The Ruling on Slaughtering a Sick Animal

Question:
After this, we move on to a message received by the program from listener Salih Raji'an. Our brother says: If a sheep falls ill and is close to death, should I slaughter it or let it die without being slaughtered? Because some people say they have heard some scholars say, "Do not slaughter it if you do 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. So, 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. In any case, it is not permissible to slaughter an animal except for the purpose of eating it, if it is of a type that is eaten. The scholars may state explicitly that it is forbidden to slaughter an animal for the purpose of eating it, meaning with the intention of relieving it, as some people think. When the animal's illness becomes severe, 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 unless it is to be eaten and one intends to eat it, whether he eats it himself or someone else eats it.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you with good.