What is the ruling on one who considers the slaughtered animals of disbelievers lawful, basing his argument on some Quranic verses, prophetic hadiths, and statements by Al-Shawkani, and is this considered a matter of legitimate scholarly difference of opinion, and what is the ruling on one who holds this belief? And is it permissible to marry someone who holds this belief?

The majority of scholars hold that the animal sacrificed by a non-scriptural disbeliever is unlawful, and some have claimed a consensus on this, citing the Almighty’s statement: {And the food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you}. This implies, by its very concept, the prohibition of the sacrifice of those who are not People of the Book.

As for the Majus (Zoroastrians), scholars have differed regarding their slaughtered animals. Some have ruled them lawful, considering them akin to the People of the Book in that jizya (poll tax) is taken from them, while the majority holds them to be unlawful.

One who issues a fatwa permitting the slaughtered animals of non-scriptural disbelievers is not considered a disbeliever or an innovator.