Chickens and some imported foods

A: The basic rule concerning the slaughtered animals of the Muslims and the People of the Book is that they are permissible, (Part No. 22; Page No. 401) unless there is evidence to show that they are Haram. The fact that the People of the Book, namely the Jews and the Christians, have distorted the Books revealed by Allah to them or worshipped other than Allah is not a reason to exclude them from being the present day People of the Book, as they were at the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him) while the Qur’an was being revealed. Allah (Exalted be He) has called them the People of the Book and has made their slaughtered animals lawful for us in Surah (Qur'anic chapter) Al-Ma'idah where He (Exalted be He) makes mention of their distortion of their Books, their disobedience, and their revilement of Him. The Jews have said, "Allah's Hand is tied up (i.e. He does not give and spend of His Bounty)." They have also disbelieved in Allah and His Messengers, and worshipped other than Allah (Exalted be He). The Christians have said, "Allah is the third of the three (in a Trinity)" and "The Masih (Jesus) is the son of Allah." The Jews have said, "`Uzayr (Ezra) is the son of Allah." Such beliefs did not remove their status of being the People of the Book at the time of the revelation of the Qur'an. Therefore, it does not remove their status of being the People of the Book today.The basic rule concerning products is permissibility, whether they are manufactured such as cheese, soap, and butter, or unmanufactured, unless there is a proof to the contrary. The news about the slaughtered animals and manufactured products imported to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from non-Muslim countries is still doubtful. The Minister of Commerce in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia still denies such rumors that claim that canned food and imported meat are not slaughtered according to the Shari`ah (Islamic law) and that cheese like Kraft and others (Part No. 22; Page No. 402) are mixed with lard or dead animals that make them unlawful.Therefore, such rumors are not enough to make these imports Haram. However, it is unlawful for Muslims to eat the meat that is imported from Communist countries and other countries whose people are neither Muslims nor from the People of the Book, because their animals are dead not slaughtered.Nevertheless, anyone who is doubtful about these imports should not use them out of precaution according to the Hadith, "Leave that which makes you doubtful for that which does not make you doubtful."May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.