Machines and Maqasid: Evaluating Mechanized Slaughter in the Global Halal Food Industry
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29407/4w2wcs74Abstract
The global food and beverage industry is undergoing a transformation through automation and mechanization of production. In halal meat production, the mechanical slaughter system raises issues related to the validity of fulfilling the requirements of dhabihah as an act of worship in Islamic law. This study aims to analyze the validity of the law of mechanical slaughter in the perspective of fiqh across madhhabs and maqasid al-shariah. The research uses a normative legal method with a literature study approach that integrates the comparative fiqh analysis of the four Sunni schools and the framework of maqasid al-shariah. The study identified five dominant mechanical slaughter technologies, namely rotating blade, electrical water bath stunning (EWBS), captive bolt stunning non-penetrative (CBS-NP), controlled atmosphere stunning (CAS), and robotic slaughtering system that have different legal implications. Analysis shows that there is an agreement that machines only function as tools (alah), not legal actors (fa'il), so they still need Muslim operators who pronounce basmalah and supervise. Based on the framework of maqasid al-shariah, this study formulates three main principles, namely the Principle of Machine Instrumentality, the Principle of Absolute Stunning Reversibility, and the Principle of Integrity of the Comprehensive Halal Chain as the basis for the harmonization of intersect halal certification standards and global halal food industry regulations
Keywords:
halal mechanical slaughter, maqasid al-shariah, technological transformationDownloads
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