72/35. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5542 — Branding Animals with Care
Branding the faces
Hadith About Branding Sheep and Animal Marking in Islam
Sahih Bukhari : 5542
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5542
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْوَلِيدِ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِأَخٍ لِي يُحَنِّكُهُ، وَهْوَ فِي مِرْبَدٍ لَهُ، فَرَأَيْتُهُ يَسِمُ شَاةً ـ حَسِبْتُهُ قَالَ ـ فِي آذَانِهَا.
Anas Narrated from:
I brought a brother of mine to the Prophet (ﷺ) to do Tahnik for him while the Prophet (ﷺ) was in a sheep fold of his, and I saw him branding a sheep. (The sub-narrator said: I think Anas said, branding it on the ear.)
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5542In-book reference : Book 72, Hadith 67USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 67, Hadith 450
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5542
This Hadith records that Anas brought his younger brother to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم for Tahnik and saw the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم branding a sheep. The sub-narrator thought Anas said the branding was on the ear. The focus here is animal marking, not harsh treatment. When read with the nearby Hadith about not beating or branding the face, this report helps show careful handling of animals. The Hadith about branding sheep in Islam also shows that animal marking may happen for a practical reason, while the face is not treated as the place for it. The lesson stays within the text: the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was seen branding a sheep, and the ear is mentioned as the likely place.
What we learn from this hadith
- Animals may be marked in a controlled and careful way.
- The report points to the ear, not the face, as the place mentioned for branding.
- Practical animal care should avoid needless harm.
