What HMS can tell you
Does HMS certify BJ's Wholesale Club?
Not at present. BJ's Wholesale Club is not an HMS certified source, and HMS has not examined how the animals behind the chicken sold at BJ's Wholesale Club were raised, slaughtered or processed. HMS cannot call it Zabiha Halal.
Why HMS cannot vouch for it
HMS certifies only what it checks, and the check is specific: a permissible species, hand Zabiha slaughter while the animal is alive, Bismillah pronounced for each animal, and approved handling all the way to the point of sale. Neither the word Halal on a label nor a familiar chain name replaces that work; what HMS certified really means and what a Halal label proves go into it further.
Because certification can apply to selected products only, verify the exact item in the HMS certified directory and look for the HMS mark on the package.
Suppliers, managers and menus change, which is why HMS relies on continued monitoring and surprise inspections rather than a single inspection at the beginning. A source that seemed acceptable last year may not be the same source serving you today.
Our advice: avoid it and eat HMS Certified only
A lower price or a shorter drive is never a reason to eat what is doubtful. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Leave that which causes you doubt for that which does not cause you doubt.”
Protect your deen: avoid it and look for HMS Certified only. HMS Certified stores and meat markets sell hand-slaughtered Zabiha meat from monitored sources, so you can feed your family with a clear heart. Find an HMS Certified place near you.
Answers in the Halal Knowledge Center reflect the standards followed by Halal Monitoring Services (HMS), which operates as part of the Shariah Board of America. HMS certifies only what it checks.