The Creed of Compassion-Islamic Teachings & Answering Doctrinal Misconceptions

Issue No. 2222- If a wolf tears the throat of a sheep in such a way that nothing remains out of the four vessels in its neck which should be cut while it is slaughtered, the sheep becomes haram. However, if the vessels are sound and the sheep is still alive, if it is slaughtered in accordance with the rule which was said, it will be halal. Whenever an animal is slaughtered not in the way prescribed by the sharia, is ṭāhir though it is haram to eat. Therefore, the leather imported from non-Islamic countries is ṭāhir but one cannot perform prayer in them.

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.

Issue No. 2224- The person who slaughters an animal can be a man or a woman, or even an immature child who knows the rules of slaughtering. However, as long as there is access to men, it would be better to exempt women and children from such tasks.

Issue No. 2226- If several chickens or animals are being slaughtered at the same time, uttering one “بسم الله” will be sufficient for all of them. Similarly uttering one “بسم الله” will be sufficient when a great number of animals are slaughtered by machinery at the same time (provided that other conditions of slaughtering are met). And if the machine is in continuous operation, the name of Allah should, as an obligatory precaution, be repeated continuously.

Issue No. 2228- If a camel’s head is cut instead of thrusting a knife into the depth of its neck or if a knife is thrust into the depth of the neck of a sheep or a cow as is done in the case of a camel, their meat will not be halal. However, if the animal is still alive after this act and it is immediately slaughtered according to the prescribed method by the sharia, its meat will be halal.

Issue No. 2229- An unruly animal which cannot be slaughtered in the manner prescribed by sharia and also an animal which falls down into a well and it is likely that it will die there and it is not possible to slaughter it according to sharia, if it is wounded with a sharp instrument like a knife so that it dies as a result of that wound, it is halal and it will not be necessary for it to be facing the direction of qiblah at that time, but all other conditions mentioned above regarding slaughtering of animals must be met.

Issue No. 2228- If a camel’s head is cut instead of thrusting a knife into the depth of its neck or if a knife is thrust into the depth of the neck of a sheep or a cow as is done in the case of a camel, their meat will not be halal. However, if the animal is still alive after this act and it is immediately slaughtered according to the prescribed method by the sharia, its meat will be halal.

Issue No. 2231- The head of the animal should not be severed from its body before it has completely died as a recommended precaution. Therefore, if there is some equipment for slaughtering animals which sever the head of the animal, though the animal does not become haram but it would be better that they work in a way that the head is not cut off completely. In any case, all the conditions prescribed for slaughtering should be observed in machines. It is also a recommended precaution that the spinal cord of the animal which is in the middle of the vertebral column, should not be cut before the animal dies, nor should the animal be skinned before it dies.

Issue No. 2231- The head of the animal should not be severed from its body before it has completely died as a recommended precaution. Therefore, if there is some equipment for slaughtering animals which sever the head of the animal, though the animal does not become haram but it would be better that they work in a way that the head is not cut off completely. In any case, all the conditions prescribed for slaughtering should be observed in machines. It is also a recommended precaution that the spinal cord of the animal which is in the middle of the vertebral column, should not be cut before the animal dies, nor should the animal be skinned before it dies.

Issue No. 2232- According to some narrations, there are certain makrūh acts while slaughtering animals:1- To thrust the knife from behind the throat and move it forward so that the throat is cut from behind.2- To slaughter an animal at a place where another animal can see it.3- To slaughter an animal at night, or before noon on Friday. However, there is no harm in doing so in case it is needed.4- To slaughter an animal which someone has raised himself.

Issue No. 2234- If a halal wild animal is hunted with a weapon, it becomes halal, if the following five conditions are fulfilled:1- The hunting should be with a sharp weapon like a sword, knife, dagger or gun and the like, irrespective of whether its bullet used for hunting is sharp or not. However, it should be able to cut through the body of the animal and blood should flow from it. And if an animal is hunted with a trap or hit by a piece of wood or a stone, etc., it becomes haram, but if the hunter reaches the animal while it is still alive, and then he slaughters it according to the sharia laws, it would be halal.2- As an obligatory precaution, the hunter should be a Muslim or a Muslim child who can distinguish between good and bad.3- The hunter should aim the weapon for hunting. In case, therefore, a person takes an aim at some place but kills an animal accidentally, it will be haram to eat the meat of that animal.4- While using the weapon, the hunter should utter the name of Allah. There is, however, no harm if he fails to do so on account of forgetfulness. 5- The animal should be dead when the hunter reaches it, or if it is alive, there should be no sufficient time left to slaughter it. However, if he has enough time to slaughter it and he does not slaughter it until it dies, it will be haram.

Issue No. 2236- If an animal is shot and then, for example, it falls into the water, if one knows that the animal has died on account of having been shot, and falling into water, it will not be halal. In fact, if one doubts whether or not the animal has died only because of being shot, it is not halal.