Difference between Halal and Dhabiha
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Halal and zabiha are two different concepts
Halal and dhabiha are strictly two different concepts, and can be very clearly differentiated on the basis of Quranic scriptures. They are being taken as to mean the same when they are two separate concepts.
Quran has clearly defined what is forbidden (Haraam);
• dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that on which any other name hath been invoked besides that of Allah – Quran 2:173
• the carrion, the blood, the flesh of swine, and what has been invoked upon with (a name) other than that of Allah, and the animals dead by strangulation, dead by blow, dead by a fall, dead by goring – Quran 5:3
From the above references, everything apart from these forbidden (Haraam) items (as well as intoxicating drinks) is permitted or halal for all muslims.
Dhabiha is the prescribed method of slaughtering, it is the ritual of slaughtering.
This method of slaughtering animals consists of a swift, deep incision with a sharp knife on the neck, cutting the jugular veins and carotid arteries of both sides but leaving the spinal cord intact.
Dhabiha is a form of tradition and has come from Islamic tradition, it has not come from any direct Quranic mandate. Dhabiha is used to comply with the conditions stated in the Qur'an and has a spiritual dimension to fulfil.
The spiritual dimension is primarily invoking the name of Allah at the moment of slaughtering as an acknowledgment of Allah’s right over all things.
Dhabiha as a method of slaughter serves multiple functions: it provides for a relatively painless death, it helps to effectively drain blood from the animal, and it also is a means to fulfill the spiritual dimension of invoking Allah’s name at the sacrifice.
Thus over time, the term Dhabiha has become to be used inaccurately as a synonym for the word Halal.
Permissibility of Halal meat
It is permissible for muslims to consume the meat of an animal, that has been defined as Halal according to the above mentioned references from Quran, but has not been slaughtered through the ritual of Dhabiha, by simply invoking the name of Allah right before consuming it. This assertion is supported by Hadith.
Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 67, Number 415: Narrated by 'Aisha: r.a
A group of people said to the Prophet, "Some people bring us meat and we do not know whether they have mentioned Allah's Name or not on slaughtering the animal." He said, "Mention Allah's Name on it and eat." Those people had embraced Islam recently.
The only binding condition is that the slaughter method should be similar to the dhabiha slaughter method, i.e , Deep incision with a sharp knife on the neck, cutting the jugular veins and carotid arteries of both sides but leaving the spinal cord intact, with the result that the animal shall not be dead before bleeding profusely.
This is the only binding condition in the Islamic slaughter method, the timing of invoking Allah’s name (takbir) is not binding, it can be performed anytime after the slaughter and before consumption.
