Q 1: Many Muslims here - May Allah guide them - do not abstain from eating the slaughtered animals of the idolaters from Japan on the plea that lawful food in not available, and the prohibition of the Japanese government to slaughter except on specific conditions. Many of them argue that the Christians revile Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He), and claim that He has a wife and a son, Exalted is He above that, but despite this fact, Muslims are still permitted to eat from their slaughtered animals, given that they are not less in the degree of Kufr (disbelief) than the idolaters. They also support their claim with the Hadith: Mention the name of Allah over it and eat and when we cite the concept of opposition in His Saying (Exalted be He): The food (slaughtered cattle, eatable animals) of the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) is lawful to you they claimed that it is not clear regarding the slaughtered animals of the idolaters, and they asked for a Hadith or a clear Athar (narrations from the Companions) in this regard. What is the advice of your Eminence?

A: It is impermissible for a Muslim to eat from the slaughtered animals of the Kuffar (disbelievers) other than the People of the Book. This is due to several reasons: (Part No. 22; Page No. 444) 1- The concept of His Saying (Exalted be He): The food (slaughtered cattle, eatable animals) of the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) is lawful to you for singling out the People of the Book excludes other Kuffar.2- There is a difference between the People of the Book and other Kuffar, for the People of the Book believe in Allah (Exalted be He), their books, and messengers, while other Kuffar do not believe in any messengers or books.3- The People of the Book mention Allah's Name over their slaughtered animals, while other Kuffar do not; rather, they mention the names of their idols over them.4- All Muslims have agreed on the lawfulness of the slaughtered animals of the People of the Book, and the prohibition of others'.5- As for the Prophet's saying (peace be upon him): Mention Allah's Name over it and then eat , it intends mentioning Allah's Name over the slaughtered animal on eating it, and this does not suffice for offering Tasmiyah (saying, "Bismillah [In the Name of Allah]") on slaughtering it, for Allah (Part No. 22; Page No. 445) (Exalted be He) says: Eat not (O believers) of that (meat) on which Allâh’s Name has not been pronounced (at the time of the slaughtering of the animal) As this Hadith was a reply to a question raised to the Prophet (peace be upon him) about the meat that is brought in Muslims' markets, without knowing whether or not Allah's Name had been mentioned over it, therefore, that was his answer (peace be upon him) to the question, for the basic principle regarding what is slaughtered in Muslim lands is that Allah's Name is being mentioned over it.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.