The third view is that three of the four must be severed.

Issue: If an animal is first stunned and then slaughtered, it is lawful if it is found to still have life in it. The sign of life is that, when it is slaughtered, the familiar red blood flows forth, unlike the black blood that comes out of a carcass; that is of no consequence. The evidence for this is the saying of Allah, Most High:

“Forbidden to you are carrion, blood, the flesh of swine, that over which a name other than Allah has been invoked, the strangled animal, the animal beaten to death, the animal that dies from a fall, the animal gored to death, and that which a wild beast has eaten—except that which you are able to slaughter.” [al-Ma'idah: 3]

It is exactly like the strangled animal: if it is properly slaughtered while life remains in it, it is lawful.

But is it necessary for it to kick with its hind leg or foreleg, or to move its tail, or is this not required?

The answer is that some scholars said it is required, because we cannot know that it is alive except through this. However, the correct view, which Shaykh al-Islam chose in this matter, is that it is not required.

The third condition is that the slaughterer must also be of sound mind. If he is insane, his slaughter is not valid, even if he mentions Allah’s name, because he has no intention.

The fourth condition is that he must be a Muslim or one of the People of the Book.

As for the Muslim, this is self-evident. As for one of the People of the Book, the evidence is the saying of Allah, Most High: “The food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you.” [al-Ma'idah: 5] Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, said: “Their food means their slaughtered animals.” (1) This is established by multiple reports from the Prophet, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him: he would eat from what the Jews had slaughtered.