To Brand, Burn, or Stamp the Ear of an Animal

Question :

Our Shaykh informed us that branding, piercing or splitting the ear of an animal, partially or totally, is an act inspired by Shaytan, an act that results in Allah's curse upon the person who did the branding. Is this true?

Answer:

A general principle in Islam is that we should respect beasts of burden and cattle without harming them through branding, piercing, or splitting their ears, entirely or partially, and without doing anything else harmful to them.

The exception is when a need arises, like in the case when one needs to mark it with something it may be identified by, using a brand on an area other than the face, or splitting the hump of a camel which is reserved to be used as a Hadi.In this case there is no harm as long as it is done within the limits of the need and for a valid reason.

In a Hadith recorded in the Two Sahihs, Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, mentioned seeing the Messenger of Allah, accompanied by 'Abdullah bin Abu Talhah with a branding iron in his hand; he was branding camels that were allocated for charity.

According to Ahmad and Ibn Majah, he said that he saw the Prophet ﷺ branding sheep in the ear. In Sahih Al-Bukhari it is recorded that Al-Miswar bin Mukharramah and Marwan said, that the Prophet and about one-hundred and ten odd Companions of his went until they were at Thul-Hulayfah. The Prophet ﷺ proceeded to garland and mark the Hadi - and he marked them by cutting the hump of the camels until blood drained out and he spread it around on it so that it would be an indication that this was a Hadi. As for branding the face, this is not allowed because the Messenger forbade that and cursed the one who does it.

And with Allah is the facilitation to do what is right, and may Allah send peace and blessings upon His servant and Messenger Muhammad and his Companions.

Source:
The Permanent Committee
Fatawa Islamiyah, Vol. 8 Pages 276-277