QUESTION:
As Salaamu Alaikum,
I Hope mufti saab is well? I would like to know if dehorned and Disbudded animals are allowed for qurbani? Many cattle farmers dehorn or disbud these animals and these animals are thereafter sold for qurbani, especially cattle.
Jazakallahu Khairan
ANSWER:
Wa Alaikum As Salaam,
The Fuqaha (Jurist experts) have stated that it is permissible to do Qurbani with such animals that have no horns on their heads naturally (that is, horns have not grown on their heads), and also with such animals that have broken horns. However, if the horn has been broken from the root to the extent that it reaches to the inner or deep part of the head or skull of the animal, or the effects reach the brain, then it will not be permissible to use these animals for Qurbani. (Radd Al Muhtaar vol 6 pg 323 HM Saeed Karachi)
From the above, it is evident that if the animal has no horn (naturally), it will be permissible to be used for Qurbani, since the horn has no direct objective for which an animal is slaughtered and used. In this regard, Allama Ibn Nujaim (A.R) has stated, ‘And it is permissible to do Qurbani with that animal which has no horn (naturally) since no benefit is connected to the horn, and in a like manner, it will be permissible to do Qurbani with an animal whose horn is broken. (Al Bahr Ar Raa’iq vol. 8 page 176 Maktaba Maajidiya Queta).
With respect to the dehorned animals, they are such that their horns have been removed entirely/cut off and taken out from the root to the extent that no part of the horn can be seen. Regarding such dehorned animals, the Fuqaha (Jurist experts) have indicated that these would not be permissible for Qurbani.
The 6th century (Hijri) Jurist expert, Allama Al Kasani (AR) has written about this and stated, ‘It will be permissible to do Qurbani with animals that naturally do not have horns, and also with animals whose horns are broken. However, if the horn has been broken from its base, or from its root which is attached to the skull of the animal, then it will not be permissible to do Qurbani with it. (Badaa’i As Sanaa’i Vol. 6 pg. 316 DKI Beirut 2019; Fatawa Al Hindiya Vol. 5 page 297 Maktaba Rasheediya Queta)
Alama Shami has also stated, ‘If the breaking of the horn has reached to the brain, that is, if it reaches to the inner or deep part of the head (itself) to the extent that the effects reach the brain, then it will not be permissible to do Qurbani with such animals. (Radd Al Muhtaar Vol. 6 page 323 HM Saeed Karachi).
The late grand Mufti of India, Mufti Mahmood Hassan (AR) has stated, ‘If the horns of the animals are taken out or rooted out, cut and removed from its root/base, then using such animals for Qurbani will not be permissible’.
He has further written that in summary, there are three conditions (connected to the horns). If the animals naturally do not have horns, it will be permissible to use them for Qurbani. If there are horns, but they are broken, it will be permissible to use them for Qurbani. However, if the horns were uprooted and taken out from its root/base, it will not be permissible to use them for Qurbani. (Fatawa Mahmoodiya Vol. 17 pgs. 377, 378 Idara Al Farooq Karachi 2008).
The late grand Mufti of Pakistan, Mufti Wali Hasan (AR), has also given a similar fatwa and stated, ‘ If the animals have no horns naturally, or the horn is broken, then it is permissible to do Qurbani with them. However, if the horn has been broken from its root/ base, to the extent that the effect reaches the brain, then it will not be permissible to use such animals for Qurbani’. (Fatawa Bayyinaat vol. 4 pg. 562 Maktaba Bayyinaat Karachi 2006).
In light of the above explanations and Islamic verdicts, it can be stated that animals that are dehorned will not be permissible for Qurbani.
The reason for this is that the dehorning procedure entails the complete removal of the horns of the animal from its root/base which is attached to the skull. It is the same as if the horns have been completely broken from its root or the horns have been entirely uprooted from its base, both of which make the animal unacceptable for Qurbani. Besides removing the horns, the dehorning procedure goes further to destroy the horn bud away. For this, iron is heated to red hot which is then placed in the horn caps to burn the horn bud away which prevent further growth of the horns. Dehorning paste may also be used, but this is similar to the hot iron technique in that it stops the horn growth via burning.
During this procedure, the animals experience severe pain and trauma which has a direct effect and impact on the brain of the animal, and as stated by the Jurist experts, ‘if the horn is broken from its root/base to the extent that it reaches the inner or deep part in the head or skull of the animal or the effects reach the brain, it will not be permissible to use such an animal for Qurbani’.
With respect to the disbudded animal, this will be allowed to use for Qurbani, since in the disbudding procedure, no horn is broken, removed, uprooted or taken out. In this process, the horn-producing cells are removed from the young animals before their horns have a chance to grow and the horn buds are removed even before they attach to the skull. On account of this, no horn will grow on these animals as they grow older. As such, they will be regarded as animals which do not have horns, and will be permissible to use for Qurbani when they reach the specific age.
And Allah Knows best
Mufti Waseem Khan
8/5/2025