In the Sahih of al-Bukhari, the Mother of the Believers `A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with) is reported to have said, “Some people who had recently become Muslims said to the Prophet (peace be on him), ‘People bring us meat and we do not know whether they have mentioned the name of Allah over it or not. Shall we eat of it or not?’ The Prophet (peace be on him) replied, ‘Mention the name of Allah (over it) and eat.”
Based on the above mentioned hadith, some scholars are of the opinion that although the name of Allah must be mentioned, it is not necessary to mention it at the time of slaughtering the animal; one can mention it at the time of eating, since in that case it cannot be held that it was eaten without mentioning the name of Allah over it.
Elaborating on the issue of eating meat slaughtered by the People of the Book (i.e. Christians and Jews), we’d like to furnish you with the following fatwa issued by Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, who states the following:
“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 one has 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.