Al-Lu'lu Wal-Marjan 1286 — The Book of Al-Adâhi (Sacrifices) (Animals slaughtered on the day of 'Eid Al-Adha)

‘Abâya bin Rafâ’a bin Râfi‘ bin Khadîj Narrated from:

My grandfather said, “We were in the company of the Prophet ﷺ at Dhul-Hulaifa. The people were struck with hunger and captured some camels and sheep (as booty). The Prophet ﷺ was behind the people. They hurried and slaughtered the animals and put their meat in pots and started cooking it. (When the Prophet ﷺ came) he ordered the pots to be upset [1] and then he distributed the animals (of the booty) regarding ten sheep as equal to one camel.One of the camels fled and the people ran after it till they were exhausted. At that time there were few horses. A man shot an arrow at the camel, and Allâh stopped the camel with it. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Some of these animals are like wild animals, so if you lose control over one of these animals, treat it in this way (i.e. shoot it with an arrow).”My grandfather added, “We are afraid that we may meet the enemy tomorrow and have no knives; [we asked the Prophet ﷺ: ‘Can we slaughter the animals with reeds?’]” The Prophet ﷺ said, “Use whatever causes blood to flow, and eat the animals if the Name of Allâh has been mentioned on slaughtering them. Do not slaughter with teeth or fingernails, and I will tell you why: It is because teeth are bones. (i.e. cannot cut properly) and fingernails are the tools used by the Ethiopians (whom we should not imitate for they are infidels).” ( Sahîh Al-Bukhârî, Hadîth No. 668, Vol. 3 )