Question
When slaughtering, should the animal be laid on its right or left side facing the Qiblah? In a kitaabs is mentioned that it should be on its left side.
Answer
The animal's right or left side is a relative issue. Which exactly is the right or left side of the animal? If the animal faces you, its side on your right will be its right side in relation to you. If the animal's tail is towards you, the other side will be its right side. Thus, both sides can be either its right or its left depending on how the animal is positioned to you.
When the animal is laid down for slaughter, its head should be on your left side to enable you to slaughter with your right hand whilst holding its head with the left hand. If its head is on your right side, then you will be unable to slaughter because its head will be free to move about since you will be having the knife in your right hand and your left hand will be on its body. When the animal is laid down with its head on your left side, it will be on its left side in relation to the slaughterer. This is the meaning of the left side mentioned in the Kitaab.
- Source
- themajlis.co.za
- Published in
- The Majlis Vol 22 No 04
- PDF page
- 5
Appears under Questions and Answers (approximate).