Bolt Stunning
In the slaughterhouses of Britain, Europe and the Allied countries the blood is not allowed to flow out of the body of slaughtered animals, so that greater profit may be made. In lawful slaughtering, however, the blood is allowed to drain out of the animal’s body.
In these slaughterhouses, they make a small incision in the animal’s neck and skin it before blood is fully squeezed out of the body. Obviously, this procedure must be extremely painful.
Those animals which are shot in the head with a bullet out of "compassion" before their being slaughtered with a sharp edged weapon or knife, or which are given electric shocks, will be held unlawful in the light of the Shar’iah. The fact is that, as a result of this "excessive compassion", the animals, in most circumstances, die – particularly chicken and duck. It is because of the method of this act of killing, (maitah) that the Shari’ah forbids us to eat carrion.
Islam being a religion of mercy, all its teachings, be they for humans or animals, embody nothing but blessings. Even the method prescribed for slaughter is the best method, because it is based upon compassion. Nevertheless, may allegations have been made that Islamic slaughter is not humane to animals. However , Professor Shultz and his colleague Dr. Hazim of the Hanopver University, Germany, proved by experiments, using Electroencephalogram (EEG – An instrument that records the electrical activity of the brain) and Electrocardiogram (ECG – An instrument that records electrical current generated by the heartbeat) that:
- Islamic slaughter is a humane method of slaughter; and,
- Captive bolt stunning, practices in the west, causes severe pain to the animal.
Several electrodes were surgically implanted at various points on the skull of all animals, touching the surface of the brain. The animals were allowed to recover for several weeks. Some animals were slaughtered by making a swift, deep incision with a sharp knife on the neck, cutting the jugular veins and carotid arteries of both sides; and also the trachea and oesophagus, i.e. the Halal methid. Some animals were stunned using a captive bolt pistol by the western method. During the experiment, EEG and ECG were used on all animals to record the condition of the brain and heart during the course of the slaughter and stunning.
The Halal Method
The first three seconds subsequent to slaughter by the Islamic method, as recorded on the ECG, did not show any change when compared with the graph before slaughter, thus indicating that the animal did not feel any pain during immediately after the incision. For the following 3 seconds, the EEG recorded a condition of deep sleep-unconsciousness. This is due to a large quantity of blood gushing out of the body. After the above mentioned 6 seconds, the ECG recorded zero level, showing no feeling of pain at all. As the brain message (EEG) dropped to zero level, the heart was still pounding and the body convulsing vigorously, (a reflex action of the spinal cord) driving maximum blood from the body, resulting in hygienic meat for the consumer.
The Western Method by Captive Bolt Stunning
Although the animals apparently became unconscious soon after stunning, the EEG showed sever pain immediately after stunning. The hearts of the animals stunned by C.B.P. stopped beating, as compared to those of the animals slaughtered according to the halal method, resulting in the retention of more blood in the flesh. This in turn is unhygienic for the consumer.