Zabiha (sometimes written dhabiha) is the Islamic method of slaughtering permitted animals. Four conditions make a slaughter zabiha:
- The slaughterer is a sane, adult Muslim (or, in many scholarly opinions, a People of the Book).
- The name of Allah is invoked at the moment of slaughter.
- A sharp blade severs the trachea, oesophagus and the two jugular veins in a single swift motion.
- The blood is allowed to drain fully before further processing.
The aim is twofold: spiritual — acknowledging that life belongs to the Creator — and ethical: a sharp blade through major blood vessels causes rapid loss of consciousness and complete bleed-out.
Where stunning fits in
Some certifying bodies accept reversible electrical stunning before the cut, provided the animal would survive if not slaughtered. Others (notably the UK's HMC) reject all stunning. On YaHalalo, every restaurant page lists the kitchen's stun policy so you can choose what matches your school of thought.
How we verify
Restaurants on YaHalalo disclose their meat supplier and slaughter method. Where a slaughterhouse certificate exists, we link directly to it from the Halal Trust panel.