Prayer for Slaughtering Male and Female Chickens and Conditions for Halal Animal Slaughter

Dream - Chicken meat is one of the good sources of protein for the body. Both live chickens and ready-to-cook chickens are easily found in Indonesia. Even when you're confused about what to eat, dishes made from chicken are always a favorite choice.

Halal chicken is consumed by Muslims. However, the method of slaughter must be in accordance with Islamic law in order for the chicken meat to be truly halal. Incorrect slaughter will render it non-halal, you know.

This is why it is important to know how to slaughter chickens and recite prayers when slaughtering male and female chickens. Reciting prayers when slaughtering male and female chickens is something that must be observed, especially for Muslim communities, in order to obtain halal and thoyyiban (good) food.

Here, Dream will discuss the prayers for slaughtering male and female chickens as well as the correct method of slaughter in accordance with Islamic law.

Prayer Intention for Slaughtering Male and Female Chickens

Muslims must know that slaughtering chickens in a way that is not in accordance with Islamic law will make the chicken haram (forbidden) to consume. Therefore, it is necessary to be careful in carrying out the slaughter. Reciting the prayer for slaughtering male and female chickens correctly, as well as observing the proper method of slaughter, is the main solution.

Reciting the prayer for slaughtering male and female chickens is done to make the chicken halal and blessed for consumption. As a result, it can contribute to a healthy body and protect against diseases.

Here are the prayers for slaughtering male and female chickens that you need to know:

1. Prayer Intention for Slaughtering Male Chickens

Nawaitu an adzbaha haadzad dayka lillahi ta'ala.

Meaning:

"I intend to slaughter this male chicken for the sake of Allah Ta'ala."

2. Prayer Intention for Slaughtering Female Chickens

Nawaitu an adzbaha haadzal ganama lillahi ta'ala.

Meaning:

"I intend to slaughter this female chicken for the sake of Allah Ta'ala."

Islamic Method of Animal Slaughter

After knowing the prayers for slaughtering male and female chickens mentioned above, it is also important to know the Islamic method of animal slaughter. Slaughtering an animal in accordance with Islamic law will make its meat good and pure, thus making it halal to consume.

It should be noted that if an animal is slaughtered in a way that is not in accordance with Islamic law, its status will change to carrion, which is forbidden to eat.

Therefore, pay attention to the following Islamic method of animal slaughter:

1. Criteria for Animals

The animal to be slaughtered must meet the requirements according to Islamic law, such as:

1. Belongs to the category of animals whose meat is halal to consume, such as cows, goats, buffaloes, chickens, ducks, rabbits, and so on.
2. The animal is still alive, not carrion.
3. The animal can be controlled for slaughter, not wild.
4. Fish and locusts are halal to consume without the need for slaughter.

2. Requirements for the Slaughterer

In addition to the criteria for halal animal slaughter, attention should also be paid to the person performing the slaughter. The criteria for the slaughterer are as follows:

1. A Muslim.
2. Sane (not mentally impaired or insane).
3. Male or female, adult or child.
4. Not an apostate. (Here, apostate refers to someone who has left Islam, whether they have never embraced Islam or have left after embracing Islam. Their slaughter is not halal, so the animal they slaughter is forbidden to eat. The slaughter of the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) who follow the laws of Prophet Moses and Prophet Jesus is considered halal. Meanwhile, the slaughter of adherents of other religions in Indonesia, apart from Islam, is considered not halal because it is more appropriate to categorize them as apostates rather than People of the Book.)

3. Tools Used for Slaughter

It is recommended to use sharp tools made of iron, brass, copper, and so on for animal slaughter. However, it is not allowed to slaughter using tools made of bones, teeth, or nails.

Meanwhile, based on the Fatwa Commission of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) on October 18, 1976, mechanical slaughter with stunning is allowed, provided that the animal does not die, meaning it does not become carrion.

The Prophet Muhammad taught the Muslim community to treat animals well before slaughter and to use good methods of slaughter.

"Indeed, Allah SWT has made it obligatory to do good in all actions. If you kill, do it in the best way. And if you slaughter (an animal), do it in the best way. Sharpen your knife and treat the animal well during slaughter." (Narrated by Muslim)

4. Pay Attention to the Slaughtered Parts

When slaughtering an animal, including male and female chickens, it is important to pay attention to the parts of the animal's body that will be slaughtered. Here are the parts of the body that need to be cut during slaughter:

1. The part of the body to be slaughtered is the upper, middle, and lower neck, by cutting off the esophagus and trachea. It is even better if the two arteries on the sides of the neck are also cut.
2. The neck of the slaughtered animal can be cut or not.
3. The position of the person performing the slaughter can be sitting, squatting, or standing. There is no obligation to face the qibla or a specific direction.
4. However, it is preferable to face the animal towards the qibla (especially for sacrificial animals).
5. The intention for slaughtering the animal should be solely for the sake of Allah, and it is recommended to recite the prayer for slaughtering animals as mentioned above.
6. Perform the slaughter according to the sharia.
7. Leave the slaughtered animal until it is completely dead before cleaning it.

Prayer for Slaughtering Chicken

The procedure for reciting the prayer for slaughtering chickens can also be done in the following order:

1. Reciting Salawat to the Prophet Muhammad

After reciting the basmalah, the prayer for slaughtering chickens continues with reciting salawat (blessings) to the Prophet Muhammad.

The recitation of salawat that can be recited when slaughtering chickens is:

"Allahumma shalli ala sayyidina muhammadin wa ala ali sayyidina muhammadin."

Meaning: "O Allah, bestow blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad and his family."

2. Reciting Takbir 3 Times

Here is the recitation of takbir (saying Allahu Akbar) in the prayer for slaughtering chickens:

"Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, walillahil hamd."

Meaning: "Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, and all praise is due to Allah."

3. Closing Prayer for Slaughtering Chickens

Finally, the prayer for slaughtering chickens is concluded by reciting the following prayer:

"Allahumma hadzihi minka wa ilaika, fataqabbal minni ya karim."

Meaning: "O Allah, this animal is a blessing from You. And with this, I seek closeness to You. Therefore, O Most Generous Lord, accept my closeness."

Procedure for Slaughtering Chicken According to Sharia

The above prayer for slaughtering chicken is important for every Muslim to know, especially those who will slaughter chickens, both male and female. In addition to reciting the prayer for slaughtering chicken, Dream Friends also need to follow the procedure for slaughtering chickens according to Sharia.

Based on the explanation from the Indonesian Council of Ulama's Food and Drug Analysis and Cosmetics Assessment Institute (LPPOM MUI), here are the stages of slaughtering chickens according to Islamic Sharia:

1. The person slaughtering the chicken must have reached puberty, be a Muslim, and be sane.
2. The chicken to be slaughtered must be alive, healthy, and clean.
3. It is recommended to face the qibla (direction of Mecca).
4. Recite the phrase 'bismillahi allahu akbar' or 'bismillahirrahmanirrahim' before slaughtering the chicken. Then recite the prayer for slaughtering the chicken.
5. It is forbidden to slaughter the chicken while eating, drinking, smoking, or engaging in any other activity that causes negligence in reciting the basmalah.
6. The slaughter is done at the base of the chicken's neck by severing the respiratory and digestive tracts, as well as the two neck veins (blood vessels on the right and left sides of the neck) with a single cut without lifting the knife.
7. It is done from the front part of the neck between the second and third neck bones without severing the neck.
8. The knife used for slaughtering the chicken must be as sharp as possible and clean.
9. Ensure that the chicken's death is caused by the slaughtering.
10. Let the chicken's blood flow out for at least 3 minutes before proceeding to the next step (it is better to hang the chicken to maximize blood drainage).
11. The chicken is considered dead when the blood stops spurting and there is no corneal reflex in its eyes.
12. Once it is confirmed that the chicken is dead, it can be further processed by soaking it in hot water.
13. Meanwhile, in industrial-scale slaughter, attention must be paid to the conveyor speed and the distance to the hot water immersion area.
14. The next process must be carried out in a clean condition to avoid bacterial contamination, impurities, or other forbidden substances.

Those are the important prayers for slaughtering chicken that every Muslim should know. 

Requirements for Halal Slaughtered Animals

According to Islamic teachings, there are several criteria that must be met by animals to be considered halal or permissible for slaughter. Here are the criteria:

1. Type of Animal

Animals that are permissible to be slaughtered are livestock commonly used for human consumption, such as cows, buffaloes, goats, sheep, and camels. These animals are known as halal animals.

2. Condition of the Animal

The animal to be slaughtered must be in a healthy condition and not suffering from significant diseases or defects that make it unfit for consumption.

3. Slaughtering Method

The slaughter of animals must be done using a method called dhabihah. This method involves cutting the animal's arteries and veins in the neck using a sharp knife to ensure quick and painless slaughter.

4. Reciting the Name of Allah

When slaughtering an animal, the name of Allah (pronounced by saying "Bismillah") must be recited as part of the slaughtering process. This indicates that the slaughter is done as an act of worship and reverence to Allah.

5. Performed by a Skilled Slaughterer

The slaughter must be performed by a skilled and trained person who knows the proper method of slaughtering according to Islamic teachings. The person slaughtering the animal must have knowledge and understanding of the proper slaughtering procedure.

6. Avoiding Haram Animals

In Islam, there is a list of animals that are forbidden (haram) to consume, such as pigs and their derivatives, carnivorous animals, and certain types of animals with fangs like cats and dogs. These animals are considered haram and should not be consumed.

These criteria must be met for an animal to be considered halal or permissible for consumption in Islam. This is done to ensure cleanliness, healthiness, and adherence to religious guidelines in obtaining food sources.