Short answer
Not in the Hanafi fatwa position of Deobandi institutions. Kosher slaughter is done by hand, but the blessing is usually said once for a series of animals rather than over each one, and certification follows Jewish law, not Islamic law. Some scholars, especially in the Shafi'i school, accept kosher meat. Kosher non-meat products can contain wine or alcohol.
Kosher meat is halal only if it is known that the Jewish slaughterer said Allah's name over each animal at the cut. Since the blessing in shechita (kosher slaughter) is normally said once at the start of a session, Deobandi muftis advise against kosher meat.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- The tasmiyah is a sunnah, so meat slaughtered by hand by a practising Jew is halal, and many Shafi'i scholars accept kosher meat.
- Maliki
- Kosher meat is generally accepted, though meat the Jewish slaughterer rejects for himself is disliked.
Explanation
Kosher and halal slaughter are close in many ways. In shechita a trained Jewish slaughterer cuts the throat by hand with a very sharp knife, the blood is drained, and pork is forbidden. That is why many people assume kosher equals halal.
The Hanafi problem is the name of Allah. In the Hanafi school the slaughterer must mention Allah over each animal at the time of the cut. In shechita the blessing is said before slaughter begins and covers the animals that follow, so most animals are cut with no mention of God at the moment of slaughter. The Deobandi muftis add that a kosher label tells you Jewish law was followed, and nothing more.
Some scholars of other schools take a wider view. Because the Shafi'is treat the tasmiyah as a sunnah, many of them accept meat slaughtered by a practising Jew, and some Muslims in the West follow this. Hanafis should keep to their own school's ruling without criticising those who follow another.
For non-meat products, a kosher symbol is no guide at all. Kosher cheese, sweets, sauces and drinks can contain wine, alcohol or other ingredients a Muslim avoids. Check the ingredients, or use the halal food checker. See also meat of the People of the Book.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Maaida 5:5
ٱلْيَوْمَ أُحِلَّ لَكُمُ ٱلطَّيِّبَٰتُ ۖ وَطَعَامُ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ حِلٌّۭ لَّكُمْ وَطَعَامُكُمْ حِلٌّۭ لَّهُمْ ۖ وَٱلْمُحْصَنَٰتُ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنَٰتِ وَٱلْمُحْصَنَٰتُ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ إِذَآ ءَاتَيْتُمُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّ مُحْصِنِينَ غَيْرَ مُسَٰفِحِينَ وَلَا مُتَّخِذِىٓ أَخْدَانٍۢ ۗ وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِٱلْإِيمَٰنِ فَقَدْ حَبِطَ عَمَلُهُۥ وَهُوَ فِى ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ مِنَ ٱلْخَٰسِرِينَ ﴿٥﴾
This day [all] good foods have been made lawful, and the food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you and your food is lawful for them. And [lawful in marriage are] chaste women from among the believers and chaste women from among those who were given the Scripture before you, when you have given them their due compensation, desiring chastity, not unlawful sexual intercourse or taking [secret] lovers. And whoever denies the faith - his work has become worthless, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers.
Jewish slaughter is lawful in principle when its conditions are met.
Quran, Surah Al-An'aam 6:121
وَلَا تَأْكُلُوا۟ مِمَّا لَمْ يُذْكَرِ ٱسْمُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَفِسْقٌۭ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱلشَّيَٰطِينَ لَيُوحُونَ إِلَىٰٓ أَوْلِيَآئِهِمْ لِيُجَٰدِلُوكُمْ ۖ وَإِنْ أَطَعْتُمُوهُمْ إِنَّكُمْ لَمُشْرِكُونَ ﴿١٢١﴾
And do not eat of that upon which the name of Allah has not been mentioned, for indeed, it is grave disobedience. And indeed do the devils inspire their allies [among men] to dispute with you. And if you were to obey them, indeed, you would be associators [of others with Him].
The Hanafi reason for requiring Allah's name over each animal.
Sahih al-Bukhari 5503
Sahih... ما أنهر الدم وذكر اسم الله فكل ...
"Whatever makes the blood flow and has Allah's name mentioned over it, eat it."
Both conditions, the cut and Allah's name, must be present.
Where the ruling is recorded
- The Islamic Laws of Animal Slaughter (Mufti Taqi Usmani), Chapter on the slaughter of the People of the Book. Conditions for a Kitabi's slaughter, including the tasmiyah.
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Dhaba'ih. A Kitabi who leaves out Allah's name, or names another, does not make the animal halal.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.