Steel
Question :

when slaughtering an animal, can we use a knife or a sword made out of steel? or can we only use a knife made out of iron?

Answer :

One should use iron. However, it is permissible to use steel if it is made mainly from iron and the additional substances are minimal.

Slaughter Chickens with Automated Machine
Question :

In some countries, Muslims slaughter chickens with automated machine and a CD player read Takbir. Is such meat Halal?

Answer :

It is not permissible to consume the chicken in the mentioned case.

Stunned Animal
Question :

If the meat is stunned before slaughtering, will it be permissible to eat? What if one doubts whether the stunning has killed the animal?

Answer :

If one knows that the death of the animal was a result of the slaughtering process, it is permissible to consume. Otherwise, it is not permissible to consume.

Halal Meat
Question :

If a chicken is slaughtered using a machine, but Allah's name is mentioned over it as well, and other required conditions are also fulfilled, will it be permissible to consume?

Answer :

The slaughterer must be a Muslim and the act of slaughtering should be related to him in such a way the slaughtering and the operating of the machinery are conventionally simultaneous. If the slaughtering is related to the machine, the slaughtered bird is not lawful even if the name of Allah was mentioned.

Stunning animals
Question :

If one doubts whether the animal was slaughtered correctly or not, can he buy its meat and eat it?

Answer :

If one doubts whether the animal was slaughtered in the religious correct way when purchasing the meat from a Muslim, then it is permissible to assume that it is slaughtered correctly. Yes, if he knew that the meat sold by a Muslim is not slaughtered in accordance to the religious teachings, then it is not permissible for him to buy it or consume it.

Slaughtering Process
Question :

If the person who pushes the button to start the machine for the slaughtering of large quantities of chicken is a Muslim who recites the Bismillah while the slaughtering takes place, is this method sufficient?

Answer :

Reciting the Name of Allah suffices while slaughtering such a large quantity as long as the slaughtering and the operating of the machinery are conventionally simultaneous and the machinery is merely a tool of the slaughterer, as long as all other conditions are fulfilled.
However, if the machine is continuously slaughtering the chickens with its automated movement due to the continuing supply of electricity, without the direct involvement of the person and him being regarded as the actual slaughterer, then it is not sufficient.

Reciting the Names of the Infallibles
Question :

Is it permissible to recite the names of the 14 Infallibles (peace be upon them) in slaughtering the animal instead of the name of God?

Answer :

It is obligatory to mention the name of Almighty Allah on the sacrifice during the actual slaughtering and it is not sufficient to mention the names of the Infallible Imams. If the slaughterer did not mention the name of Almighty Allah during the slaughtering process, it is prohibited to consume the animal. Yes, it is recommended to recite the Salawat on the Prophet and his progeny (peace be upon them all) during the slaughtering process.