If one is in Makkah for Umrah, do they need to investigate about the source of meat? Or can they assume everything is halal and eat from the restaurants around Masjid al Haram?
Some additional considerations perhaps worth mentioning, I am there only for a few days, meaning deep investigation is difficult. Most places have vegetarian and non vegetarian options. So even if someone only eats vegetarian, there is a possibility of cross contamination.
Bismillahi Ta’ala
Walaikum Assalam Warahmatullah
Mufti Ebrahim Desai rahimahullah was asked about the meat utilized in Haramayn (Makkah and Madinah), and he responded:
According to our observations, chicken meat in the Holy lands is obtained and slaughtered locally as well as imported. The local meat is Halal and can be identified by the ‘al-Watania’ packaging.
Imported chicken meat comes from many other countries besides New Zealand and Australia. People have witnessed chicken in boxes marked from other countries, for example, Holland [ah: Brazil, New Zealand etc]. Since we are not certain whether all the chickens imported are slaughtered according to Shar’iah or not, it will not be permissible to consume any of the imported chickens. This is also the advice of many prominent Ulama residing in the Holy lands.
Mufti Siraj Desai Saheb gives some guidance along the similar lines:
There is available locally slaughtered chicken, referred to as watani. Halaal meat is also available at the local abattoirs. As for the restaurants. we need to find out from them whether their products are local or imported. Don’t ask them whether the meat is halaal or haraam, for this will offend them and fail to elicit a reasonable or valid response. Ask whether they cook Watani or local meat and chicken, or whether the meat is imported.
If it so happens that upon reviewing you are not able to find any wataniya market, I suggest to find full vegetarian restaurants. I will post along with this answer a general resource of supplies that can help and assist for the small time in Haramayn for genuinely halal catering. However, since the list is a little old, you may find some numbers not working.
Wallahu A’lam
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Faisal al-Mahmudi
Bismihi Ta`ala
=====================================
HALAAL FOOD INFORMATION UPDATED RABI’UL AKHIR 1443.
from Mufti Ayoob Mackoojee Saheb
DURING ALL YOUR TRAVELLING, CHOOSE VEGETARIAN AND AVOID CHICKEN AND MEAT MENUES DUE TO RAMPANT MECHANICAL SLAUGHTERED MEAT/CHICKEN IN THE WORLD. READ ON http://islam-qna.org/halaal-food-and-ziyarats-information-updated-rabiul-akhir-1441/.
*Bear in mind that ONLY those restaurants or take aways that use chicken and meat from Saudia Arabia itself that are guaranteed halaal. Those that use imported meat or chicken are not halaal because they are mechanically slaughtered. The vast majority of restaurants in Makkah and Madinah use imported meat and chicken that are not approved halaal. Important that you verify yourself the origin of the sachet of chicken because we found that restaurant keepers lie.
Names of chicken/meat farms that are from Saudia Arabia and are hence HALAAL SAFE :
1. Alyoum (Al-Maraa’i), اليوم
2. Fakieh, فقيه
3. Al-Wataniyah,الوطنيه
4. Intaj, إنتاج
5. Al-Akhwain, الأخوين
6. Al-Tanmia التنميه
7. Radwa
8. Al Washim
9. Furuj zahabi
List of halaal restaurants :
1. Al Tazaj B.B.Q. Chicken-Makkah Hilton.
2. Al Tazaj B.B.Q Chicken – Makkah Jabal Omar (Hilton Suites/Hyatt/Conrad)
3. Al Tazaj B.B.Q. Chicken-Madinah near Quba.
4. Reedan in Al Aziziyah, Makkah.
5. Al Qaraat Restaurant-(North section) Madinah Munawwarah.
Makkah
(Food, Transport, Coolerbags, Damm,etc)
Syed Hamza
+966 58 176 1284
+966 55 312 2589
FOOD SERVICES IN MADINAH MUNAWWARAH PLEASE VERIFY CHICKEN ORIGIN AND PRICES BEFORE ORDERING:
Umars Food: 0580577604
Nasser: 0508515997
Aisha Desai 0148392740
Salamut 055 351 5001 (Arab Food)
Shauket Katani: 054 786 1786
Mohammad 054 859 7479
Aisha Dawood: 014 839 2740 / 053 299 6277
Shamima/Omar: 014 826 4995
Ismail Memee: 014 838 6337
Dawood Akalwaya: 014 849 2786
Hafiz Firdous:056 776 5984 (Indian food)
Tayibat Food:054 059 1702 (Indian food. Highly recommended)
Mol Muhammed: 055 351 5001
Aisha Dawood: 053 299 6277
Yusuf UK: 054 167 6003
Ml Mohammed Patel: +9665 5351 5001
Ml Ahmed Patel: +9665 5351 4574
SA Taste Shop: +9665 4955 4786
Ml Ahmed Patel: +9665 5351 4574
Salaamat Meals w/app: +9665 70 786 707
Ml Abu Muhammad – 0583643098 or
Ml Abu Abdullah – 0580395128 *(South African style meals using only 100% local, hand slaughtered chicken and meat )
Ilyas Bhai: 050 2592365
FOOD SERVICES IN MAKKAH PLEASE VERIFY CHICKEN ORIGIN AND PRICES BEFORE ORDERING:
makkah food services ;
Bilal: 012 576 1687
Zakiya Ben : 012 558 8160
Maimuna:012 542 9710/050 350 2915
Ahmed Bhemat: 050 239 6186 (Indian Food: Highly Recommended)
Hanif Bhai:056 914 4080
Dawood:012 574 8059
Rabia: 012 554 1749
Mol Yusuf :050 359 1628 (Indian Food: Highly Recommended)
Yunus Patal :012 574 6041
Mustaq Mussa: 012 574 9076
Rashida :012 544 1817
Hanif/Salma :056 914 4080
Salma Gangat :012 545 4500 (Indian Food: Highty Recommended)
Maimuna : 012 542 9710
Chohan – 012542 9710 / 052 773 283