Is meat slaughtered for the festivals of the People of the Book permissible to eat generally?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Hunting and Slaughter
Primary text
There is a reported view from Imam Ahmad that allows eating such meat, as reported from Al-'Irbad ibn Sariya, who permitted it and asked for some to be fed to him. Similar reports exist from Abu Umamah al-Bahili and Abu Muslim al-Khawlani. Abu al-Darda' and Jubayr ibn Nufayr also ate it. Al-'Amr ibn al-Aswad, Mak'hul, and Damrah ibn Habib permitted it based on the Quranic verse {The food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you} (Quran 5:5), considering this to be their food.
Supporting text
A narration from Imam Ahmad indicates dislike for what is slaughtered for their temples and festivals absolutely, which is the view of Maymun ibn Mihran, based on it being slaughtered for other than God. Hanbal reported Imam Ahmad stating that meat slaughtered for their festivals and temples is not eaten because it is dedicated to other than God, noting they intentionally omit the naming, slaughtering only for the Messiah.