Eating non-halal chicken unknowingly is not sinful, says Mufti

SHAH ALAM - Muslims who unknowingly bought and ate chicken that was not slaughtered according to Islamic law are not sinful for doing so, says Penang Mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Sukki Othman.

He said this was based on the Islamic principle that a person is not held accountable for an act committed unintentionally.

Sukki said Muslims need not feel overly worried or guilty if they had bought and eaten chicken from the premises without knowing whether it had been slaughtered according to Islamic requirements.

"A person who consumes prohibited food without genuinely knowing the truth, and without deliberate intention or wilful negligence, does not incur sin for the act," he told Sinar on Sunday.

Mohd Sukki

A chicken slaughtering and processing facility in Puchong that failed to comply with Islamic slaughtering requirements was raided under Ops Taring Chiller last Friday after it was found to be processing more than 40,000 chickens a day.

The chickens were believed to have been distributed to grocery shops, restaurants and business premises in Puchong, Putrajaya, Cyberjaya, Damansara, Cheras and Bangi.

Sukki added individuals who bought chicken from restaurants or shops that appeared to sell halal food and ate it without knowing its actual slaughter status would not be sinful for consuming it unknowingly.

He said they were also not required to pay kafarah (expiation), make up for the food consumed or perform any specific acts to purify themselves.

"There is also no question of a person's body becoming impure or their acts of worship being rejected solely because they had unknowingly consumed non-halal food.

"However, once a person receives reliable information that the chicken supply is non-halal, they must stop consuming it," he said.

Sukki explained that the situation was different for those who knew that the chicken had died before being slaughtered but deliberately ate it without a valid reason under Islamic law.

He said such an act was sinful and the individual was required to repent to Allah SWT by abandoning the act, regretting the wrongdoing and resolving not to repeat it.

He also advised Muslims to be more mindful of their food sources, particularly chicken and meat that require slaughtering in accordance with Islamic law.

"Muslim consumers should prioritise premises and suppliers with a valid Malaysian Halal Certification (SPHM), particularly when buying processed chicken and meat.

"They are also advised to check halal status through the official channels of the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) or state religious authorities, rather than relying solely on logos or sellers' claims," he said.

Sukki reminded Muslims to ensure their food supplies came from clear and reliable sources, especially when purchasing chicken in large quantities or from unfamiliar suppliers.

"Do not be easily swayed by excessively low prices to the point of neglecting the source of the food and its slaughtering method.

"Consumers should also avoid buying from sources that raise reasonable doubts, particularly when there is credible information indicating violations of Islamic slaughtering requirements," he said.