Before consuming a piece of flesh...

Before eating a piece of flesh, firstly one must ensure that it is the flesh of an animal which one has the right to consume according to the Shariah such as the ox / cow, goat, sheep, deer, hen, etc. and then one must ensure that Zabah was done according to the Shariah.

For Zabah to be valid according to the Shariah, the animal must have been alive at the time of Zabah. The Zabah must be carried out by a sane Muslim who said Bismillah before making Zabah. If he makes Zabah of several animals at once, then he must say Bismillah on each animal. He must say Bismillah in an audible voice. To read it in the heart or so softly that it cannot be heard does not suffice.

One must cut all 4 veins in the neck for an animal for it to become Halaal. That is, one must cut the two veins which bring blood (jugular vein), the oesophagus through which food passes and the windpipe which is used for breathing. If instead of 4, one cuts only 3, then this is also allowed but not less than 3.

[English version of "Avant consomme ene la chaire ..." – Al Jamiat – Vol.6 No.1]