Question:
Assalamualaikum SS Mufti. What is the ruling of eating imported meat which originally certified halal, then recently it is widespread that the halal status is forged? Hoping for the ruling.
Brief Answer
Muslim who have eaten imported meat before the syubha issue persists recently on imported meat, the ruling is it is forgiven. This matter is based on syara’ evidences which extract ruling based on the original condition which is halal unless there is an evidence which changes it as well as facilitation and ease in matters which are unintentional with the condition that the certification through halal logo at the packaging has already been done before.
Explanation
Allah SWT says in al-Quran:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُلُوا مِن طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ
O you who have believed, eat from the good things which We have provided for you
Surah al-Baqarah (172)
Allah SWT commands the people to search for sources of provision which are good and halal. Each food eaten will become one’s flesh and blood. This is because, when a person eats food which are haram and syubha, his heart will become dark. Besides, each flesh built from haram matters surely will be burnt in the hellfire. So, it is true the saying of the Prophet PBUH:
إِنَّ الْحَلاَلَ بَيِّنٌ وَإِنَّ الْحَرَامَ بَيِّنٌ وَبَيْنَهُمَا مُشْتَبِهَاتٌ لاَ يَعْلَمُهُنَّ كَثِيرٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ فَمَنِ اتَّقَى الشُّبُهَاتِ اسْتَبْرَأَ لِدِينِهِ وَعِرْضِهِ وَمَنْ وَقَعَ فِي الشُّبُهَاتِ وَقَعَ فِي الْحَرَامِ
What is lawful is evident and what is unlawful is evident, and in between them are the things doubtful which many people do not know. So he who guards against doubtful things keeps his religion and honour blameless, and he who indulges in doubtful things indulges in fact in unlawful things,
Sahih Muslim (107)
The Ruling of Eating Imported Meat with Fake Halal Logo
Basically, regarding the consumption of meat from slaughtered and hunted animal, the Shafi’e scholars like Imam al-Nawawi mentioned a maxim that ‘the original rule for slaughtered animal is haram’ unless it is certified first that all parts of the animal comply with the conditions of valid slaughter set by Syarak.
(Refer: Syarh Sahih Muslim, 13/116)
Referring to the context in Malaysia, buyers’ assurance has been built by the clear halal logo endorsed by the authority like JAKIM and other accredited parties on the meat packaging bought. Halal logo which is put on each food packaging whether raw or processed meat really help Muslims in making sure the halal status of a food product.
The original rule of imported meat with halal logo endorsed by authority bodies is halal because it complies the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of halal certification set by Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM). The original rule remains until there is proof or syara’ evidence which changes or modifies its condition. This is based on Fiqh maxim set by the scholars like what is mentioned by Imam al-Suyuti:
الأصل بقاء ما كان على ما كان
The original rule of a thing remains in the state in which it was
(Refer al-Ashbah wa al-Nazoir, 72)
However, regarding the issue of imported meat, if a consumer already ate the meat which originally assured of its halal status then there comes a possibility that the halal logo is fabricated, then the ruling of eating such meat is forgiven as it was done unintentionally. This is based on the saying of Allah SWT:
وَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ فِيمَا أَخْطَأْتُم بِهِ وَلَـٰكِن مَّا تَعَمَّدَتْ قُلُوبُكُمْ ۚ وَكَانَ اللَّـهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا
And there is no blame upon you for that in which you have erred but [only for] what your hearts intended. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.
Surah al-Ahzab (5)
In another verse, Allah SWT also taught a du’a to ask for forgiveness for our actions done unintentionally through the saying of Allah:
رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِن نَّسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا
"Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred.”
Surah al-Baqarah (286)
Imam al-Nawawi in his book al-Majmu’ Syarh al-Muhazzab (8/450) mentioned a famous hadith:
رُفِعَ عَنْ أُمَّتِيْ الخَطَأُ وَالنِّسْيَانُ وَمَا اسْتُكْرِهُوْا عَلَيْهِ
"Allah has forgiven my nation for mistakes and forgetfulness, and what they are forced to do." [Imam al-Nawawi evaluated this hadith as sahih]
In addition, some scholars like Ibn Hazm put a maxim stating:
ما غاب عنا لا نسأل عنه
“Matters concealed to us, no need for us to ask”
(Refer al-Muhalla bi al-Athar, 6/148)
Conclusion
Muslim who have eaten imported meat before the syubha issue persists recently on imported meat, the ruling is it is forgiven. This matter is based on syara’ evidences which extract ruling based on the original condition which is halal unless there is an evidence which changes it as well as facilitation and ease in matters which are unintentional with the condition that the certification through halal logo at the packaging has already been done before.
Wallahu a’lam.