72/18. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5503 — Blood Flow, Allah’s Name, and Proper Tools
The instruments that cause the blood to gush out
Hadith About Halal Slaughter Tools and Mentioning Allah’s Name
Sahih Bukhari : 5503
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5503
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدَانُ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ مَسْرُوقٍ، عَنْ عَبَايَةَ بْنِ رَافِعٍ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَيْسَ لَنَا مُدًى. فَقَالَ " مَا أَنْهَرَ الدَّمَ وَذُكِرَ اسْمُ اللَّهِ فَكُلْ، لَيْسَ الظُّفُرَ وَالسِّنَّ، أَمَّا الظُّفُرُ فَمُدَى الْحَبَشَةِ، وَأَمَّا السِّنُّ فَعَظْمٌ ". وَنَدَّ بَعِيرٌ فَحَبَسَهُ فَقَالَ " إِنَّ لِهَذِهِ الإِبِلِ أَوَابِدَ كَأَوَابِدِ الْوَحْشِ فَمَا غَلَبَكُمْ مِنْهَا فَاصْنَعُوا هَكَذَا ".
Rafi' bin Khadij Narrated from:
Narrated Rafi` bin Khadij: that he said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! We have no knife." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "if the killing tool causes blood to gush out, and if Allah's Name is mentioned, eat (of the slaughtered animal). But do not slaughter with a nail or a tooth, for the nail is the knife of Ethiopians and a tooth is a bone." Suddenly a camel ran away and it was stopped (with an arrow). The Prophet (ﷺ) then said, "Of these camels there are some which are as wild as wild beasts; so if one of them runs away from you and you cannot catch it, treat it in this manner (i.e. shoot it with an arrow).
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5503In-book reference : Book 72, Hadith 29USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 67, Hadith 411
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5503
This hadith gives clear words about halal slaughter tools in a difficult situation. Rafi` bin Khadij said they had no knife. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم replied that if the tool makes the blood flow and Allah’s Name is mentioned, they may eat. He then excluded the nail and the tooth, explaining that the nail was the knife of Ethiopians and the tooth is a bone. The same narration also mentions a camel that ran away and was stopped with an arrow. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said some camels may act wild like wild beasts, and if one overpowers them, they may treat it in that manner. The hadith keeps the focus on blood flow, Allah’s Name, and the tools named in the text.
What we learn from this hadith
- The tool must cause blood to flow, as stated in the hadith.
- Allah’s Name is mentioned as part of the slaughter in this narration.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم excluded slaughtering with a tooth or a nail.
