Question

I’m from Pakistan, but for my studies I’m living in Germany. I want a fatwa in one matter. It is not allowed in Germany to slaughter an animal directly. Animals get electric shock first. We usually eat from Turkish shops or any shop where Halal is mentioned (Halal certified) but it’s a very common confusion that meat is still not halal.

What should I do? Should we trust the Muslim fellow or avoid it?

It’s been more than one year that I’m avoiding meat. But as all of my friends told me it’s also not right to make something haram which is halal and asked me to get a fatwah.

Answer

Wa ʿalaykum al-Salām wa Raḥmat Allah wa Barakātuh.

In the name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful.

In principle, if the stunned animal was alive at the time of slaughter, the meat will be halal. You should approach your local scholars and patrons of the community to investigate the matter. A simple method of determining whether the stunning method of a particular facility kills the animal or not is by having a few assessment sessions. If the stunned animals get up and walk away after regaining consciousness, this means the stun gun does not kill the animal.

And Allah knows best.