QURBAANI (5)
by Al-Jamiat publications

cont'd ...4/...

ANIMALS WITH DEFECTS

For the validity of the sacrifice it is essential that the animals are free of defect. The sacrifice will not be valid if a defective animal is sacrificed. The following faults will be regarded as defects for the purpose of sacrifice:

1. Blindness in both or one eye.

2. A third or more of an ear cut off.

3. Total lameness of one or more legs. However, if the animal is partially lame or the leg is not so severely injured and it is able to walk with it although limping, then the animal is valid for sacrifice.

4. An extremely emaciated and weak animal.

5. The majority of teeth have fallen out. If the of teeth which have fallen out are greater than the number of remaining teeth, the animal is not valid for sacrifice.

6. An animal born without ears.

7. A horn broken off at the base or root. if the horn is only partially broken off, the animal is valid for sacrifice.

The above faults render the animal defective and unfit for sacrifice

RULES OBSERVED AT THE OF SLAUGHTER TIME

1. The animal to be slaughtered should first be fed and watered; it should not be slaughtered when it is hungry and thirsty.
2. It should not be dragged along to the place of slaughter.
3. It should be laid on the ground with ease as it is abominable to use undue force.
4. It should be laid on the ground on its left side facing the Qiblah, so that it may die easily; it is abominable to do otherwise.
5. Only three of its legs should be tied together.
6. The knife should be sharp; it should never be slaughtered with a blunt knife.
7. If the knife is to be sharpened, it should not be sharpened in front of the animal.
8. The knife should not be sharpened after laying the animal on the ground; it should be done before. It is reported in a hadith that once a man began to sharpen his knife after he had placed the animal on the ground. Seeing this, the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu-Alayhi-Wasallam) said, "You wish to give more than one death to the animal."
9. An animal should not be slaughtered in the presence of another.
10. As soon as the animal has been placed on the ground, one should hurry to slaughter it, undue delay must be avoided.
11. The animal should not be slaughtered with such force that the head is severed or the knife reaches the spinal cord.
12. It is incorrect to slaughter the animal above the neck because it causes the animal too much hurt and agony.
13. After slaughtering, the head should not be cut off nor should the animal be skinned as long as the body has not become cold. (Hidaya and Shami)

The above mentioned injunctions are not peculiar to sacrificial animals only; they are meant for any animal that is to be slaughtered.

Source:  Jamiatul Ulama (Kwazulu-Natal)