PRE-SLAUGHTER STUNNING OF BIRDS AND ANIMALS: ITS IMPACT ON ANIMAL WELFARE AND THE LEGISLATION OF HALAL SLAUGHTER

Abstract

The process of converting animals into pieces suitable for human consumption is a very important issue, not only from shariah point of view, but in terms of providing healthy meat with high nutritional value that is beneficial to consumers in general. Therefore, this decisive moment of the killing is governed by strict regulations regarding food hygiene and safety, working conditions and animal welfare. This paper explains and discusses the process of slaughtering animals and birds by following the traditional method of slaughter according to shariah law and the methods of pre-slaughter stunning accepted by some Islamic authorities and their impact on maintaining animal welfare to reduce their suffering and pain before and during slaughter. Information was collected through previous published scientific works as well as scientific publications related to the subject in addition to legal information derived from the Noble Qur’an and the honorable Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH). The paper come out with some commandments and suggestions, which focused on the importance of practicing traditional method of slaughter following the teachings of the Noble Qur’an and the Sunnah, taking into account the use of the latest modern technologies to facilitate the process of slaughtering animals and birds and emphasizing the training of management and workers in this sector to take into account animal welfare and thus produce Halal and quality meat in order to keep the Muslim consumer away from falling into the area of forbidden and suspicious.