First of all, we’d like to clarify that stunning or applying electric shock to animals before slaughter will not in itself render the animals unlawful for Muslim consumption. If the animal is still alive after electric shock and then it gets slaughtered, then it is slaughtered in an Islamic way and, thus, there is nothing wrong in eating it. However, if the animal happens to die through the electric shock before being slaughtered, then it is carrion, which is forbidden for Muslims to eat.
Sheikh Mohamed El-Moctar El-Shinqiti, Director of the Islamic Center of South Plains,Lubbock, Texas, states: “The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded us to sharpen the knife and slaughter the animal quickly to cause less pain. Also it is reported in the hadith, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded that the animal be treated gently before slaughter and that the knife should be sharpened out of its sight. These were the available methods at the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Now, after science has advanced, there are many other methods that serve the same purpose. It is unfortunate that Muslims do not pay due attention to these methods, nor do our scholars investigate thoroughly. Many scholars occupy themselves criticizing the West and its negative practices more than adopting its positive practices.
As far as stunning, some Muslim scholars oppose it from a scientific perspective, and since I am not a scientist I cannot say that it should be adopted or not. So the conclusion should be reached by the scientists who have the qualifications and expertise in this field.”
Moreover, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada , states the following:
“Animals slaughtered in this way [after stunning or applying electric shock to the animals] are considered as halal and therefore lawful for us to consume as long as they did not die before slaughter. This has been the position of the World Fiqh Council. For after due deliberations, the council concluded that stunning or applying electric shock to the animals before slaughter will not in itself render the animals unlawful for Muslim consumption as long as the animals are still alive while they are slaughtered. Of course, the slaughter thus made must fulfill conditions of halal slaughter: The major arteries are to be cut with a sharp knife or instrument in such a way that the entire blood is drained off; the name of Allah should also be invoked at the time of slaughter.