What is the ruling on one who has intercourse with an animal while ignorant of the ruling, and do the madhhabs agree on a single ruling regarding this, and what is the fault of the animal if it is killed?
Committing bestiality is an abominable and unanimously forbidden act. Scholars have differed regarding the punishment for its perpetrator. The majority opinion is that it warrants discretionary punishment (ta'zir). Some scholars hold that it necessitates the prescribed punishment forzina, while others opine that both the perpetrator and the animal should be killed. They cite as evidence the hadith, "Cursed is he who has sexual intercourse with an animal," and the hadith, "Whoever has sexual intercourse with an animal, kill him and kill the animal." As for the claim of not knowing its prohibition, it is unacceptable for someone raised in Muslim lands, as its prohibition is not hidden. The reason for killing the animal, according to those who advocate it, is either to prevent it from being a source of shame for its perpetrator, or to prevent it from giving birth to a deformed creature, or to prevent it from being eaten.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/101821