ham@gator.cacs.usl.edu (Hameed Ahmed Mohammed) (06/11/91)
Based on current practice, only the meat of animals killed by orthodox Jews can be considered as lawful to Muslims. The Jewish method of slaying animals -shechita- is identical with the method of dhabh(slaughter) and does not admit any strangulation or violent blow or any stunning. There are only a few minor differences between the two methods. In the Jewish method, the slayer (sbochat) is required to make the necessary cut in the neck of the animal in "one go". In the Muslim method, if the person raises his hand before completing the dhabh and then returns immediately to complete the process, this is allowed. In jewish practice, only a specially appointed person is allowed to carry out the slaughter whereas in Islam any sane adult Muslim who is acquainte with the Process and the acts which are considered abominable is allowed to perform the slaughter. Jews are not allowed to consume the meat of animals that have been injured but Muslims can, provided dhabh is performed on them. Jews are only allowed to consume fat that adheres to the bones. They are not allowed to consume the hind quarters of the animal which includes all meat after the 12th rib. Muslims can consume the meat procured by the mode of shechita which is practiced by orthodox Jews but which is not followed by reformed and liberal Jews. A different attitude has to be adopted towards the meat of the animals killed by the Christians, particularly in the West. Christians who have taken to the Pauline doctrine have abandoned the Mosaic law. The Pauline doctrine gave them permission to eat foods that were previously prohibited like the flesh of the swine. It also freed them from the particular method of slaying animals for food and gave them the option of adopting any method available or devising ways of their own. Today , among the Christians , the slaughtering of animals for food is not considered a religious act.