Title: The Basic Directives of the Shari`ah Regarding Prohibited Meat Question: I am a businessman and travel around the world very frequently. My question is regarding halaal food. I was informed that I can actually consume meat or any halaal food within Islamic definition in any Christian/Jewish countries, in layman terms I can have Big Mac in Los Angeles, US. Please clarify. Answer: From amongst the animals that have generally been used for eating by man (i.e. excluding all those animals that have not been used as edibles, like a dog or a tiger or an eagle or man's own flesh), the Shari`ah has prohibited the following items: Flesh of a dead animal (which otherwise is generally used as edible); Flowing blood; Flesh of a swine; and Anything that is slaughtered in the name of something other than God or is slaughtered without taking God's name on it. Moreover, if the animal is not slaughtered in the manner prescribed by the Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh), it shall then be considered a dead animal and therefore, its flesh shall be prohibited for consumption. The foods of the people of the book - i.e. the Jews and the Christians - are allowable for Muslims not without regard to the above qualifications. It is quite obvious that all these qualifications need to be fully observed, whether eating in a Christian society, a Jewish society or a Muslim society. 31 st August 1999