Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh

 

In the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Mercy-Giving

 

All praise is due to Allah. Peace and blessings be upon His Messenger Muhammad.

 

In conditions you have described it is not at all forbidden or haram for you to partake of such meats occasionally so long as the meats are coming from the People of the Book and so long as they do not contain pork or its by-products, and so long as they are not cooked in wine or other ingredients that are considered purely haram.

Most scholars of the past, belonging to the four schools, have ruled that meat of the People of the Book are lawful for us to consume based on the Qur’anic verse, “This day are (all) good things made lawful for you. The food of those who have received the Book is lawful for you, and your food is lawful for them.” (Al-Ma’idah 5:5)

 

This verse, according to Ibn `Abbas, refers to the meat slaughtered by the People of the Book (i.e., Christians or Jews). We find in the sources that the Prophet’s Companions used to eat the food of the Christians and the Jews whenever entered their territories.

 

Having said this, however, I must add: If you have a choice of going for meats provided by Muslims and those that are served by non-Muslims, you should definitely go for that which is provided by Muslims.

May Allah help us to be steadfast on the straight path.

 

Almighty Allah knows best.