I am deeply saddened by the misinformation and ignorance about the Islamic requirement of humane [Halal] slaughter of livestock for food.
Halal slaughter of livestock for food stems from the time when Abraham the Divine Messenger of God [peace be upon him] had a vision he should offer his eldest son Ishmael as a sacrifice to God to show his love and commitment to God. Abraham came to know how sacred all life is when the Angel Gabriel appeared before him and Ishmael and said: [The Holy Quran Chapter 37 Verse 105] “You have already fulfilled your vision!”… Verse 106 This was a clear Test [from God] Verse 107 So We ransomed Ishmael [and instead a sheep was produced by the Angel Gabriel dedicated as a sacrifice to God, however, Abraham could only take its life after saying this prayer]: ‘In the name of God, the Most Loving, the Most Forgiving’ [and then he could only take its life in the most careful humane way possible (Halal) and its meat was offered to the poor and the needy].
The Message to Abraham, Ishmael and all mankind was: God gives precious life to all humans, to all living creatures and all living things on Earth for our benefit. However we humans as trustees on Earth need to treat all life as sacred and at all times we need to strive to work in harmony with God, all humans, all living creatures and our environment on Earth. To commemorate this vital revelation
Abraham and Ishmael built the Ka’ba [the House of God] in Mecca. In one of its walls is the “Black Stone,” the meteor which descended to Earth when the Angel Gabriel came to Earth to deliver God’s Divine Message to Abraham, Ishmael and mankind.
Since the revelation of the Holy Quran confirmed this vital Message, dedicated Muslims, seeking to please God whilst enjoying His gift of livestock have pursued their humane obligations diligently.
Sadly in many nations there is a poor understanding of God’s humane [Halal] obligations and the benefit of modern technology such as electronic stunning of livestock prior to slaughter is not properly understood and is mistakenly perceived as torture and therefore not used but they fail to realise their conduct is barbaric and certainly un-Islamic.
The current tragedy gripping Australia and Indonesia needs to be resolved immediately to avoid wholesale shooting of millions of head of livestock whilst denying Indonesia of a vital food.
Right now, Australia needs to help Indonesia to properly fit out its offending abattoirs with modern technology to avoid the current basic and cruel conduct at those facilities.
In the long term to avoid the unnecessary suffering caused by livestock export Australia has an excellent opportunity to introduce a world first initiative by offering to build more state of the art slaughtering facilities here to enable Indonesians and other nations to send their slaughtermen here to carry out Halal practices and ensure everyone derives the benefits and livestock are no longer tortured.
HASET SALI
[LLB. B.Jurisprudence Monash University, Australia]
Writer and Publisher of The Holy Quran Simply [holyquransimply.com]
President of the Inspiration Foundation
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