The animal is put down on the ground (or held it if it is small) and its throat is slit with a very sharp knife to make sure that the three main blood vessels are cut.

While cutting the throat of the animal (without severing it), the persons must pronounce the name of Allah or recite a blessing, which contains the name of Allah, such as “Bismillah Allahu-Akbar”.

The Halal ingredient must not be mixed, or even come into contact with Haram materials. The act of slaughtering is to ensure the quality of meat and to avoid any microbial contamination.

For example, a dead but un-slaughtered animal is normally associated with disease. Most disease originated or is carried in the animal’s blood.

Therefore, slaughtering is mandatory to ensure the complete drainage of blood from the animal’s body, thus minimising the chance of microbial infection.

Zabihah is compatible with the overall concept of cleanliness that is always emphasised in Islam.

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Text credit:
Halal and Haram Fact Sheet, compiled by Tasmania Dept. Health and Human Services

References:

• Mouelhy, Mohamed El (2004) www.cse.unsw.edu.au/~waleed/isoc/hh/whatis.htm
• The Australian Federation of Islamic Council (2004) www.afic.com.au/halal.htm