Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

we have a bohri neighbour.are we allowed to exchange gifts with them.and especially food.they r over all very nice people.but i do not know if they take Allah's name when slaughtering the goats at eid-al adha and otherwise.please answer the query.

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Answer:

Bohri food gift/halaal or Qurbani of Shias

Dear and respected Brother in Islam, one cannot over-emphasize the significance and importance of developing good and cordial relations with one’s neighbors in Islam…..

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 8.45 Narrated by Abu Shuraih

The Prophet (saws) said, "By Allah, he does not believe! By Allah, he does not believe! By Allah, he does not believe!" It was asked, "Who is that, O Messenger of Allah (saws)?"  He (saws) said, "That person whose neighbor does not feel safe from his evil." and in another narration the wordings are; “that person who sleeps with a bellyful and his neighbor sleeps hungry.”

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 311         Narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar

The Prophet (saws) said: ‘The best friend in the Sight of Allah is he who is the well-wisher of his companions, and the best neighbor is one who behaves best towards his neighbors.’

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 8.44 Narrated by Abdullah Ibn Umar

Allah' Messenger (saws) said, "Jibrael (a.s.) kept on recommending me about treating the neighbors in a kind and polite manner, so much so that I thought that he would order (me) to make them (my) heirs!"

There is absolutely no restriction in accepting the gift or food of Bohri Muslim as well as meat if they provide with it, because if the below five conditions are met, the food served by the other people will be termed Halal for the believers.

The animal itself should be halaal in Shariah.

The one who slaughters the animal must either be a Muslim, or a Jew or a Christian.   If any other person slaughters the animal, it will not be considered halaal.

The animal has to be slaughtered and the blood should be oozed out naturally.  It does not matter if the animal is slaughtered by hand or by a machine, from the front of the neck or from the back.  What is important is that the veins must be cut to allow the blood to be oozed out of the body.

The animal should have been alive at the time of slaughter.   

 The condition that Allah’s name has to be pronounced is not a condition for the People of the Book, as long as nobody else’s’ name is pronounced.   If anybody else’s name other than Allah is pronounced at the time of slaughter, it does not matter who slaughters the animal, the meat is Haraam.

To the best of our limited knowledge the bohra muslims sacrifice animals by pronouncing " In the name of Allah" and hence the food will be halaal.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan