Is It Permissible to Submerge a Slaughtered Chicken in Hot (or Boiling) Water to Remove Its Feathers?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

What are the rules for immersing a slaughtered chicken in hot (or boiling) water to remove its feathers?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.

Esteemed specialists Muftis in Halal slaughtering conclude that this practice is permissible as long as the chicken has been properly slaughtered, internal impurities have been removed, and the water is not boiling.

The meat remains pure and halal if the water is below boiling and the immersion is brief. However, if boiling water is used or the chicken is left submerged long enough for impurities to seep into the flesh, the meat could become impure and unlawful.

[Hamawi, Ghamz ‘Uyun al-Basa’ir Fi Sharh al-Ashbah wa al-Nadha’ir]

I would like you to read through the valuable answers and links below. In sha Allah, you will receive guidance and direction.

Related

• Dunking Chicken in Hot Water After Slaughtering Them
• Can We Eat Machine-Slaughtered Meat?

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I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

الدَّجَاجَةُ إذَا ذُبِحَتْ وَنُتِفَ رِيشُهَا  وَأُغْلِيَتْ فِي الْمَاءِ قَبْلَ شَقِّ بَطْنِهَا صَارَ الْمَاءُ نَجِسًا وَصَارَتْ نَجِسَةً بِحَيْثُ لَا طَرِيقَ لِأَكْلِهَا ٤٢ – إلَّا أَنْ تَحْمِلَ الْهِرَّةَ إلَيْهَا فَتَأْكُلَهَا.
(٤٢) قَوْلُهُ: وَأُغْلِيَتْ فِي الْمَاءِ إلَخْ. حَقُّ الْعِبَارَةِ أَنْ يُقَالَ لَوْ أُلْقِيَتْ الدَّجَاجَةُ حَالَ الْغَلَيَانِ فِي الْمَاءِ. قَالَ فِي الْفَتْحِ: لَوْ أُلْقِيَتْ الدَّجَاجَةُ حَالَةَ الْغَلَيَانِ فِي الْمَاءِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُشَقَّ بَطْنُهَا لِنَتْفِ رِيشِهَا أَوْ كَرِشِهَا قَبْلَ الْغُسْلِ لَا تَطْهُرُ أَبَدًا يَعْنِي لِتَشَرُّبِهَا النَّجَاسَةَ الْمُتَحَلِّلَةَ بِوَاسِطَةِ الْغَلَيَانِ، لَكِنْ عَلَى قَوْلِ أَبِي يُوسُفَ يَجِبُ أَنْ تَطْهُرَ عَلَى قَانُونِ مَا تَقَدَّمَ فِي اللَّحْمِ (انْتَهَى) .
قَالَ بَعْضُ الْفُضَلَاءِ: وَعَلَى الْقَوْلِ الْأَوَّلِ اُشْتُهِرَ أَنَّ اللَّحْمَ السَّمِيطَ بِمِصْرَ نَجِسٌ لَا يَطْهُرُ، لَكِنَّ الْعِلَّةَ الْمَذْكُورَةَ لَا تَثْبُتُ حَتَّى يَصِلَ الْمَاءُ إلَى حَدِّ الْغَلَيَانِ وَيَمْكُثُ فِيهِ اللَّحْمُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ زَمَانًا يَقَعُ فِي مِثْلِهِ التَّشَرُّبُ وَالدُّخُولُ فِي بَاطِنِ اللَّحْمِ وَكُلٌّ مِنْ الْأَمْرَيْنِ غَيْرُ مُتَحَقِّقٍ فِي السَّمِيطِ الْوَاقِعِ بِمِصْرَ حَيْثُ لَا يَصِلُ الْمَاءُ إلَى حَدِّ الْغَلَيَانِ وَلَا يُتْرَكُ فِيهِ إلَّا مِقْدَارُ مَا يَصِلُ الْحَرَارَةُ إلَى سَطْحِ الْجِلْدِ

الكتاب: غمز عيون البصائر في شرح الأشباه والنظائر
المؤلف: أحمد بن محمد مكي، أبو العباس، شهاب الدين الحسيني الحموي الحنفي (ت ١٠٩٨هـ)
الناشر: دار الكتب العلمية

Mawlana Ilyas Patel has received a traditional education in various countries. He started his schooling in the UK and completed his hifz of the Quran in India. After that, he joined an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied secular and Aalimiyya sciences. Later, he traveled to Karachi, Pakistan, and other Middle Eastern countries to further his education. Mawlana has served as an Imam in the Republic of Ireland for several years and taught the Quran and other Islamic sciences to both children and adults. He also worked as a teacher and librarian at a local Islamic seminary in the UK for 12 years. Presently, he lives in the UK with his wife and is interested in books and gardening.