What is the ruling on cutting off the ears of livestock?
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The questioner : Shaykh, may Allah reward you, some sheep enthusiasts attribute to you...
The Shaykh : Sheep?
The questioner : Yes, the Syrian goat.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : They attribute to you, O Shaykh, that you issued a fatwa to them permitting the cutting of the ear of the Syrian goat, because they consider that the Syrian goat is not beautiful unless its ear is cut, and its beauty is not complete except by cutting its ear. So I do not know the validity of this attribution to you?
The Shaykh : Yes, this is correct. It is permissible to cut the ear to increase the price, on the condition that it does not cause pain to the animal, meaning, for example, it is anesthetized and then cut.
The questioner : If it is not anesthetized?
The Shaykh : It is not permissible. This is causing pain without need.
The questioner : Does cutting the ear harm the animal?
The Shaykh : It does not harm it, because it is not human, so we do not say: do not mutilate it. For this reason, it is permissible to brand it with fire for marking, and there is no blame.
The questioner : But anesthesia is a condition.
The Shaykh : It must not cause it pain.
The Shaykh : Sheep?
The questioner : Yes, the Syrian goat.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : They attribute to you, O Shaykh, that you issued a fatwa to them permitting the cutting of the ear of the Syrian goat, because they consider that the Syrian goat is not beautiful unless its ear is cut, and its beauty is not complete except by cutting its ear. So I do not know the validity of this attribution to you?
The Shaykh : Yes, this is correct. It is permissible to cut the ear to increase the price, on the condition that it does not cause pain to the animal, meaning, for example, it is anesthetized and then cut.
The questioner : If it is not anesthetized?
The Shaykh : It is not permissible. This is causing pain without need.
The questioner : Does cutting the ear harm the animal?
The Shaykh : It does not harm it, because it is not human, so we do not say: do not mutilate it. For this reason, it is permissible to brand it with fire for marking, and there is no blame.
The questioner : But anesthesia is a condition.
The Shaykh : It must not cause it pain.