By: Ayatullah al-Uzma Shaykh Nasir Makarim Shirazi
& Ayatullah Ja’far Subhani
Question: In Islam, some rules and regulations are stipulated for slaughter of animals. For example, all the four veins in the neck should be cut and to say Bismillah etc. If these conditions are not fulfilled, meat of that animal is not fit for eating. Though many people in the world overlook these rules and use the meat of such animals and there is no harmful effect on them. Explain what is the purpose of these regulations?
Answer: It seems that by these regulations Islam wants to fulfill three purposes: First is to get away from the traditions of idol-worshippers, who use to cut the throat of their animals by taking the name of the idol. That is why taking the name of Allah was considered to be essential part of this slaughter.
The main function of which is to destroy the thought of idol-worship and secondly to drain out blood from the animal so that it does not remain in the layers of meat, and should not be eaten along with the flesh.
Medical science of today has discovered so many harms in food containing blood. Other than this, blood is always contaminated with different kinds of germs. It is also proved by experience that food items having blood create such mentality and peculiarities in the humans, which are not preferable. Feebleness of sensitiveness, tyranny and hardheartedness is included in these.
The third purpose is that the animal should die as soon as possible and it should not suffer agony for a longer period. As this is against the spirituality, i.e. soul of humanity. This purpose is possible by cutting four veins of the throat of the animal.
This is the summary of the three purposes with regard to animal slaughter prescribed by Islam and that those purposes can be achieved by implementing these rules.
Circumcision
Question: What is the philosophy of circumcision with reference to personal hygiene?
Answer: The answer to this question is absolutely clear, because:
(1) Many people who are not circumcised have a lot of smegma in their foreskin and circumcision is the remedy to this problem.
(2) Statistics show that those who are not circumcised are more prone to the Cancer of penis. However it should be kept in mind that, those infants who are circumcised very early the wound could remain on the tip of their penis if it is not attended to properly the urine tube becomes very narrow. So care should be taken that these children along with getting the benefit of this religious ritual, should not be subjected to agony and suffering which is possible due to negligence.