43/22. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4405 — Mercy and Excellence in Slaughter
The Command To Sharpen The Blade
Humane Slaughter in Islam: Sharpen the Blade and Show Ihsan
Sunan an-Nasai : 4405
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4405
أَخْبَرَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، عَنْ خَالِدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي الأَشْعَثِ، عَنْ شَدَّادِ بْنِ أَوْسٍ، قَالَ اثْنَتَانِ حَفِظْتُهُمَا عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَتَبَ الإِحْسَانَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ فَإِذَا قَتَلْتُمْ فَأَحْسِنُوا الْقِتْلَةَ وَإِذَا ذَبَحْتُمْ فَأَحْسِنُوا الذِّبْحَةَ وَلْيُحِدَّ أَحَدُكُمْ شَفْرَتَهُ وَلْيُرِحْ ذَبِيحَتَهُ " .
Shaddad bin Aws Narrated from:
There are two things that I memorized from the Messenger of Allah, who said: 'Allah has decreed proficiency in all things, so when you kill, kill well, and when you slaughter, slaughter well. Let one of you sharpen his blade and spare suffering to the animal he slaughters.'" (Sahih)
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4405In-book reference : Book 43, Hadith 45English translation : Vol. 5, Book 43, Hadith 4410
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4405
This hadith teaches humane slaughter in Islam through the wider command of ihsan, meaning doing an action well and with care. The Prophet said that Allah has decreed proficiency in all things. He then applied that teaching to killing and slaughtering: both should be done well. For animal slaughter, he gave two direct steps. The person should sharpen the blade and spare suffering to the animal being slaughtered. The focus is not only on completing the act, but also on how it is carried out. A blunt blade and careless handling conflict with the clear instruction in the text. For readers searching for mercy to animals in Islam or the sharpen your knife hadith, this narration gives a simple standard: prepare the tool properly and reduce the animal's suffering during slaughter.
What we learn from this hadith
- Ihsan should guide the way difficult actions are carried out.
- Slaughter should be performed carefully and well.
- The blade should be sharpened before the animal is slaughtered.
- The person should try to spare the animal avoidable suffering.
