If a sheep falls ill and is near death, should I slaughter it or let it die without slaughtering?

Question:
If a sheep falls ill and is near death, should I slaughter it or let it die without slaughtering? Because some people say they heard from some scholars that one should not slaughter it if one does not intend to eat it. May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
Yes, what these people heard from the scholars is the correct view. It is not permissible to slaughter an animal except for the purpose of eating it. If he intends to eat it, he slaughters it. But if he does not intend to eat it, he does not slaughter it, because this is a waste of wealth with no benefit, and because this animal may recover from this illness. Yes. In any case, it is not permissible to slaughter an animal except for the purpose of eating it, if it is of the kind that is eaten. Yes.
The scholars have also stated this correctly. They said that it is forbidden to slaughter an animal other than for eating it, meaning with the intention of relieving it, as some people think. When an animal is severely ill, one says, "I am slaughtering it to relieve it," or some say, "I am slaughtering it so that it does not become a means for Satan." This is not permissible. This is ignorance. An animal is not slaughtered except if it is of the kind that is eaten and one intends to eat it, whether he eats it himself or someone else eats it. Yes. May Allah reward you with good.