Some halal companies sell chicken that use stunning before slaughter in an Islamic way. Is it allowed for us to eat this chicken?

Quran

Hadith

Islamic Text

If it remains alive until Dhabh (slaughter) then it is Halal.

عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، قَالَ: دَخَلَتِ امْرَأَةٌ النَّارَ فِي هِرَّةٍ رَبَطَتْهَا، فَلَمْ تُطْعِمْهَا، وَلَمْ تَدَعْهَا تَأْكُلُ مِنْ خَشَاشِ الأَرْضِ

Ibn `Umar  narrated, The Prophet  said, “A woman entered the (Hell) Fire because of a cat which she had tied, neither giving it food nor setting it free to eat from the creatures of the earth. ” (Sahih al-Bukhari 3318).

Stunning may be Makruh, if there is no need for it. Since one will be causing pain to an animal without a need. However, stunning does not necessarily make it Haram. If stunning kills it then the meat is Haram, but if stunning harms the chicken without killing it then it will be Halal to consume.

إذَا مَرِضَتْ الشَّاةُ وَلَمْ يَبْقَ فِيهَا مِنْ الْحَيَاةِ إلَّا مِقْدَارُ مَا يَعِيشُ الْمَذْبُوحُ، فَعِنْدَهُمَا لَا تَحِلُّ بِالذَّكَاةِ، وَالْمُخْتَارُ أَنَّ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ ذُبِحَ وَهُوَ حَيٌّ أُكِلَ، عَلَيْهِ الْفَتْوَى – {إِلا مَا ذَكَّيْتُمْ} [المائدة: 3] – مِنْ غَيْرِ تَفْصِيلٍ (رد المحتار على الدر المختار)

If a sheep is sick and there does not remain in it life except for that which remains in a slaughtered animal, then according to them two (the Saahibayn) it is not made lawful by slaughtering. However, the strongest opinion is that everything slaughtered whilst it is still alive is permitted to consume, and the fatwa is upon it. This is due to verse three in Surah al-Maidah, Except that which you slaughter, without exception. (Radd al-Muhtaar).   

(وَ) كُرِهَ كُلُّ تَعْذِيبٍ بِلَا فَائِدَةٍ مِثْلُ (قَطْعِ الرَّأْسِ وَالسَّلْخِ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَبْرُدَ) أَيْ تَسْكُنَ عَنْ الِاضْطِرَابِ (رد المحتار)

Prohibited (Makruh) is every act of torture without benefit, such as cutting off the head (of an animal) and skinning it before the body goes cold. Meaning that it has not yet become still from movement. (Radd al-Muhtaar).

And Allah (Most High) knows best.

– Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen (01.02.2021)

See also:

Chicken can never be Haram?