Ruling on cutting a part of an animal for a stronger benefit
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His Eminence the Shaykh: We have a type of Syrian goat whose ears are long, with each ear measuring more than thirty centimeters, such that when it drinks water, half of its ear falls into the water. When it eats from the feed, its ear gets dirty with the feed or straw. Then, when it drinks or eats from the feeder, this leads to the water or feed becoming dirty, and it may cause inflammation in its ear. For this reason, some people cut a part of its ear—half or less—for the aforementioned reasons, and this beautifies it and increases its price. It is known that this practice is free from pre-Islamic beliefs. Similarly, horns are cut because of the harm they cause and because cutting them adds beauty and increases the price. Therefore, they cut them or apply a medicine to them from a young age so that the horn does not grow. Likewise, castration is performed for fattening and to improve the quality of the meat. What is the ruling on these actions, namely cutting the ears, horns, and castrating rams and he-goats? We ask for your answer, and may Allah reward you with good?
These are three things, as mentioned in the question,The first: cutting the ear,And the questioner said: he does not intend by it what the people of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance intended with the *bahirah* and the like; rather, he intends three things: first, preventing harm or disease due to the length of these ears.
The second: beautification.
The third: increasing the value.
And our answer to this is that we say: There is no harm in this, provided that: there is no pain to the animal; because this pain, if there is no clear cause for it, is not permissible. It is possible to numb the ear and then cut it, or perform another procedure on it so that it does not suffer from the cutting.
As for cutting the horns, it is easier; because the horns, as the questioner said, may cause harm, such as goring those who oppose them.
As for castration, it is also permissible if there is a benefit, but it is obligatory to take the necessary measures to prevent the animal from suffering pain.
These are three things, as mentioned in the question,The first: cutting the ear,And the questioner said: he does not intend by it what the people of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance intended with the *bahirah* and the like; rather, he intends three things: first, preventing harm or disease due to the length of these ears.
The second: beautification.
The third: increasing the value.
And our answer to this is that we say: There is no harm in this, provided that: there is no pain to the animal; because this pain, if there is no clear cause for it, is not permissible. It is possible to numb the ear and then cut it, or perform another procedure on it so that it does not suffer from the cutting.
As for cutting the horns, it is easier; because the horns, as the questioner said, may cause harm, such as goring those who oppose them.
As for castration, it is also permissible if there is a benefit, but it is obligatory to take the necessary measures to prevent the animal from suffering pain.