Q: A disagreement took place among the Muslims of South Africa concerning the method of slaughtering in governmental slaughterhouses in our country. Before slaughtering, the following procedure takes place, according to the municipal rules:First, the ox is shot in the head with a pistol so that it loses consciousness.Note: they do not use the known bullets in this process, but they use special ones. The purpose of this operation is to facilitate the process of slaughtering, relieve the animal and protect the slaughterer's life, as oxen might sometimes attack them.Second, as the first operation is not considered enough, they stab the ox in the neck with a sharp tool. The specialized doctors say that (Part No. 22; Page No. 468) the ox dies in less than fifteen minutes from the moment of this stab.Third, immediately after this, they slaughter it in the known way according to Shari`ah (Islamic law).Please advise whether this method of slaughtering is lawful, and whether we can eat from this meat.

A: First, it is impermissible to shoot an animal or stab it with a sharp tool, except in the throat to slaughter it, as this method entails torture for the animal, unless it is a raging beast and there is no other option but to shoot it or stab it with a spear. In this case, it is permissible to do so. If it dies before slaughtering it, it will still be permissible to eat. If it is still alive, it will be unlawful to eat unless slaughtered according to Shari`ah. It was authentically reported in the two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith on the authority of Rafi` ibn Khadij that a camel became ferocious in the presence of the Prophet (peace be upon him). A man chased it with an arrow and stabbed it. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Those animals sometimes become wild; if any animal gets wild, do the same with it." Second, shooting or stabbing a domestic animal for no reason is considered Mawqudhah (an animal killed by a violent blow). If it dies because of this before being slaughtered, it would be regarded a dead animal that is forbidden to eat. If it is slaughtered while being alive, it will be permissible to eat, according to Allah's saying, Forbidden to you (for food) are: Al-Maitah (the dead animals - cattle - beast not slaughtered), blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which Allâh’s Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering, (that which has been slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allâh, or has been slaughtered for idols) and that which has been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by the goring of horns, and that which has been (partly) eaten by a wild animal, unless you are able to slaughter it (before its death) (Part No. 22; Page No. 469) Allah (Glorified be He) makes it clear that if an animal is strangled by a rope or by hands; a stick or an iron rod is thrown at it; shot by a bullet; falls off a high place; or is butted by another animal, and dies accordingly, it will be unlawful to eat. However, if caught while still alive and slaughtered, it will be permissible to eat.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.