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

What are the legal and religious consequences for a charitable organization in the event that a sacrificial animal is damaged or spoiled after slaughter?

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
Charitable organizations entrusted with slaughtering sacrificial animals (uḍḥiyyah) and distributing their meat on behalf of their owners are obligated to safeguard the meat from spoilage, damage, theft, and any other harm. This is because such organizations act as agents (wukalā') on behalf of those offering the sacrifice, and an agent holds what is entrusted to them in trust (amānah) — whether they receive a wage for their work or act on a voluntary basis.
If the sacrificial animal is damaged after slaughter during the processes of packaging, transportation, or storage due to negligence or oversight — whether on the part of the organization's own staff overseeing the operation, or on the part of third parties contracted by the organization such as transport or shipping companies — then liability falls upon the negligent party, who is required to compensate for the value of the sacrifice. It is not permissible to cover such compensation from the organization's other donor funds.
However, if the damage to the sacrificial animal occurs without any negligence in its preservation and storage on the part of any party involved in the transportation, shipping, or storage process, and is instead attributable to force majeure circumstances beyond their control, then no financial liability is borne by any party in such a case. And Allah Almighty knows best.

How do I deal with whispers (waswasa) in ablution and purification?

Whispers in ablution are from Satan, and the Muslim should not pay attention to them. He is not required to re-perform ablution or repeat washing a limb because of waswasa. He should always base his purification on its being valid. It is recommended for him to frequently say "La ilaha illa Allah" (There is no god but Allah), because Satan recoils when Allah is mentioned. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling on performing istinja' with perfumed tissues or a tissue moistened with water?

Performing istinja' with perfumed or moistened tissues is not sufficient if they are not dry, due to the moisture on them reaching the impurity, which increases its spread rather than reducing it. Then, to remove the impurity, one must use pure water. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

Is it permissible for a woman to wear underwear while performing Umrah?

Yes, it is permissible for a woman to wear underwear while performing Umrah. This is because she should keep her regular clothes that cover all her body while being in a state of Ihram (ritual consecration) for Hajj, or Umrah. However, she should uncover her face and hands, but it is permissible for her to let her head-covering garment drape from her head down over her face when non-Mahram (i.e., marriageable) men pass by her. And Allah Knows Best.