KOSHER – more than pure and fit to eat
   

People may neglect work, play, prayer and love, but they seldom forget to eat. All religion have some form of dietary disciplines and none more than the Jewish faith.

No limits is placed on food from the ground and the Bible lists some creatures that may be eaten , but pigs are forbidden. There is no specific mention of birds which can be eaten, however, carrion-eaters among other kinds of birds are proscribed. Although the Jews and non-Jews eat the same type of birds the ultimate different is in the kosher slaughtering.

The word ‘kosher’ means ‘pure’ or ‘fit’ and is a late Hebrew introduction and does not occur in the books of Moses.

There are four general rules which render the meat inedible under Hebrew law:-

1 This rule outlaws the eating of flesh from a live creature.

2 The drinking of blood, or using it in cooking, is forbidden.

3 This is the most bizarre of all the four rules stems from the Torah and says: ‘You shall not boil a kid in the milk of it’s mother’. It appears that in Mosaic times it was a common practise of idolatry and these days has led to a practise of separating flesh and dairy foods. Meat and Milk or their products never appear together on the table. In strict Jewish homes separate utensils and crockery for the two types of meals are used. Even in the Israeli armed forces this dual equipment is standard.

4 Suet, the hard fat formed below the diaphragm is also banned. Prohibited fats are identical with those specified for the alter in the Book of Leviticus.
 

The sciatic nerve of the hindquarter is another ban, which Jews observe. As the complete removal of the nerve from the hindquarter of an animal is difficult, the hind quarters of kosher slaughtered cattle are sold to general packets. Observant Jews, therefore forgo excellent cuts of meat.

The kosher slaughter is performed with a single instantaneous severance of the carotid arteries in the neck. The blood pours out; the supply to the brain is at once cut off, the animal’s consciousness vanishes. The death stroke must be a single slash. Even one sawing motion disqualifies, let alone a second stroke or a stunning blow.

The edge of the knife must be ground razor sharp and smooth; one detectable nick causes rejection of the meat. Trained professional slaughterers, watched by inspectors, must do this work. Any trace of disease renders the meat ‘non-kosher’. As the meat passes to the consumer, there are further procedures for draining the blood. In times gone by this was the duty of the housewife and mothers would pass this knowledge to their daughters but today the wholesale distributers assume this responsibility for getting a rabbinic opinion on doubtful symptoms.

Traditionally pious men did their own slaughtering or relied on a town shohet who was known personally. Today in the world of mass production Jews rely on the seals of ‘eminent’ rabbis, guaranteeing proper slaughter, inspection and handling. However there are devout people who cannot bring themselves to trust the guarantees because such an industrial process seems liable to error. To them even the most remote risk of eating ‘non-kosher’ food is unacceptable. Some Hasidic sects eat only meat which has been canned by other sect under the seal of their own chief rabbi.

The production of kosher foods has now emerged as a large commercial industry and Jews accept that the present state of kosher supply is not wholly satisfactory. It appears the limit of luxury is one’s purse and good sense and not the law.

This is the present state of Jewish diet, which is based on tradition. It is difficult to assess how close it is to the original food laws given to Moses. But we do not know what the God says in sura 6:146 of the Quran : “For the Jews we prohibited animals with undivided hoofs, and the fat of cattle and sheep, except fat which is on the back, or the entrails, or mixed with bones. We did this as a punishment for their transgressions, and we are truthful”.

However, God is merciful and in the Quran Surah 3:30 Jesus is recorded as having said: “…and (I come) confirming that which was before me of the Torah, and to make lawful some of that which was forbidden to you”.
 

It is clear that the prohibitions were a castigation but have now ironically become symbols of identity and faith. Despite the fact that the interdictions were lifted, the constraints are part of religious law. There is no doubt that the meat is of sanitary excellence and that the kosher slaughter method brings death to an animal with as much mercy as is humanly possible but many of the uncompromising disciplines which mean that one sect will only eat meat approved by a chief rabbi of the same sect surely invites reproof from God.

For the ‘moslem’ (sic) the limitation are equally austere depending on which sect one belongs to. The fact that God explicitly excludes any sectarian from the Islamic fold is of no consequence and they continue to follow the opinions of various jurists.

Although the principles are taken from the Quran many additional laws are peculiar to individual sects such as the Sunnis of which Hanafites, Hanbalites, Shafities, Malikites are subjects.

The Quran does not give any particular method of slaughter but only lists the forbidden foods. It also states that God’s name must be mentioned but does not express that it must be said at the time of slaughtering – except in sacrificial slaughter.

Although the Muslim does not need evidence from any other source than the Quran it is worthwhile to say that even the Hadith advocates quote a tradition where meat was brought to the prophet’s house and his wife Ayshah said: “… we do not know whether the name of Allah has been mentioned or not”. The Prophet replied: “Mention the name of Allah on it and eat”.

The Hanafites and the Hanabalite jurists have also said that one need not try to find out whether God’s name has been taken over each and every animal slaughtered by the people of the book.
 
   

Muslims nowadays impose more stringent restrictions than God wants them to do

Question: Could you explain if animals slaughtered by Christians and Jews are permissible (Halal) for a Muslim to eat. When does a permissible animal become forbidden?  

Answer: Yes, they are (permissible) because God says in verse 5 of Sura 5 that “the food of the people given scriptures before you is permissible to you”. This refers to their slaughtered animals. The Prophet was brought a lamb by a Jewish woman and he started to eat from it before realizing that it was poisoned. He did not question her on the method of the slaughter she followed. He was also asked by his companions: “Meat is brought to us and we do not know if God’s name has been mentioned at the time of it’s slaughter. What should we do?”
He said: “Mention God’s name and eat from it”.

All this suggests that Islam has an easy approach to this question, but Muslims nowadays impose more stringent restrictions than God wants them to do. They prohibit all meat slaughtered by Christian on grounds that God’s name is not mentioned at the time of their slaughter or that the method of slaughter involves stunning. This attitude is not correct because God has permitted us to eat of those food without questioning them on the method they follow in killings their animals. He only wants us to mention God’s name at the time we eat.

Arab News
26th.September 1997
 
   

Do you invent lies about God?

There are many people who still consider that we must follow a certain ritual of slaughter. In the Quran it says “Do not eat from that upon which the name of God has not been pronounced, for it is an abomination”(6:121). If we are to follow this commandment in Sura 6:121 then how can anyone guarantee the slaughter is in God’s name which they cannot personally oversee? And if we personally do not supervise the slaughter then we may be breaching God’s law as we would not know if His name had been pronounced at the time of slaughter.

However, God has made it easy for us because nowhere does He says we must personally slaughter the animal or that His name must be pronounced at the time of slaughter (except in sacrificial offering), ONLY that we must eat lawful food on which His name is mentioned and that can be done at anytime up to the time of eating. Things which are not mentioned we can do what we prefer, within the Quranic context, of course. (Sura 5:101)

From the Quran we can conclude:

1. You should eat from that which God’s name has been pronounced. (6:118)

2. You must not eat from that which His name has not been mentioned. (6:121)

3. Animal caught by trained falcon and dogs can be eaten after mentioning God’s name upon them. (5:4)

4. Meat slaughtered by Nisara or Jews can also be eaten. (5:5)

5. Anything not explicitly forbidden is lawful. (16:116), and we can eat if we consider it to be good. (2:168)
 

It is interesting to note God only lists things which are forbidden. The wisdom behind this is obvious when you see the multitude of good things which he has made for us. There would be NO benefit in preventing consumption of food not slaughtered in the way ‘muslims’ have now come to accepts ‘halal’. Anyway, where is this ritual of slaughter from? Certainly not from the Quran.
 
The Jewish community have many difficulties by imposing restriction upon themselves. Are the Muslims going to do the same?

Finally a quote from the Quran 10:59; “Do you note how God provides you, then you render some things ‘prohibited’ and other things”?
Say; “Did God give you permission to do this, or do you invent lies about God?

If you follow your own opinion or the Fatwa of some imam, will you be able to answer God on the day of judgement?