Explore the Islamic View on Eating Chicken Meat

Food of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

Chicken

Mawlana Ahmad Raza Khan Attari Madani

Chicken was a food consumed by the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. It is highly nutritional, which is why it is a favourite and commonly eaten food. Eaten in countries around the world due to its taste and availability, it forms a part of almost every culture’s diet. Chicken meat is referred to as لَحمُ الدَّجَاجَۃِ in Arabic. Just like its meat, chicken eggs are also consumed globally.

The nature and effect of Chicken Meat

The meat of a young hen is warm and moderately moist at the end of the first stage, whereas the meat of a rooster is cooler than a hen’s but drier.^[1]

Hadith in relation to Chicken Meat

There are many hadith about chicken. Here are some of them:

1.   A companion رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ reports, “We were sitting with Abū Mūsā AshꜤarī رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ when a dish containing chicken was brought to us. Among us was a man with a red complexion who did not come near the food. Abū Mūsā AshꜤarī رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ told him to eat because he saw the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم eat chicken.”^[2]

2.   Islam’s first Caliph, Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ reports that he saw the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم eat chicken.^[3]

Mufti Aḥmad Yār Khān NaꜤīmī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه states regarding this hadith, “Eating chicken does not oppose piety. If Allah Almighty grants you great blessings of food you should eat them, but do not make it a habit to only eat one. Keep yourself habitual in consuming all types of food.”^[4]

3.   Ibn ꜤUmar رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهُمَا reports that whenever the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم wanted to eat chicken, he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would catch and confine it for a few days. He صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would then slaughter and eat it.^[5]

This is testament to the Holy Prophet’s pure nature. The reason for confining the chicken is that that if it ate any impurity, it would be released and its odour removed from its meat. Some animals like goats, cows, chickens, etc., eat impurity.

If such an animal was brought to the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, he refrained from slaughtering it, until it started eating clean fodder (and the stench from its meat was removed).^[6]

In Bahār-i-SharīꜤat:

Some cows and goats eat impure substances. They are called jalālah and they have a bad smell in their flesh. Keep the animal in a closed environment to prevent it from eating impurity, and once the animal is odourless, it can be slaughtered and eaten.

Chickens which eat impurities should be treated the same way too, and once the smell has gone, they can be slaughtered and eaten. It is not necessary to cage young chickens if they do not eat impurities and smell bad, but it is better to cage them before slaughtering.

A non-castrated goat normally drinks urine, and the stench emitting from it lingers wherever it passes. The ruling of jalālah applies to this too, meaning, the animal can be eaten once the unpleasant smell ceases, otherwise it is makrūh and prohibited.^[7]

Benefits of chicken

Medical experts consider chicken to be a healthy food. Here are some of its benefits:

*   Chicken meat is rich in protein, and this supports body growth, and strengthens bones and muscles.

*   It is rich in protein and very low in cholesterol, which controls appetite and reduces weight, making it a suitable food for people of all ages.

*   It is very beneficial for the heart.

*   The vitamins in this meat help strengthen the body’s immune system, and gives the body the ability to fight diseases.

*   Its meat is helpful in controlling cholesterol levels and reducing the risk of heart diseases. 

*   It contains phosphorous and calcium which strengthens the bones and teeth.

*   The vitamins and choline in chicken meat is very important for brain health, and it improves memory.^[8]

Note: All the benefits and points mentioned in this article are in relation to the chickens raised at home. Also, only consume food or medicine after consulting your doctor.