Selling chickens by weight

Q: My question is regarding weighing. I work in a shop where halaal meat is sold. They sometimes put offers on. For example, 3lb weight chicken breast boneless. The actual weight is maybe 50g for example less because the meat is cleaned from excess fat for the benefit of the customer.

My question is the butchers clean the chicken from excess fat beforehand and put on display. They then give them that chicken less the 50g or so from the 3lb weight. My heart tells me this is not right but maybe it is. Could you please let me know?

A: If they are selling the chickens by weight, then they should give the customer the exact weight of the chicken which they had sold to him. However, if they are giving him less than the specified weight on account of them cleaning the chicken for him, then he should be informed about this prior to the sale. If he wishes to take the uncleaned chicken for the full weight, then he may do so, and if he wishes to take the cleaned chicken for the decreased weight, then he may do so.

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

 

Answered by:

Mufti Zakaria Makada

Checked & Approved:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)