Conditions for slaughtering an animal

Conditions for slaughtering an animal

Conditions for slaughtering an animal

 Allah has appointed two happy days for Muslims, one Eid-ul-Fitr, and one Eid-ul-Adha. Eid al-Fitr comes after Ramadan and Muslims celebrate this day. Eid-ul-Adha comes after Hajj. On this occasion, Muslims revive the Sunnah of their father, Abraham. And they slaughter animals in the way of Allah.

 Islam is a perfect religion. It always teaches us kindness and good behavior in every matter. That is why Islam has set conditions for slaughtering animals.

In today's article we will explain the conditions for slaughtering an animal. There are 09 conditions for slaughtering any animal which is as follows:

(1) The person slaughtering should be prudent:

 The man who has no intellect. And he is not even capable of asking the right questions and answers, so the slaughtered animal will have no credibility. That is, the sacrifices of the insane and the drunkards will not be valid because these people do not have the will power.

(2) Whether the person slaughtering is a Muslim or a bookist:

 The book refers to Jews and Christians. That is, if Jews and Christians slaughter an animal but take the name of Allah on it, then we can eat that meat. Allah said: الْيَوْمَ أُحِلَّ لَكُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتُ وَطَعَامُ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ حِلٌّ لَكُمْ۔ Today the good things are made lawful for you, and the food of the People of the Book is lawful for you. (Surat al-Ma'ida, verse no. 05) From this verse we understand that there is no one other than the People of the Book. Religions such as Hinduism, Magianism, etc., their slaughtered animals are not permissible for Muslims.

 In the same way, whether a Muslim is a sinner or a heretic, his slaughtered animal is halal. In the same way, if a child who is sensible or a woman slaughters light, his slaughtered animal will also be halal.

 Hazrat Ka'b ibn Malik's slave girl was grazing goats on Jabal-e-Sala. When something happened to a goat, she grabbed it and slaughtered it with a sharp stone. When asked, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: Eat it. (Saheeh al-Bukhari, hadeeth no. 5505)

(3) The intention is to slaughter the animal:

The third of the conditions for slaughtering an animal is that there is an intention to slaughter the animal. If the animal is not intended to be slaughtered, it will not be halal.

For example, a person was biting something and an animal was standing near it. Suddenly the knife slipped out of his hand and went straight into the animal's throat and the animal died. So such an animal will not be halal because this man did not intend to slaughter this animal before.

Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that he heard the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) saying: إنما الأعمال بالنيات، وإنما لكل امرئ ما نوى Deeds depend on intentions. Every person gets what he intended. (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 01)

(4) He should not slaughter an animal for other than Allah:

Whatever animal we slaughter. The condition for this is that we should not slaughter this animal for other than Allah in the name of an idol, grave, or any other name.

 If we slaughter an animal in the name of other than Allah, then such an animal will become haraam. Allah said: حُرِّمَتْ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَيْتَةُ وَالدَّمُ۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔ وَمَا ذُبِحَ عَلَى النُّصُبِ۔Dead and blood are forbidden to you ......... and animals slaughtered in places of worship are also forbidden to you. (Surat al-Ma'ida, verse no. 03)

Rather, whoever slaughters an animal in the name of a non-God, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) has cursed the curse of Allaah on such a person.

Hazrat Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: لَعَنَ اللهُ مَنْ ذَبَحَ لِغَيْرِ اللهِ۔ May Allah curse the person who slaughtered for other than Allah. (Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 1978) This is one of the conditions for slaughtering an animal. Therefore, if a person slaughters for a non-God, then the sacrifice of such a person is not accepted by God.

(5) When slaughtering an animal, the name of other than Allah should not be mentioned on it:

Whoever takes the name of other than Allah while slaughtering an animal, such an animal is also haraam. Allah said: إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَيْتَةَ وَالدَّمَ وَلَحْمَ الْخِنْزِيرِ وَمَا أُهِلَّ بِهِ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ۔ Indeed, Allah has forbidden you carrion, blood, pork and any animal on which the name of other than Allah has been mentioned. (Surat al-Baqara, Verse No. 173)

(6) When slaughtering an animal, the name of Allah should be mentioned on it:

When we slaughter an animal, we should use the name of Allah while running a knife over its neck, because this is one of the conditions for slaughtering an animal. Allah said: فَكُلُوا مِمَّا ذُكِرَ اسْمُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ بِآياتِهِ مُؤْمِنِينَ۔ If you are a believer, eat the animal on which the name of Allah has been mentioned. (Surat al-An'am: 118)

Hazrat Rafi 'ibn Khadij (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: مَا أَنْهَرَ الدَّمَ، وَذُكِرَ اسْمُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ، فَكُلُوا۔ Eat of that which has shed blood, and in which the name of Allah has been mentioned. (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 2507)

In this hadith, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) stipulates that in order for an animal to be lawful, it must bear the name of Allaah.

 If a person does not mention the name of Allah, then the sacrifice made by such a person will not be valid. And the condition is that when a person intends to slaughter, he should take the name of Allah. If there is a long way to go between slaughtering and its intention, it will not benefit him.

 Similarly, if a person forgets to mention the name of Allah while slaughtering or does so due to ignorance, then it will not be permissible for him to eat the animal which he will slaughter. However, he would not be guilty in this case because he did not know it.

 The reason for this is that just as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) laid down the condition of shedding blood in the aforesaid hadeeth, he also laid down the condition of taking the name of Allaah. And the condition is not lost due to forgetfulness or ignorance.

For example, ablution is a condition for prayers. If a person does not perform Wudhu due to ignorance or forgetfulness and performs the prayers, then the prayers of such a person will not be performed and he will perform the prayers again.

 However, he will not be guilty of this act. Because Islam does not blame forgetfulness or ignorance. This is the case with animal slaughter. And in our opinion, this is the right position. God knows best!

It is necessary to recite the name of Allah orally while slaughtering. If a person cannot speak, then if such a person makes a gesture, the gesture will suffice.

(7) Slaughter the animal with sharp tools other than teeth and nails:

If a person slaughters an animal with teeth or blood, the slaughter of such a person will not be halal. Because it is one of the conditions for slaughtering an animal.

Hazrat Rafi 'ibn Khadij (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: مَا أَنْهَرَ الدَّمَ، وَذُكِرَ اسْمُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ، فَكُلُوا لَيْسَ السِّنَّ، وَالظُّفُرَ۔ Except for teeth and nails, whatever bleeds and the name of Allah is mentioned on it, then eat such an animal. (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 2507)

If a person kills an animal with something other than sharp tools, such as strangulation, electrocution, or a head injury. So an animal slaughtered in such a way will not be halal even if its blood is shed in this way.

(8) Bleeding:

Bleeding is also one of the conditions for slaughtering an animal. Hazrat Rafi 'ibn Khadij (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: مَا أَنْهَرَ الدَّمَ، وَذُكِرَ اسْمُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ، فَكُلُوا لَيْسَ السِّنَّ، وَالظُّفُرَ۔ Except for teeth and nails, whatever bleeds and the name of Allah is mentioned on it, then eat such an animal. (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 2507)

It can have two conditions. If the animal has run away, or has fallen into a well, or gone to a place where it is not possible to catch it. In such a case, the slaughterer should strike any part of the animal which causes it to bleed and die for the same reason. Then the food of the animal will be halal.

In the battle, when the Companions found camels and goats in the booty, one of the camels ran away. Hazrat Rafi 'ibn Khadij (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that we shot him hard and shot him down. (Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 1968)

 The second condition is that the animal is completely in the possession of human beings, in which case we will run the knife on the throat of the animal. And in this way the blood of the animal will be shed.

 Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) says: «الذَّكَاةُ فِي الحَلْقِ وَاللَّبَّةِ» Slaughter the animal between the throat and the empty space above the chest. (This has been narrated by Bukhari.)

(9) Slaughtering an animal is religiously permitted.

  If an animal is not allowed to be slaughtered according to shari'ah, then there are two types:

1. That which is haraam and relates to Allah:

What is haraam and has to do with Allah will be haraam even if he slaughters it. Such as hunting in the Haram or in the state of Ihram. Allah said: وَحُرِّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ صَيْدُ الْبَرِّ مَا دُمْتُمْ حُرُماً۔ As long as you are in ihram, it is forbidden for you to hunt land animals. (Surat al-Ma'ida, verse no. 96)

2. That which is haraam and relates to the creatures:

  As if that animal was stolen. Or someone snatched that animal from someone. The scholars differ on this point. According to one group, such an animal is halal. According to one group, such an animal is haraam.

 We will try to find a middle ground. For example, if the animal is stolen, then whoever knows that the animal is stolen, then that animal will be haraam for them. And for those who do not know, that animal will be lawful. Allah knows best!

 With the help of Allah, we have mentioned the conditions for slaughtering an animal in the light of the Qur'an and Hadith. May Allah always help us to walk on the right path and help us to live according to our religion of Islam. Amen!