Question: In short, the questioner is asking about the imported meats ^[1]. Meaning, should he eat from it or not?

Answer: The general principle concerning imported meats, if it is from the lands of the people of the Book, then the principle is that it is halaal. Allaah said:

“The food (slaughtered cattle, etc.) of the people of the Book (Jews and Christians) is lawful to you.” - Al-Maa’idah (5):5

(From) the lands of the Jews and the Christians. But if it is not from the lands of the people of the Book, (such as) a Communist country, then do not eat it. And as for what is said currently about the slaughterhouses outside (in these lands) that they use electric shocks or asphyxiation, then it is befitting for the individual to be cautious. And the Prophet (:pbuh:) said:

“Leave what is doubtful for that which is not doubtful.”

And all praise is due to Allaah, we have slaughtered meat in our country, and chicken and other than them. So it is befitting for a man to take care of his religion and not to accept the speech that is spread concerning it unless he knows that it was slaughtered Islaamically. And the Islaamic method is: cutting of the throat and the esophagus with a sharp knife and that the one doing the slaughtering is a Muslim or someone from the people of the Book.

^[1] Translator’s Note: The fatwaa is regarding meats that are imported in to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from the lands of the people of the Book.