Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(41): “Killing an Animal by the Violent Blow Gun"

Date Added : 02-11-2015

Resolution No.(41): “Killing an Animal by the Violent Blow Gun“
Date: 6/7/1419AH corresponding to 26/10/1998.

What is the ruling of Sharia on anesthetizing cows prior to slaughtering them by using a special gun, where an iron bar penetrates the head of the animal and destroys its nervous system, then the animal loses consciousness, so it must be slaughtered by cutting its neck veins because anesthesia could harm it and cause its death, depending on the place of the blow?

Answer: All success is due to Allah.

The Board is of the view that using the above method is forbidden in Sharia because after receiving a violent blow with an iron bar, the animal`s life becomes unstable and could die before slaughtering in case the blow hit its respiratory center or the butcher didn`t slaughter it instantly. In this case, this animal becomes forbidden because it takes the ruling of dead meat for Allah, the Almighty Says (what means): “Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been invoked the name of other than Allah. that which hath been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by being gored to death; that which hath been (partly) eaten by a wild animal; unless ye are able to slaughter it (in due form); that which is sacrificed on stone (altars); (forbidden) also is the division (of meat) by raffling with arrows: that is impiety.“ {Al-Mai`dah/3}. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.

Iftaa` Board

Chairman of the Iftaa` Board, Chief Justice, Izz Al-Deen Al-Tamimi

       Dr. Mohamoud Al-Bakheet

Dr. Yousef Gheezaan

 Dr. Umar Al-Ashkhaar

     Dr. Mahmoud Al-Sartawi

Sheikh Saeid Hijjawi

            Sheikh Mahmoud Shwayaat

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Summarized Fatawaa

How should the udhiyah be distributed?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
It is obligatory to give the poor a portion of the meat from a voluntary sacrifice (Udhiyah al-Tatawwu’), which should not be less than approximately half a kilogram of raw meat. Other parts do not suffice for this obligation, such as the liver, tripe, or intestines.
It is Sunnah for the one offering the sacrifice to divide it into thirds: one-third for himself and his household to eat, one-third to be given as charity to the poor, and one-third to be given as a gift to friends and neighbors, even if they are wealthy. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling on sacrificing a castrated animal or one with a missing tail?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
It is permissible to sacrifice a castrated sheep; as it has been established that the Prophet (peace be upon him) sacrificed:
 
"...two large, fat, horned, white-and-black, castrated rams (Mawju'ayn—meaning having crushed testicles)." [Narrated by Ibn Majah in his Sunan].
 
It is not permissible to sacrifice an animal that is missing its tail, or udder due to being cut off. This is in contrast to an animal that was naturally born without a tail, or udder; such an animal is valid for sacrifice. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling on giving Zakat al-Fitr in cash?

The default ruling is that Zakat al-Fitr should be given as the staple food of the land. In Jordan, for example, the staple food is wheat or rice, and the amount of Zakat al-Fitr is 2,500 grams per person. It is easy to give this amount of rice to the poor and needy, and this is the correct ruling according to all Islamic schools of thought.
However, Hanafi scholars have permitted giving Zakat al-Fitr as monetary value, considering it more beneficial for the poor and easier for the giver.

What is the ruling on fasting?

Fasting in Ramadan is an individual obligation (Fard ‘Ayn) upon every mature, sane Muslim who is capable of fasting.
Fasting can also be recommended (Mustahabb), such as voluntary fasting on Mondays and Thursdays, fasting on the Day of Arafah for those not performing Hajj, and fasting on Ashura.
Fasting can be prohibited (Haram), such as fasting on the two Eid days, the Day of Doubt (Yawm al-Shakk), and the Days of Tashreeq.
Some types of fasting are disliked (Makruh), such as singling out Friday or Saturday for fasting without a specific reason and fasting on the Day of Arafah for a pilgrim.