it before its proper time removes it from being an act of worship, so it remains merely a sheep for meat. It is possible that its ruling is the same as the ruling for a sacrifice, like the hady if it becomes injured; it does not depart from the ruling of the hady according to one narration, and the meaning of his saying "a sheep for meat" is that it refers solely to its merit and reward, not to what one does with it.

1765 - Issue; He said: (It is not recommended that anyone slaughter it except a Muslim, and if he slaughters it with his own hand, it is better.)

The general principle is that it is recommended that no one slaughter the sacrifice except a Muslim, because it is an act of devotion, and therefore no one other than those qualified for acts of devotion should perform it. If he appoints a dhimmi (a protected non-Muslim citizen) to slaughter it, it is permissible, though disliked. This is the view of al-Shafi'i, Abu Thawr, and Ibn al-Mundhir. It has been narrated from Ahmad that it is not permissible for anyone to slaughter it except a Muslim, and this is the view of Malik. Among those who disliked that were Ali, Ibn Abbas, and Jabir, may Allah be pleased with them. Al-Hasan and Ibn Sirin also held this view. Jabir said: No one should slaughter the nusuk (sacrificial animal) except a Muslim, due to what was narrated in the long hadith of Ibn Abbas from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): "Let none slaughter your sacrifices except a pure one" (2). Furthermore, because the fats are forbidden to us from what they slaughter according to one narration, so it would be in the position of wasting it. Our view is that whoever is permitted to slaughter other than the sacrifice is permitted to slaughter the sacrifice, just like a Muslim. It is permissible for a disbeliever to handle what is an act of devotion for a Muslim, such as the construction of mosques and bridges. We do not concede the prohibition of the fats to us upon their slaughtering, and the hadith is interpreted as referring to recommendation. It is recommended that a Muslim slaughter it in order to avoid the disagreement. If he slaughters it with his own hand, it is better, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) sacrificed two horned, white-and-black rams, slaughtering them with his own hand, while pronouncing the name of Allah and saying "Allahu Akbar," and he placed his foot on their sides (3). He also slaughtered the six badanas (camels for sacrifice) with his own hand (4). And he slaughtered from the budn (camels) that he drove for his Hajj sixty-three camels with his own hand (6). Moreover, his act is an act of devotion, and performing the act of devotion oneself is better than appointing someone else to do it. If he appoints another to do it, it is permissible, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) appointed someone to slaughter what remained of his budn after sixty-three (6).