Is it Islamically prohibited to cut parts of a goat's ear for cosmetic purposes, which affects its price?
Islam has encouraged excellence in everything, including the treatment of animals, and has forbidden torturing them, such as cutting off their ears or part of them, based on the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, who said: "Indeed, Allah has prescribed excellence in everything." And based on His, the Almighty’s, saying in the context of His discussion about Satan: "And I will surely command them, and they will cut the ears of livestock." This indicates the prohibition of cutting the ears of livestock, unless it is for a legitimate purpose. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, forbade sacrificing an animal that has a defect in its ear, such as having its ear cut from the front (Muqabalah), or from the back (Mudabarah), or slit (Sharqa’), or perforated (Kharqa’). What is exempted from the prohibition of harming animals is Al-Ish'ar and Al-Wasm, provided they are not on the face. Al-Ish'ar is done to camels and cattle by slitting the right side of their hump until it bleeds, and Al-Wasm is done by branding with fire to mark the animal.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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