Ruling if a Slaughtered Animal Moves After Slaughter

Abu Murrah, the freed slave of Aqeel bin Abi Talib, says that I came to my house and there was a goat with them that seemed to be dead. I slaughtered it, and then it moved. I mentioned all of this to Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), and he instructed me to eat that goat. Then I went to Hazrat Zaid bin Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him) and mentioned it to him, and he said that a dead animal also moves.

21020 - He said: Then I came to Zayd ibn Thabit and mentioned to him (her matter) (1), so he said: (Indeed) (2) the dead person moves (3).

Hazrat Ubaid bin Umair says regarding the slaughtered animal that if it moves its tail or its eye moves, then it is lawful (halal).

Hazrat Tawus says that there is no harm in it.

Hazrat Ata says that if the slaughtered animal moves its blood, eye, or leg after being slaughtered, then it is halal.

Hasan says that if the slaughtered animal moves its eye or leg, then it is lawful (halal).

Hazrat Sabah bin Thabit says that I asked Hazrat Amir bin Abdah about a duck that had fallen into a well; when people took it out, there was still some sign of life in it. What is the ruling regarding it? He replied that slaughter it and eat it.

Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said that if the slaughtered animal moves its eye, tail, or leg, then eat it.

Hazrat Dhahhak says that if you slaughter an animal and it moves its eye or tail in that state, then it is lawful (halal). If it is slaughtered but neither its eye nor its tail moves, then it is carrion and unlawful (haram).

Hazrat Nu’man bin ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that Hazrat Sa‘id bin Jubair passed by an ostrich that had been thrown into the garbage and was still moving. Hazrat Sa‘id bin Jubair asked, “What is this?” The people replied, “We threw it away thinking it was dead.” Hazrat Sa‘id said, “Why do you leave it for Satan? A carcass is only that which becomes motionless.”

Hazrat Abu Majliz says that the predecessors considered the verse of the Holy Qur'an (illa ma dhakkaitum) as an exception for animals that were strangled, dead, or killed by falling. Then Allah Almighty declared everything except what is slaughtered to be unlawful.