Sacrificing a pregnant animal vowed for sacrifice

Question

An animal fell ill. Its owner made a vow: “If Allah saves it, I will offer it in sacrifice in the way of Allah.” Now, at the time of sacrifice, that animal is three months pregnant. In this situation, is it to be sacrificed or not?

Answer

The sacrifice of such an animal is valid by the Shari‘a. If the animal is very close to giving birth and there is a fear that the young will die, slaughtering it is makruh; nevertheless the sacrifice will be fulfilled. Then, if the young is alive, it too should be slaughtered. So it is in “Radd al-Muhtar”.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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