Is machine-slaughtered chicken halal?

Why does the method matter?

In classical fiqh the tasmiyah is recited by the person slaughtering, over the animal being slaughtered. With a machine, scholars ask who the slaughterer is and whether a single recitation over a line of thousands of birds satisfies the condition. Those who say no require hand slaughter; those who say yes attach conditions to the machine.

Is most UK halal chicken machine slaughtered?

Much of the halal chicken sold in supermarkets and restaurant chains comes from large plants that use mechanical slaughter under an HFA-type certification, because it is faster and cheaper. Hand-slaughtered HMC chicken comes from smaller plants and is sold mainly through independent butchers.

How can I tell if chicken was hand slaughtered?

Look for HMC certification. HMC only certifies hand-slaughtered poultry, so HMC-labelled chicken is hand slaughtered by definition. For any other halal label, ask the shop or the certifier which method the plant uses.

Is the chicken at Ikhlas hand slaughtered?

Yes. Every bird at Ikhlas Halal Butcher, Bradford, is HMC-certified, which means hand slaughtered without stunning with the tasmiyah recited over each one, and delivered to us in HMC-sealed packaging.

More on halal and HMC

• What is HMC?
• HMC vs HFA: what is the difference?
• Is stunned meat halal?
• What does the HMC stamp on meat mean?
• Does a halal sign mean the meat is halal?
• What is the tasmiyah and why does it matter?
• Where can I buy HMC halal meat in Bradford?
• Our HMC approval
• Halal meat, explained: farm to counter