and responds appropriately. This view is the stronger one. Yet this is generally attained by the completion of seven years; whoever becomes discerning before then is considered an exception to what is generally the case, and whoever attains discernment later than that is likewise an exception. Generally, discernment is attained at seven years of age, or around that age, whether slightly younger or older.

His statement: “or a woman”—that is, her slaughtered animal is lawful, due to the generality of Allah’s saying:

“Except what you have properly slaughtered.” [al-Ma'idah 5:3]

The address includes both men and women.

Moreover, a young slave-girl was tending some sheep belonging to the Ansar at Sal‘ when one of the sheep was about to die. She took a stone and slaughtered it with it, and the Prophet ﷺ approved of this. (1)

His statement: “or a woman”: if there is any disagreement concerning this, it is a weak disagreement; otherwise, the statement merely dispels a possible misconception.

His statement: “or a woman” includes both a woman in a state of ritual purity and a menstruating woman. Thus, even if she is menstruating, her slaughtered animal is lawful, because she may remember Allah and pronounce His name. Indeed, there is some reservation concerning the view that prohibits her from reciting the Quran, for, as Shaykh al-Islam said: “There is no sound, explicit sunnah prohibiting a menstruating woman from reciting the Quran.”

His statement: “or an uncircumcised man.” An uncircumcised man is one who has not been circumcised—that is, whose foreskin has not been removed. His slaughtered animal is lawful. The author mentioned this because some scholars held that the slaughter of an uncircumcised man is invalid and that his slaughtered animal may not be eaten. But this is not