43/40. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4437 — Allah’s Name at Slaughter
Interpretation Of The Saying Of Allah, The Mighty and Sublime: "Eat Not Of That On Which Allah's Name Has Not Been Pronounced"
Allah’s Name at Slaughter and the Idolaters’ Argument
Sunan an-Nasai : 4437
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4437
أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي هَارُونُ بْنُ أَبِي وَكِيعٍ، - وَهُوَ هَارُونُ بْنُ عَنْتَرَةَ - عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، فِي قَوْلِهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ { وَلاَ تَأْكُلُوا مِمَّا لَمْ يُذْكَرِ اسْمُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ } قَالَ خَاصَمَهُمُ الْمُشْرِكُونَ فَقَالُوا مَا ذَبَحَ اللَّهُ فَلاَ تَأْكُلُوهُ وَمَا ذَبَحْتُمْ أَنْتُمْ أَكَلْتُمُوهُ .
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
Harun bin Abi Walki-who is Harun bin 'Antarah -narrated from his father, form Ibn 'Abbas, concerning the saying of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime: "Eat not of that on which Allah's name has not been pronounced" - that he said: "The idolaters argued with them and said: 'Whatever Allah kills you do not eat, and whatever you kill you eat!"
[1] Al-An'âm 6:121.[1] Al-An'ām 6:121.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4437In-book reference : Book 43, Hadith 77English translation : Vol. 5, Book 43, Hadith 4442
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4437
This report from Ibn Abbas concerns the verse, “Eat not of that on which Allah’s name has not been pronounced.” He explains that the idolaters argued with the believers. Their claim was that people did not eat what Allah caused to die, yet ate what they themselves slaughtered. The narration records that argument; it does not present the idolaters’ words as the teaching to follow. Its core topic is Allah’s name at slaughter and the dispute raised around lawful eating. A careful explanation should distinguish between the quoted challenge and the position of the narration. Readers searching for the verse about Allah’s name on meat can see how Ibn Abbas described the argument without adding a long debate or a ruling not included in this supplied text.
What we learn from this hadith
- Ibn Abbas connected the report to the verse about Allah’s name being pronounced.
- The idolaters challenged the believers about dead animals and slaughtered animals.
- The quoted argument belongs to the idolaters and should not be presented as guidance.
- The narration should be explained without adding a debate not found in the text.
