The Question

What do the scholars of the religion and the jurists of Islāmic law say regarding this issue? The leaders in this continent of Africa command the butchers to shoot the animal in the head prior to slaughtering it. Is this act permissible in the sharī`ah or not? 

The Answer

This action is impermissible and ḥarām. To cause harm without any shar`ī reason is absolute oppression and immoral. It is ḥarām to accept this command.

Answered by:

[al-Muftī al-A`ẓam] Imām Muṣṭafā Raḍā Khān al-Qādirī V