What is the ruling on the slaughter performed by the People of the Book (Ahl al-Kitab)?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Hunting and Slaughter
Primary text
The consensus among scholars is that the slaughter of the People of the Book is permissible based on the verse: {And the food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you} [Quran 5:5], which refers to their slaughtered animals. Ibn Abbas, Mujahid, and Qatada confirm this interpretation, and the meaning is narrated from Ibn Mas'ud. The majority of jurists also permit their game.
Supporting text
Ata, al-Layth, al-Shafi'i, and the Ashab al-Ra'y hold this view. Only Malik is known to have forbidden the game of the People of the Book while permitting their slaughtered meat. This differentiation is invalid because their game falls under the general scope of their food mentioned in the verse, and the game of one whose slaughter is permissible is also permissible, like that of a Muslim.