Mechanical slaughter and KFC halal or not?? United Kingdom

In the Name of Allah, the Inspirer of Truth.
Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

 

See the following links:

 

HFA STATEMENT ON MECHANICAL SLAUGHTER

KFC Halal Trial from their site

 

Halal Monitoring Committee on KFC Halal

 

We will take up one of the points which HFA consider to be permissible:

Mechanical slaughter -

The point of debate among scholars with regards to mechanical slaughtering is whether it fulfils the important requisite of the Tasmiyah (reciting Bismillah at the time of slaughter) being rendered by the person actually slaughtering the animal.

The books of Fiqh state categorically that the Tasmiyah must be uttered by the person actually slaughtering the animal. If someone else utters the Tasmiyah while the person slaughtering remains quiet (i.e. intentionally omits reciting the Tasmiyah) the animal will not be Halal.

(Fatawaa Alamghiriyyah P. 286. Vol. 5)

During mechanical slaughter, when the  power is turned on, and the poultry starts to move along the conveyor belt towards the fixed blades, a Muslim may be standing and reciting the Tasmiyah on each individual chicken, the question here is whether this is considered to be his own act of slaughter or not?

The majority of scholars hold the view that in the above case, only the first chicken will be considered Halal and all subsequent poultry will be Haraam.

The reason for this is that when the Muslim slaughter man turns the power on and recites Tasmiyah, his action of turning the power on is considered valid only for the first chicken. i.e. It will be assumed that the Tasmiyah has taken place on his personal act of slaughter. The pressing of the 'On' button is considered his own act.

However, as for all subsequent poultry which follows, they are not considered to be his own act of slaughter, hence his Tasmiyah remains meaningless rendering the poultry Haraam for consumption.

(Summary of an Urdu Treatise by Mufti Khalid Saifullah Rahmani. Jadeed Fiqhi Masaa'il, Page 219, Vl. 2)
To conclude,  we are not aware of any reputable Ulama working for HFA, hence unable to accept their verification.

 

The nature of food certification is such that it requires the overseeing of qualified and reputable Ulamaa.  
And Allah knows Best
Wa Alaykumussalaam Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh

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