Is it lawful to ask How the Animal was Slaughtered?

Question:

Is it lawful to ask about how an animal was killed if you do not know?

Answer:

The Prophet (SallAllah alayhi wa sallam) would inquire regarding the sources from which food came. It is narrated that,

كان إذا أتى بطعام سأل عنه فإن قيل هدية أكل منها وإن قيل صدقة لم يأكل منها

“When he was given food he would ask regarding it. If it was said a gift he would eat from it, and if it was said charity he would not eat from it.”

This hadith is related by Muslim (7/184), Tirmidhi (#592 3/62), Bayhaqi in al-Sunan al-Kubra (#12407 6/185), and others.

Allah knows best.

Shafiifiqh.com Fatwa Dept.