Quintet Conditions for Slaughtering
Issue No. 2223- There are five conditions for slaughtering an animal. They are as follows:1- The slaughterer must be a Muslim, as an obligatory precaution. The Nawasib who are the enemies of Ahl al-Bayt (as) (the Household of Prophet Muhammad [s]) are classified as kāfir (infidel).2- The animal should be slaughtered with a sharp blade made of iron or any other metal. However, if it is necessary to slaughter the animal, like when if the animal is not slaughtered, it will die and a blade made of iron or any other metal is not available, it can be slaughtered with any sharp object which can slit the vessels, like sharp glass, stone and wood.3- The front part of the animal's body should be facing the direction of qiblah when it is slaughtered, and if a person intentionally does not make it lie in that posture, the animal will be haram. However, if he forgets or does not know the rule or makes a mistake in ascertaining the direction of qiblah and hence slaughters the animal in another direction, it will not be haram.4- When slaughtering an animal, a person should utter the name of Allah, and it suffices if he says, “بسم الله” only, or if he utters “سُبْحانَ اللهِ”, or “لا اِلهَ اِلاَّ اللهُ”. It is also permissible to say it in any language. However, it will not be sufficient if he utters the name of Allah without the intention of slaughtering the animal. However, there is no problem if he did not utter the name of Allah forgetfully.5- The animal should move after being slaughtered and it suffices if it moves its eyes or tail or strikes its foot on the ground. This order applies only when it is doubtful whether or not the animal was alive at the time of being slaughtered. And as an obligatory precaution the blood should flow out in normal quantity from the slaughtered animal.
