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Fatwa CenterSacrificing chickens
Question
If I have a farm of chickens and I want to sacrifice them Halal do I have to say Bismillah for each one, or can I say Bismillah for all at the beginning when I sacrifice them?
Answer
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
Scholars agree that the sacrifice is not valid except with cattle (sheep, goats, camels and cows). Other animals cannot replace the above be that an antelope, a female gazelle or the like. As Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): {And for every nation We have appointed religious ceremonies, that they may mention the Name of Allâh over the beast of cattle that He has given them for food. …..}[22:34].
It is not reported that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) or his companions sacrificed other than what is mentioned above (as being permissible).
A sacrifice is an action of worship like Zakah, which has a relation with the animal and it is particularly restricted to cattle.
Please refer to Al-Mughni (8/619), and Bidayat Al-Mujtahid (1/416).
Therefore sacrificing hens cannot replace the sacrifice of cattle.
As regards the act of slaughtering hens one has to mention the name of Allah on each and every chicken.
Allah knows best.
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