Q 2: What does Islam say about eating the meat of animals slaughtered by automated slaughtering machines? Soon after the animal is electrocuted, the butcher starts to slaughter it.

A: If it is true that the butcher slaughters the cattle immediately after they are given electric shocks, then it will be permissible to eat their meat if they were still alive. However, if the butcher slaughters an animal which has fallen dead because of the electric shock, (Part No. 22; Page No. 455) then it will be prohibited to eat its meat. In such case the animal has the same ruling as Mawqudhah (an animal killed by strangling or violent blow). Allah (Exalted be He) has prohibited eating the meat of this type of animals unless they happen to be alive at the time of slaughter. Slaughter only occurs when the animal moves its body or when its blood overflows therefore indicating life. Allah (Glorified be He) says: Forbidden to you (for food) are: Al-Maitah (the dead animals - cattle - beast not slaughtered), blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which Allâh’s Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering, (that which has been slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allâh, or has been slaughtered for idols) and that which has been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by the goring of horns, and that which has been (partly) eaten by a wild animal, unless you are able to slaughter it (before its death) Allah (Exalted be He) has made it lawful to eat the meat of injured animals provided that they are slaughtered, or else it will be prohibited to eat their meat.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.