Sheikh al-Qaradawi states, however:

" In the light of this ruling, we know that imported meats, such as chicken and canned beef, originating with the People of the Book are halal for us, even though the animal may have been killed by means of electric shock or the like. As long as they consider it lawful in their religion, it is halal for us. This is the application of the above verse from Surah al-Maidah."

There are two main problems with the above theory proposed by the Sheikh:

(1) We are under the assumption that because the meat is sent from or distributed in a western country that it was slaughtered by "people of the book." (2) We are also required to assume that, because they (the apparent People of the Book) employ these methods in their countries, that it is lawful in their religions. Let us now analyze each of these issues closely.

(1) People of the Book is a phrase used repeatedly by Allah in the Qur'an to describe people who received scripture from Allah through a Prophet, upon whom be peace. It also refers to their descendants or those who follow their religions. Two religions that we know are included in this group are Judaism and Christianity, as most of the Prophets (upon them be peace) mentioned in the Qur'an are of Hebrew-Israelite origins (as are most of the ones mentioned in the Christian Bible). Let us now examine what Mosaic law (adhered to strictly by orthodox Jews), says in regards to permissible (kosher) meat:

" Then someone said to Saul, "Look, the men are sinning against the LORD by eating meat that has blood in it." "You have broken faith," he said. "Roll a large stone over here at once." --1 Samuel 14:33

A Jewish Rabbi further states:

"The purpose of shehita is suggested to indicate a reluctance to allowing eating meat wantonly - as indicated in Genesis 1:29 -- originally, we were supposed to be vegetarians. Genesis 9:3 indicates a compromise position -- where BLOOD is forbidden at all costs"

"The knife, or CHALIF must be razor sharp and perfectly smooth..."

"The shehita is restricted to the neck below the larynx, and preferably below the first Five regulations..."

"Hagramah: ..cut must be made below the arynx, preferably below the first hard ring of the trachea and up to the place where the bronchial tubes begin to branch...."

"Aquira - tearing out. The trachea and the esophagus must be cut with the blade and not torn out or lacerated in any way...."

"After Shehita, the shoheet must examine the carcass to determine whether the greater part of the two pipes have been severed. When beasts or birds are slaughtered, the blood that flows from the cut must pour upon a bed of dust and be covered with dusts...." 2

Only portions of the Jewish practice of slaughtering as prescribed by Mosaic law are presented here to illustrate that the "kosher" method of slaughtering is actually an intricate process that is very similar to the Islamic method of slaughtering. While many Christians would argue that this law does not apply to them, Jesus himself (pbuh) practiced Mosaic law and instructed his followers that he did not come to destroy the law but rather to fulfill it. (Book of Matthew 5:17)

We must then wonder if the modern day so-called "people of the book" in fact truly deserve that title at all. They are called People of the Book because they received a previous scripture, but if they do not adhere to it, then they obviously fall outside the category of People of the Book.

Kosher slaughter methods are not observed in most modern-day western slaughterhouses. It is, therefore, inexcusable to use the argument that food that is lawful under the religion of the People of the Book is lawful to Muslims. In that case, there is no difference between the two since the food acceptable by the true People of the Book requires essentially the same method of slaughtering as Muslims.