Ruling 2616. Jurists (fuqahāʾ) – may Allah’s pleasure be with them – have considered a number of things to be recommended when slaughtering an animal:

1. when slaughtering a sheep, both its front legs and one of its back legs should be tied together, and the other leg should be left free. When slaughtering a cow, all its front and back legs should be tied, and its tail should be left free. When slaughtering a camel, if it is sitting, its front legs should be tied together from the lower part of its leg up to its knees or below the top of its leg, and its back legs should be left free. If it is standing, its left leg should be tied. It is recommended that a chicken be let free after it is slaughtered so that it can flap its wings;

2. before slaughtering the animal, water should be placed in front of it;

3. the animal should be slaughtered in a manner that reduces its suffering. For example, the knife should be well sharpened, and the animal should be slaughtered swiftly.