43/27. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4412 — Slaughter Well and Ease the Animal
Slaughtering Well
Ihsan in Slaughter: Use a Sharp Blade and Reduce Suffering
Sunan an-Nasai : 4412
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4412
أَخْبَرَنَا الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ حُرَيْثٍ أَبُو عَمَّارٍ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ خَالِدٍ الْحَذَّاءِ، عَنْ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي الأَشْعَثِ الصَّنْعَانِيِّ، عَنْ شَدَّادِ بْنِ أَوْسٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَتَبَ الإِحْسَانَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ فَإِذَا قَتَلْتُمْ فَأَحْسِنُوا الْقِتْلَةَ وَإِذَا ذَبَحْتُمْ فَأَحْسِنُوا الذَّبْحَ وَلْيُحِدَّ أَحَدُكُمْ شَفْرَتَهُ وَلْيُرِحْ ذَبِيحَتَهُ " .
Shaddad bin Aws Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah 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.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4412In-book reference : Book 43, Hadith 52English translation : Vol. 5, Book 43, Hadith 4417
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4412
This hadith gives a clear example of ihsan in daily conduct. The Prophet said that Allah has decreed proficiency in all things. He then taught that killing should be done well and slaughter should be done well. The practical instruction is to sharpen the blade and spare suffering to the animal being slaughtered. The narration therefore connects a broad moral command with a very specific action. Humane slaughter in Islam is not described here as careless or rough. It requires a prepared tool and attention to the animal's condition. The text does not add technical details beyond these instructions, so its message should remain simple. A Muslim carrying out slaughter should aim to perform it properly and reduce the suffering caused during the act.
What we learn from this hadith
- Doing an action well is part of the command of ihsan.
- Slaughter should be performed in a proper manner.
- A sharp blade is directly required in the hadith.
- Care should be taken to ease the animal's suffering.
