prophet Muhammad; hold the same rites, belief and can be said as
already corrupted and yet Allah still allow Muslim to eat theirs. Moreover,
this is how Islam takes an uncompromising attitude toward polytheist; it is lenient
toward the People of the Book, for they are closer to Muslims in their belief
in divine revelation, prophet hood, and other fundamentals of religion. It may
be that interacting with them will make their hearts and eyes observing the
beliefs, practices and characters of Muslims and eventually realize that Islam
is the truth, free of the influence of paganism, man-made concept and falsehood[6].
To conclude, the sacred laws cannot be judged randomly
and simply without proper knowledge. Muslims should welcome the fatwas as the
scholars are understood better about the surrounding situation and its peoples.
Relating to Kosher and Halal meat, both are special as the
slaughtering process needed and this way distinguishing them from other
religions, especially with man-made beliefs. Thus the adherer of both religions
should observe the law, rules and regulations in order to maintain the benefit
obtained in their daily life.
[1]
Yusuf Qaradawi, The Lawful and the Prohibited in Islam, Islamic Book Trust.
Zafar Publishing, pp. 61
[3] http://www.shariahprogram.ca/eat-halal-foods/islamic-guidelines-slaughtering-animals.shtml.
(accessed April 17, 2014)
[4]
"Some people said to the Holy Prophet p.b.u.h that; some people bring us
meat and we don't know whether the name of Allah was invoked upon the slaughter
or not? The Holy Prophet p.b.u.h replied; “You say the name of Allah upon it
and then eat it". -Narrated by Aisha r.a and it is recorded in Sahih
Bukhari.
[6]
Yusuf Qaradawi, The Lawful and the Prohibited in Islam, pp. 61.
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