Ruling on cutting the ears of goats and branding them for the purpose of adornment and raising the price
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Peace be upon you, and Allah’s mercy and blessings. What is the ruling on what sheepherders do when they cut the ears of goats and brand their horns for the purpose of adornment and to raise the price, knowing that branding and cutting cause pain to the animal? What is the view of the Shari'ah in this matter?
First: There are two observations regarding this question. The first observation is the greeting of peace; because we do not know that the Companions, when they wanted to ask the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), would greet him with peace unless they entered to attend.
The second observation: Your saying: “What is the ruling of the Shari'ah in this?” Because I do not want the question to be directed to a person who might err and might be correct,It is said: “What is the view of the Shari'ah?” Because if he answers with an error, the Shari'ah becomes erroneous.
As for cutting the ears, the people of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance used to cut the ears of livestock based on a belief, which is: that this animal—for example—if it was ridden for a certain number of years, they would cut its ears as a sign that it is respected and it is not permissible to eat it, or if this camel carried several pregnancies, they would do the same to it, or if a camel was driven for a specific period, they would do the same to it. This is undoubtedly a false belief and is not relied upon. Sometimes, cutting the ears is done to increase the price, as we hear now that some animals with cut ears reach a value of ten thousand. I consider this foolishness on the part of the buyer. This animal—for example—that is worth two hundred, they make it worth five or six thousand by cutting its ears. Did it increase in value by having its ears cut? No.
It is the same in its nature, its milk, and everything else is the same. Therefore, we see that this is actually foolishness. However, regarding cutting the ear in itself, there is nothing wrong with it, except that it is required to anesthetize it when cutting so that it does not suffer from something that is not necessary. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the Rightly Guided Caliphs used to brand the camels of zakah—they would brand them with fire—and there is no doubt that they would suffer, and perhaps the wound would become infected and they would suffer more.
First: There are two observations regarding this question. The first observation is the greeting of peace; because we do not know that the Companions, when they wanted to ask the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), would greet him with peace unless they entered to attend.
The second observation: Your saying: “What is the ruling of the Shari'ah in this?” Because I do not want the question to be directed to a person who might err and might be correct,It is said: “What is the view of the Shari'ah?” Because if he answers with an error, the Shari'ah becomes erroneous.
As for cutting the ears, the people of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance used to cut the ears of livestock based on a belief, which is: that this animal—for example—if it was ridden for a certain number of years, they would cut its ears as a sign that it is respected and it is not permissible to eat it, or if this camel carried several pregnancies, they would do the same to it, or if a camel was driven for a specific period, they would do the same to it. This is undoubtedly a false belief and is not relied upon. Sometimes, cutting the ears is done to increase the price, as we hear now that some animals with cut ears reach a value of ten thousand. I consider this foolishness on the part of the buyer. This animal—for example—that is worth two hundred, they make it worth five or six thousand by cutting its ears. Did it increase in value by having its ears cut? No.
It is the same in its nature, its milk, and everything else is the same. Therefore, we see that this is actually foolishness. However, regarding cutting the ear in itself, there is nothing wrong with it, except that it is required to anesthetize it when cutting so that it does not suffer from something that is not necessary. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the Rightly Guided Caliphs used to brand the camels of zakah—they would brand them with fire—and there is no doubt that they would suffer, and perhaps the wound would become infected and they would suffer more.