Anesthetising an animal before performing Zabah

In principle, anesthetising an animal before performing Zabah is a forbidden practice. The status of an animal that had been slaughtered in such a condition will be halaal only if it was certain that the animal was alive at the time of Zabah. If there is no such guarantee, then the animal will not be Halaal.

We should bear in mind that to regard the anaesthesia of an animal before performing Zabah better and the more appreciable method compared to the way advocated by the Shariah, is a way of giving priority and appreciating something more than the practice of the Shariah. It is a way of underestimating or depreciating the value of a practice of the Shariah. This attitude is very harmful and dangerous as it comes very close to Kufr.
[English version of "Anesthése ene zanimo"- Al Jamiat - Vol.8 No.5]