We said: The eligibility of the person performing the ritual slaughter rests on two matters: sound reason and religion. What, then, is meant by religion? The author said:

“A Muslim.” Here, a Muslim is one who follows the law of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, because this law has abrogated all other religions. Thus, every religion is invalid except the law of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. Whoever claims that any religion other than Islam remains valid and accepted by Allah today is a disbeliever and an apostate, for he has denied the saying of Allah, Most High: “Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam” [Quran 3:19]. This statement conveys exclusivity, since both its subject and predicate are definite. Allah also says: “Whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted from him” [Quran 3:85]. Thus, there is no difference between a Jew, a Christian, a communist, an apostate, or anyone else: their religion will not be accepted, nor will it benefit them before Allah.

Issue: Can the term Islam be applied to people other than the followers of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, at a time when their own revealed laws were still in force?

Answer: Yes. This occurs frequently in the Quran. Allah says concerning the Queen of Sheba: “My Lord, I have wronged myself, and I submit, along with Solomon, to Allah, Lord of all worlds” [Quran 27:44]. There are many verses to this effect.

His statement, “or one of the People of the Book,” means a Jew or a Christian. The slaughtered animal of a Jew or Christian is lawful, due to the saying of Allah, Most High: “Today all good things have been made lawful for you. The food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you, and your food is lawful for them” [Quran 5:5]. Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said in explaining this verse: “Their food means their slaughtered animals.” (1)