Understanding Stunning in Modern Slaughterhouses

The term stunning refers to the practice of temporarily weakening an animal before slaughter, typically to minimize movement and facilitate handling during the process. In contemporary slaughterhouses (Rumah Potong Hewan – RPH), this method has become a standard part of operations aimed at efficiency and animal control.

Since its introduction, stunning has sparked significant debate. Some believe it helps reduce the pain experienced by animals during slaughter, while others argue that it can increase suffering or even cause death before slaughter, rendering the meat non-halal. Despite these controversies, many consider stunning a form of animal welfare (ihsan al-hayawan) when properly implemented.

Islamic Ethical Basis for Stunning

The Deputy Secretary General of the Indonesian Council of Ulama (MUI) Fatwa Division, Drs. KH. Sholahuddin Al Aiyub, M.Sc., emphasized that Islam advocates for compassion and excellence in all actions, including slaughter. He referred to a hadith narrated by Muslim from Syaddad ibn Aus, in which the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

“Indeed, Allah has decreed ihsan (excellence and kindness) in all things. If you kill, kill well; and if you slaughter, slaughter well. Let one of you sharpen his knife and spare suffering to the animal he slaughters.”

This narration serves as a religious foundation for MUI’s position, which allows stunning as long as it aligns with Islamic principles of kindness and does not cause harm or death before the act of slaughter.

MUI Fatwa No. 12 of 2009: Halal Slaughter Certification Standards

The Indonesian Council of Ulama formalized its stance through Fatwa No. 12 of 2009, which permits the use of stunning methods under strict regulatory and ethical conditions. The fatwa outlines that stunning may be practiced for three main reasons:

1. To help animals collapse quickly and minimize pain during slaughter.
2. Because stunned animals, if not slaughtered, can regain consciousness and return to their normal state.
3. Because stunning facilitates smoother blood drainage, resulting in cleaner and more hygienic meat.

These provisions ensure that the practice supports both animal welfare and halal integrity.

Requirements for Permissible Stunning

MUI emphasizes that stunning must meet several essential conditions to be considered lawful in Islam:

• Stunning must induce only temporary unconsciousness, without causing death or permanent injury.
• The procedure must facilitate slaughter, not replace or hinder it.
• Its implementation should embody ihsan (benevolence), avoiding any form of cruelty.
• Equipment used for stunning must be exclusively designated for halal animals and never used for pigs or other non-halal species to prevent contamination.
• The process—including species selection, technical application, and supervision—must be conducted under the oversight of qualified experts to ensure compliance with religious standards.

Preference for Manual Slaughter

Although stunning is conditionally permissible, Dr. Aiyub reminded that manual slaughter remains the most recommended method in Islam. Traditional slaughter without prior stunning better upholds spiritual integrity, preserves the natural process of life and death, and reflects the values of compassion and mindfulness emphasized in Islamic teachings.

Original Article:

LPPOM MUI. (2025, October 22). Stunning permitted with certain conditions. Retrieved from https://halalmui.org/en/stunning-permitted-with-certain-conditions/