Q 2: What is the ruling on the meat of animals slaughtered in non-Muslim countries? Is it Halal (lawful) or Haram (prohibited) to eat it, especially that they do not say Tasmiyah (saying, "Bismillah [In the Name of Allah]") when slaughtering animals? Moreover, the way they slaughter the animals is different from ours, as they shoot the animal in the head until it loses consciousness, and then they slaughter it.

A: If the way of slaughtering mentioned in the question is true; that they shoot the animal in the head to let it lose consciousness then slaughter it, this animal takes the ruling of Maytah (carrion/unslaughtered dead animals) if it is slaughtered after its death. Consequently, it is not permissible for Muslims to eat it even if they say Tasmiyah over it. However, if they slaughter it while it is still alive and shows signs of life, such as the movement of some parts of its body or even the slow flowing of blood after slaughtering, and Tasmiyah is mentioned over it or it is forgotten, the slaughtered animal in this case becomes (Part No. 22; Page No. 391) Halal. However, if Tasmiyah is deliberately neglected, it is not permissible to eat the slaughtered animal. This is according to the most correct opinion of the scholars. Allah (Exalted 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) The animal that has been shot in the head with a special bullet to make it lose consciousness takes the ruling of an animal that died because of a violent blow. However, if it is still alive, it can be slaughtered, as Allah (Exalted be He) says: So eat of that (meat) on which Allâh’s Name has been pronounced (while slaughtering the animal) Allah (Exalted be He) also 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), for sure it is Fisq (a sin and disobedience of Allâh). May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.