Does a Butcher Suffer Greater Agony at Death?

Question

I slaughter cows every day, that is, I am a butcher; on every cow I make a profit of fifty rupees, and I do this while keeping up prayer and fasting. Is such trade permissible or not? It has also been observed that people who are butchers suffer great agony at the time of death — and such agony as is not ordinarily seen. Is this because of slaughtering cows, or because of sins?

Answer

Slaughtering animals in accordance with the Sacred Law and trading in this is lawful according to the Sacred Law. That the agony at death becomes greater because of it is not established by any proof of the Sacred Law.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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