Branding the ear of a beast or slitting it
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Fatwa number ( 2226 )
Q: The Shaykh of the Grand Mosque issued a fatwa to us stating that branding the ear of a beast, or slitting it, or clipping it, whether partially or entirely, is a matter from Satan, and that it causes the curse of Allah upon the one who does this. We seek to know the truth in this matter.
A: The principle in Islam is to respect livestock and not to harm them by branding their ears, slitting them, or clipping them, whether partially or entirely, or by any other means, except in the case of an apparent need, such as wanting to mark them with something by which they are known, whether for him or for others, such as branding with fire in a place other than the face, or slitting the hump of camels that are driven as sacrificial animals. There is no harm in that, as long as it is within the limits of need and for a valid purpose. It is established in (the two Sahihs) from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:Mishkat al-Masabih 4079 . And it is in Ahmad and Ibn Majah : Mishkat al-Masabih 4080 . And it is established in (Sahih al-Bukhari) from al-Miswar ibn
Makhramah and Marwan who said:Sahih al-Bukhari 1694, 1695 . Al-Ishtar is: to wound the hump of the camel until blood flows, and then to let it flow, so that this becomes a sign that it is a sacrificial animal. As for branding on the face, it is not permissible; because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited it and cursed the one who did it. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: The Shaykh of the Grand Mosque issued a fatwa to us stating that branding the ear of a beast, or slitting it, or clipping it, whether partially or entirely, is a matter from Satan, and that it causes the curse of Allah upon the one who does this. We seek to know the truth in this matter.
A: The principle in Islam is to respect livestock and not to harm them by branding their ears, slitting them, or clipping them, whether partially or entirely, or by any other means, except in the case of an apparent need, such as wanting to mark them with something by which they are known, whether for him or for others, such as branding with fire in a place other than the face, or slitting the hump of camels that are driven as sacrificial animals. There is no harm in that, as long as it is within the limits of need and for a valid purpose. It is established in (the two Sahihs) from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:
Anas told that one morning he took ‘Abdallah b. Abu Talha to God’s messenger for him to chew something and rub his palate with it,* and found him with a branding-iron in his hand branding the camels of the sadaqa . *This was a custom for the purpose of acquiring a blessing for children. (Bukhari and Muslim.)
غدوت إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بعبد الله بن أبي طلحة ليحنكه، فوافيته وفي يده الميسم يَسِم إبل الصدقةhe went to visit the Prophet when he was in an enclosure and saw him branding sheep. He thought he said it was on their ears
دخلت على النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وهو يَسِم غنمًا في آذانهاMakhramah and Marwan who said:
The Prophet (ﷺ) set out from Medina with over one thousand of his companions (at the time of the Treaty of Hudaibiya) and when they reached Dhul-Hulaifa, the Prophet (ﷺ) garlanded his Hadi and marked it
خرج النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم في بضع عشرة مائة من أصحابه، حتى إذا كانوا بذي الحليفة قلد النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم الهدي وأشعره
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.