The criterion to use in order to judge if a country is Ahlul-Kitaab
Question:
"What criterion are we to use to judge if a country is Ahl-ul-Kitaab (People of the Book, meaning Jews and Christians) or another type, or the grocery stores are halaal considering that many people work in the slaughterhouses who are not Ahl-ul-Kitaab."
Answer:
"If the ruler of a particular country and the majority of its people, the majority of its citizens are Christians or Jews then they are to be called the people of the Book. Even if they do not practice Christianity or they do not practice Judaism. Allaah سبحانه و تعالى named them People of the Book at the time of the Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم while they were practicing major polytheism. They (the Jewish people) used to say that 'Uzair is the son of Allaah سبحانه و تعالى and the Christians used to say that Jesus (Isa عليه سلام) is the son of Allaah سبحانه و تعالى. However, Allaah سبحانه و تعالى still called them the People of the Book.
As for their meat or as for the issue of the meat, then whether it is permissible or not depends on who slaughtered it. So if the person who slaughtered it was a Jewish person or a Christian, then it is considered to be from the meat of the People of the Book. However, if it was an atheist or a polytheist that slaughtered it then it is not permissible and it is considered to be from the meat of the polytheists."
Shaykh 'Abdur-Rahmaan al-‘Ajlaan, may Allah preserve him
Translated by Albaseerah.org.
Source: Brotherhood and Q&A Session, 10th of February, 2007. [Click here for a screenshot in PDF format]
Use the player below or download the MP3 here.
"What criterion are we to use to judge if a country is Ahl-ul-Kitaab (People of the Book, meaning Jews and Christians) or another type, or the grocery stores are halaal considering that many people work in the slaughterhouses who are not Ahl-ul-Kitaab."
Answer:
"If the ruler of a particular country and the majority of its people, the majority of its citizens are Christians or Jews then they are to be called the people of the Book. Even if they do not practice Christianity or they do not practice Judaism. Allaah سبحانه و تعالى named them People of the Book at the time of the Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم while they were practicing major polytheism. They (the Jewish people) used to say that 'Uzair is the son of Allaah سبحانه و تعالى and the Christians used to say that Jesus (Isa عليه سلام) is the son of Allaah سبحانه و تعالى. However, Allaah سبحانه و تعالى still called them the People of the Book.
As for their meat or as for the issue of the meat, then whether it is permissible or not depends on who slaughtered it. So if the person who slaughtered it was a Jewish person or a Christian, then it is considered to be from the meat of the People of the Book. However, if it was an atheist or a polytheist that slaughtered it then it is not permissible and it is considered to be from the meat of the polytheists."
Shaykh 'Abdur-Rahmaan al-‘Ajlaan, may Allah preserve him
Translated by Albaseerah.org.
Source: Brotherhood and Q&A Session, 10th of February, 2007. [Click here for a screenshot in PDF format]
Use the player below or download the MP3 here.
