QUESTION:
What is the ruling regarding meat that is grown in laboratories?
ANSWER:
Islam is a complete and perfect way that has covered every aspect of a Muslim’s life, leaving no scope for any addition or subtraction. The laws of our beautiful Deen have been explicitly mentioned in the Quraan, Hadith, and expounded upon by the Fuqaha.
With regards to meat, the Quraan has mentioned that the meat of Halaal animals will only be permissible if slaughtered in accordance to the Shari’ee method of slaughter. Allah Ta’ala mentions:
حُرِّمَتْ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَيْتَةُ وَالْدَّمُ وَلَحْمُ الْخِنْزِيرِ وَمَا أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ اللّهِ بِهِ وَالْمُنْخَنِقَةُ وَالْمَوْقُوذَةُ وَالْمُتَرَدِّيَةُ وَالنَّطِيحَةُ وَمَا أَكَلَ السَّبُعُ إِلاَّ مَا ذَكَّيْتُمْ
Forbidden for you (for you to eat) is Mayta (carrion), blood (that flows from an animal’s body), the meat of pigs, (the meat of) those animals that were sacrificed with (the slaughterer taking) the name of another besides Allaah, those (animals) that were strangled to death (that suffocated to death or drowned), those that were beaten to death (died through injuries), those that fell to their deaths, those killed by collision (either by impact or after being gored by another animal) and those eaten by wild beasts; except that which you slaughter.
In another verse of Surah Maa’ida, Allah Ta’ala speaks of the permissibility of hunting a Halaal animal (for consumption) by means of a trained hunting dog or bird.
يَسْأَلُونَكَ مَاذَا أُحِلَّ لَهُمْ قُلْ أُحِلَّ لَكُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتُ وَمَا عَلَّمْتُم مِّنَ الْجَوَارِحِ مُكَلِّبِينَ تُعَلِّمُونَهُنَّ مِمَّا عَلَّمَكُمُ اللّهُ فَكُلُواْ مِمَّا أَمْسَكْنَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَاذْكُرُواْ اسْمَ اللّهِ عَلَيْهِ
They (the Muslims) ask you (O Muhammad e) what is permissible (lawful) for them (from the various types of food). Say, “Permitted (made lawful) for you are the pure (wholesome) things and the (game hunted by) hunting animals (dogs and birds) that you tamed and trained (to hunt according to the injunctions of the Shari’ah), teaching them what (etiquette of hunting) Allaah had taught you. Eat of what they hunt for you (when they fulfil the conditions of the Shari’ah in hunting) and take the name of Allaah (when releasing the hunting dog or bird).
There are certain requisites that should be fulfilled so that the hunted animal is regarded as Halaal such as:
- The dog (used for hunting) must be trained for hunting.
- The Tasmiyah should be recited when sending the dog after the animal of prey.
- If the hunted animal dies before being slaughtered, then too it will be considered as Halaal, on condition that the dog had wounded it causing the animal to bleed.
Re:- Fataawa Mahmoodiyya pg.130 vol.26
These are basically the ways in which the meat of a Halaal animal will be regarded as permissible for consumption. If a hunter uses a hunting rifle to hunt his animal, then too it is necessary that he slaughters the animal while the animal is alive. If the animal dies before been slaughtered, it will be considered as carrion.
From the above discussion, we clearly understand that slaughtering the animal in accordance to Shariah is a requisite for any Halaal animal’s meat to be suitable for consumption.
Secondly, if the Shari’ee means of slaughtering is adhered to, then too there are certain parts of the animal that are not suitable for consumption such as the gall bladder, urinary bladder, glands, flowing blood, male and female genitalia, etc. This is a clear indication that we are totally governed by the Shariah in regard to the method of slaughter, as well as which parts of the animal we are permitted to eat.
Coming to your query of growing meat in a lab, the tissue (of the animal) is extracted from a live animal, as is done when an animal undergoes a biopsy. The cells are then grown in the laboratory, minced, flavored and finally available for consumption. From our discussion, we have already understood that the animal has to be slaughtered (according to Shariah) so that the meat is considered as permissible, whereas in this case the tissue was extracted without the required procedure of slaughtering being adhered to.
The Fuqaha have mentioned the following scenario which proves that a portion of the animal that is separated from the animal while (the animal) is alive cannot be consumed and is treated as Haraam, as in the case of carrion. If a hunter shoots the leg of a cow as a result of which the thigh of the cow is separated from the body, but the cow manages to the escape. The hunter pursues the animal and finally reaches it while the animal is alive and slaughters it, the animal will be Halaal for consumption; but not the thigh that was separated from the body due to being shot. [Re:- Fataawa Mahmoodiyya pg.130 vol.26]
Based on the above, we conclude that any portion of an animal extracted without following the Shari’ee procedure of slaughtering will be considered as impermissible or Haraam for consumption.
Assuming that the tissue was extracted (from the animal) after slaughtering (the animal) in accordance to the Shariah, then too we are not aware of the medium of growth used in laboratories. In our previous research, we have found that blood was sometimes used as a medium of growth which is totally prohibited. Extensive research will then be required to determine whether the growth medium is of permissible ingredients or not. This complicates matters even further leaving us with unlimited doubt.
Another point of consideration for us as Muslims particularly, is that the reason for scientists experimenting and looking at alternate means of producing meat is due to the fear that by the year 2050 there will be a shortage of animals. They estimate that twice the number of animals that are currently in existence, will be required for human consumption, thus the need for growing meat in laboratories. We as Muslims firmly believe that Allah Ta’ala alone is our Sustainer, and He has taken the responsibility of sustaining his creation. We should fulfil our duties towards our Creator (obeying His commands, performing our Salaah, and fulfilling all other fundamentals of Islam) and He in turn will take care of our needs. Unfortunately, due to weakness of Imaan, we as Muslims are concerned of making arrangements of our Rizq whilst we neglect our duty towards Allah Ta’ala.
Lastly, hypothetically speaking, if there is insufficient livestock for consumption, then too Allah Ta’ala has provided various other types of food in the form of fruit, fresh produce, fish, etc. Being concerned of eating and merry-making is the work of the Kuffar as can be understood in the following verse of the Quraan:
ذَرْهُمْ يَأْكُلُواْ وَيَتَمَتَّعُواْ وَيُلْهِهِمُ الأَمَلُ فَسَوْفَ يَعْلَمُونَ
(Since the Kuffaar refuse to listen to the message of Islaam), Leave them to eat, to enjoy and let their hopes (of long lives and much wealth) make them negligent (of Imaan). Soon they will come to know (the error of their ways).
In conclusion, we as Muslims should totally abstain from such meat products grown in laboratories due to the dubious, or even Haraam status of such products. May Allah Ta;ala grant us the ability to understand the purpose of our lives.
ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai Saheb
Date: 28 Rajab 1445 . 09 February 2024
