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Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.

 The animal whose meat is permissible to eat in Islamic law is the properly slaughtered animal (dhabiha), as Allah Almighty says: {Except what you [properly] slaughter} [Al-Ma'idah: 3]. The conditions for lawful slaughtering (Dhabh) are fulfilled by cutting the windpipe (trachea) and the food track (oesophagus) completely. If anything remains of them and the animal dies, it is not permissible to eat. Also, if the animal reaches the state of death throes and then the remaining part of the trachea and oesophagus is cut, it is considered dead meat.

 Imam Al-Nawawi, may Allah have mercy on him, said: "It is a condition for proper slaughtering to cut the trachea and esophagus. This is the correct opinion stated... Our scholars said: If anything is left of the trachea and esophagus and the animal dies, it is considered dead meat, and similarly, if it reaches the state of death throes and then the remaining part is cut, it is considered dead meat" [Al-Majmu’ 9/86].

 The complete slaughtering process involves four things: cutting the trachea, oesophagus, and the two jugular veins. Cutting the trachea and oesophagus is a sufficient requirement, while the jugular veins are two veins around the neck that are usually cut by cutting the trachea and oesophagus. Cutting the trachea and oesophagus along with the jugular veins is better, but if left, it is still permissible.

 It is required that the animal be alive and stable at the beginning of the slaughter, which is known by signs such as intense movement and the gushing of blood after cutting the trachea and oesophagus.

 It is recommended during slaughter to do five things: pronouncing the name of Allah, sending salat (blessings) upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), facing the animal towards the Qibla, saying Takbeer (Allahu Akbar) and making a supplication for acceptance. Allah Almighty says: {So eat of that [meat] upon which the name of Allah has been mentioned} [Al-An'am: 118].

In the two Sahihs, it is mentioned that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said when he slaughtered his sacrifice: "In the name of Allah." So, if one did not mention the name of Allah, it is still permissible. In the two Sahihs, it is reported that some people said: "O Messenger of Allah, some people bring us meat, and we do not know if the name of Allah was mentioned upon it or not." The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Mention the name of Allah upon it and eat it." This indicates that mentioning the name of Allah is not obligatory. However, many scholars view that saying the name of Allah is compulsory.

 It is recommended during slaughter to follow several practices, including:

• Not frightening the animal before slaughtering it.
• Not slaughtering the animal in front of other animals.
• Offering water to the animal before slaughtering it.
• Sharpening the knife before slaughtering to cut the oesophagus, trachea, and surrounding veins of the neck as quickly as possible, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Indeed, Allah has prescribed excellence in everything. So if you kill, kill in a good way, and if you slaughter, slaughter in a good way. Let one of you sharpen his blade and spare suffering to the animal he slaughters" (Muslim).
• Ensuring that the animal is not skinned before confirming its death.
• It is also recommended to lay the sheep on its left side facing the Qibla when slaughtering.

We advise people to fear Allah Almighty and to handle the livestock gently before slaughtering them to control them without causing pain and in a way that brings ease to the animal being slaughtered as much as possible. And Allah knows best.