Bismillah. Is this right?

[vroom]

Re: Bismillah. Is this right?

@VintageSpring

So I was conversing with my arab friend today from Qatar and we were talking about halal places to eat both in the UK and Qatar.

The conversation somehow ended up on halal meat and she stated that sometimes she eats non-halal meat by just saying ‘Bismillah’ and blowing on it. When I asked her whether this is correct as it’s not halal she stated that in a place where you don’t get halal meat, this is okay to do. However I rejected this and stated that 1) you do get halal meat in the UK in every corner and 2) if halal meat is not available why not just eat vegetarian.

Apparently not only she but many muslims in western countries i.e. UK, USA do this. I was just wondering whether this is a correct thing to do and whether you do this

I think this arab friend is making excuses which do not exist in Islam. Some people do eat haram meat in the west but generally our community is able to avoid it, nor even be tempted by it.
I would encourage you to emulate the attitude of the general community which avoids haram meat. Its actually very easy, do avoid it since Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala has forbidden it. It is Fard to avoid Haram. These two are opposites of each other

As for saying Bismillah, i know elders said an extra Bismillah before eating a piece of food that had dropped on the ground or otherwise become suspect. To protect from harmful effects of the possible contamination for health purposes. That is eating what is permissible to be eaten but with eating haram meat in this manner it is eating what is impermissible..and possibly an act of rebellion before reciting Bismillah

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[Ana`am 6:121] And do not eat that on which Allah’s name has not been mentioned, and indeed that is disobedience; and undoubtedly the devils inspire in the hearts of their friends to fight with you; and if you obey them, you are then polytheists.
**

SURAH AL-ANAAM-6 Makkah. 20 Sections. 165 verses.Ayyah 119-124

Tafsir available here, page 436
http://marfat.com/DownloadBooks/Noor-ul-Arfan(Kanz-ul-Emaan)%201/WQB.pdf