And anyone who lays it on its right side, places his left foot on its neck, and awkwardly crosses his hands to slaughter it is ignorant of the Sunnah and torments both himself and the animal. Nevertheless, its meat is lawful to eat. Laying it on its left side is more comfortable for the animal, makes it easier to end its life, and facilitates slaughter. This is the Sunnah practised by the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—and the practice followed by Muslims and all peoples. It is also prescribed to turn the animal towards the direction of prayer.

If a person sacrifices one sheep on behalf of himself and his household, that suffices according to the stronger of the two scholarly opinions. This is the position of Mālik, Ahmad, and others, for the Companions used to do so. It is established in an authentic report that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—sacrificed two sheep and said concerning one of them:

“O Allah, this is from Muhammad and the family of Muhammad.”

He was asked:

A man named Abū Bakr became a soldier, changed his name, and adopted a name of the kind used by the Mamluks. Is there any sin upon him?

He replied:

If he adopts a Turkish name for some benefit it brings him, there is no sin upon him