Making an artificial calf and standing it in front of a buffalo

Question

Question: When the calf of a milk-giving buffalo dies, she begins to give trouble at milking. The device people use for this is that they have the skin of the dead calf removed and stand it in front of the buffalo. The buffalo, taking it for her own calf, lets down her milk. What we wish to ask is: is this arrangement, and drawing milk by this method, permissible or impermissible?

Answer

If she gives milk because the skin of the dead calf was removed and placed in front of her, there is no harm in it; it is permitted. In this there is neither a violation of the buffalo’s right nor anything else impermissible; it is a device for obtaining one’s own due. When the matter works out in this way, why should she be put to greater suffering by frightening her severely?

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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