Most-asked question

What if Bismillah was not said when slaughtering?

8 fatawa in the archive answer questions on this, from 4 South African Darul Iftas (Mufti Online, AskImam, Azaadville, Ibn Masood). Below, each Darul Ifta’s answer is quoted word for word from the opening of one of its fatawa.

Based on the fatawa linked below. Please read the sources and double-check with a Darul Ifta for your situation.

Consult a mufti for your situation. Fatawa SA is a read-only archive and issues no rulings of its own.

What the Darul Iftas say

“In principle, the Tasmiyah remains valid for a slaughter within that Majlis (sitting). Accordingly, provided you did not become occupied for a prolonged period with conversation regarding some other matter to the extent that an onlooker would consider you to be occupied in something besides the slaughter, the Qurbani slaughter …”

AskImam — Speaking between Tasmiyah and slaughtering the animal - Is the Qurbani in order? · 11 Jul 2021

“If a person forgot or unintentionally did not say Bismillah before slaughtering the chicken, the chicken will be Halaal. If he slaughtered the chicken intentionally discarding Bismillah, the chicken will be regarded as carrion and Haraam to consume.”

Azaadville — Forgetting To Say Bismillah At The Time Of Slaughtering · 18 Nov 2021

“If bismillah is left out unintentionally, then the animal is halaal and permissible. However, if it is left out intentionally, then the animal will not be halaal.”

Mufti Online — Reciting tasmiyah (bismillah) at the time of slaughter · 28 Feb 2012

“It is necessary to verbally utter the Tasmiyah. If one left out the Tasmiyah intentionally, then the animal will not be Halaal to consume. However, if one forgot to recite the Tasmiyah, then the animal will be Halaal to consume.”

Ibn Masood — Reciting the Tasmiyah at the Time of Slaughter · 6 May 2025

Quotes are the opening words of each answer as published; the full answer, its conditions and references are on the fatwa page. Answers depend on the exact details of each question.

Read the fatawa

  1. Speaking between Tasmiyah and slaughtering the animal - Is the Qurbani in order? AskImam · 11 Jul 2021
  2. Reciting the Tasmiyah at the Time of Slaughter Ibn Masood · 6 May 2025
  3. Forgetting To Say Bismillah At The Time Of Slaughtering Azaadville · 18 Nov 2021
  4. Uncertain if one read bismillah when slaughtering Mufti Online · 13 Dec 2018
  5. Forgetting to say Tasmiyah when slaughtering AskImam · 11 Jan 2021
  6. Reciting tasmiyah (bismillah) at the time of slaughter Mufti Online · 28 Feb 2012
  7. Consuming the meat of an animal slaughtered by a Shaafi who did not read bismillah intentionally when slaughtering Mufti Online · 25 Dec 2018
  8. Reciting 'Bismillahi-Rahmaani-Rahiim' before slaughtering Mufti Online · 24 Oct 2013

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