Can Muslims consume haram meat in a non-Muslim country?
Can Muslims consume haram meat in a non-Muslim country?
Question: I am a student in the United States, where students from many countries study. When they cannot find halal meat despite their efforts, they buy meat from a supermarket that has not been slaughtered according to Islamic methods. What should we do?
Answer: First, understand the following principles, and then the issue will be clear, Insha'Allah.
(1) Eating halal is necessary and obligatory. Giving up halal and choosing haram without a valid reason is prohibited and haram.
(2) As long as halal options are available, consuming haram is not permissible.
(3) Meat is a desirable and preferred food. If halal meat is available, it is better, but if halal meat is not available, consuming haram meat is not correct.
(4) Something being desirable to someone does not make haram permissible.
(5) Consuming haram is only permissible when halal is completely unavailable, and there is a risk to one's life. This is called 'Iztrar-e-Sharia' or necessity in Islamic law.
(Jami'-ul-Fatawa, Volume: 8, Page: 224).