Chapters on Slaughtering

“I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) say: ‘On behalf of a boy, two sheep of equal age and on behalf of a girl one sheep.’”

"‏ عَنِ الْغُلاَمِ، شَاتَانِ مُكَافِئَتَانِ وَعَنِ الْجَارِيَةِ، شَاةٌ ‏"

Narrated by Umm Kurz + 16 other versions

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) commanded us to sacrifice two sheep for a boy’s ‘Aqiqah and one sheep for a girl.”

أَنْ نَعُقَّ عَنِ الْغُلاَمِ شَاتَيْنِ وَعَنِ الْجَارِيَةِ شَاةً ‏.‏

Narrated by Ā’ishah

“For a boy there should be an ‘Aqiqah, so shed blood for him and remove the harm from him.”

"‏ إِنَّ مَعَ الْغُلاَمِ عَقِيقَةً فَأَهْرِيقُوا عَنْهُ دَمًا وَأَمِيطُوا عَنْهُ الأَذَى ‏"

Narrated by Salmān ibn Amir ad-Dabbiī + 24 other versions

“Every boy is mortgaged by his ‘Aqiqah, so slaughter for him on the seventh day, and shave his head, and name him.”

"‏ كُلُّ غُلاَمٍ مُرْتَهَنٌ بِعَقِيقَتِهِ تُذْبَحُ عَنْهُ يَوْمَ السَّابِعِ وَيُحْلَقُ رَأْسُهُ وَيُسَمَّى ‏"

Narrated by Samurah ibn Jundub + 10 other versions

“Offer an ‘Aqiqah for the boy, but do not smear his head with blood.”

"‏ يُعَقُّ عَنِ الْغُلاَمِ وَلاَ يُمَسُّ رَأْسُهُ بِدَمٍ ‏"

“A man called the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, we used to sacrifice the ‘Atirah during the Ignorance days in Rajab,; what do you command us to do?’ He said: “Sacrifice to Allah whatever month it is, do good for the sake of Allah and feed (the poor).’ They said: ‘O…

"‏ اذْبَحُوا لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِي أَىِّ شَهْرٍ مَا كَانَ وَبَرُّوا اللَّهَ وَأَطْعِمُوا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا كُنَّا نُفْرِعُ فَرَعًا فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ فَمَا تَأْمُرُنَا قَالَ ‏"‏ فِي كُلِّ…

Narrated by Nubaysha al-Hudhalī + 14 other versions

“There is no Far’ah and no ‘Atirah.”

"‏ لاَ فَرَعَةَ وَلاَ عَتِيرَةَ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 1 other version

“There is no Far’ah and no ‘Atirah.”

"‏ لاَ فَرَعَةَ وَلاَ عَتِيرَةَ ‏"

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar

“Allah has prescribed Al-Ihsan (proficiency) in all things. So if you kill, then kill well, and if you slaughter, then slaughter well. Let one of you sharpen his blade and spare suffering to the animal he slaughters.”

"‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ كَتَبَ الإِحْسَانَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ فَإِذَا قَتَلْتُمْ فَأَحْسِنُوا الْقِتْلَةَ وَإِذَا ذَبَحْتُمْ فَأَحْسِنُوا الذَّبْحَ وَلْيُحِدَّ أَحَدُكُمْ شَفْرَتَهُ وَلْيُرِحْ ذَبِيحَتَهُ ‏"

Narrated by Shaddād ibn Aws + 20 other versions

“The Prophet (ﷺ) passed by a man who was dragging a sheep by its ear. He said: ‘Leave its ear alone and hold it by the sides of its neck.’”

"‏ دَعْ أُذُنَهَا وَخُذْ بِسَالِفَتِهَا ‏"

Narrated by Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) commanded that the blade should be sharpened, and hidden from the animals, and he said: ‘When one of you slaughters, let him do it quickly.’” Another chain reports the same.

"‏ إِذَا ذَبَحَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيُجْهِزْ ‏"

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar

“And certainly, the Shayatin (devils) do inspire their friends (from mankind).” [6:121] He said: “They used to say: ‘Whatever the Name of Allah has been mentioned over, do not eat it, and whatever the Name of Allah has not been mentioned over, eat it.’ Then Allah said: “Eat not of that over which…

‏‏{إِنَّ الشَّيَاطِينَ لَيُوحُونَ إِلَى أَوْلِيَائِهِمْ}‏ قَالَ كَانُوا يَقُولُونَ مَا ذُكِرَ عَلَيْهِ اسْمُ اللَّهِ فَلاَ تَأْكُلُوا وَمَا لَمْ يُذْكَرِ اسْمُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ فَكُلُوهُ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ…

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās

“O Messenger of Allah, some people bring us meat, and we do not know whether the Name of Allah has been mentioned over it or not.” He said: “Say: Bismillah and eat.’ They were new in Islam.

"‏ سَمُّوا أَنْتُمْ وَكُلُوا ‏"

Narrated by Ā’ishah + 1 other version

“I slaughtered two rabbits with a sharp-edges stone and brought them to the Prophet (ﷺ), and he told me to eat them.”

ذَبَحْتُ أَرْنَبَيْنِ بِمَرْوَةٍ فَأَتَيْتُ بِهِمَا النَّبِيَّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَأَمَرَنِي بِأَكْلِهِمَا ‏.‏

Narrated by Muhammad ibn Sayfī

It was narrated from Zaid bin Thabit that a wolf bit a sheep, and they slaughtered it with a sharp-edged stone, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) allowed them to eat it.

فَرَخَّصَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فِي أَكْلِهَا ‏.‏

Narrated by Zayd ibn Thābit

“I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, we hunt game but we cannot find anything but the sharp edge of a stone or stick (with which to slaughter it).’ He said: ‘Cause the blood to flow with whatever you want, and mention the Name of Allah over it.’”

"‏ أَمْرِرِ الدَّمَ بِمَا شِئْتَ وَاذْكُرِ اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ ‏"

Narrated by Adiyy ibn Hātim + 5 other versions

“We were with the Prophet (ﷺ) on a journey, and I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, we are (sometimes) on military campaigns, and we have no knife with us.’ He said: ‘(Use) whatever causes the blood to flow, mention the Name of Allah and eat, but (do not use) teeth or nails, for the tooth is a bone and…

"‏ مَا أَنْهَرَ الدَّمَ وَذُكِرَ اسْمُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ فَكُلْ غَيْرَ السِّنِّ وَالظُّفْرِ فَإِنَّ السِّنَّ عَظْمٌ وَالظُّفْرَ مُدَى الْحَبَشَةِ ‏"

Narrated by Rāfi‘ ibn Khadīj + 27 other versions

“Step aside and I will show you how.” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) put his hand between the skin and the flesh, and thrust his arm in until it disappeared up to the armpit, and said: “O boy, this is how you skin it.” Then he went and led the people in prayer and did not perform Wudu’.

"‏ تَنَحَّ حَتَّى أُرِيَكَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَأَدْخَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يَدَهُ بَيْنَ الْجِلْدِ وَاللَّحْمِ فَدَحَسَ بِهَا حَتَّى تَوَارَتْ إِلَى الإِبْطِ وَقَالَ ‏"‏ يَا غُلاَمُ هَكَذَا فَاسْلُخْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏…

Narrated by Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri + 1 other version

“Avoid those that are lactating.” (i.e. those from which milk is received).

فَأَخَذَ الشَّفْرَةَ لِيَذْبَحَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ‏"‏ إِيَّاكَ وَالْحَلُوبَ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

“Let us go out to Waqifi.” He said: “So we went out in the moonlight until we came to the garden and he (the owner of the garden) said: ‘Welcome.’ Then he took up the knife and went among the sheep (to choose one for slaughter), and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Avoid those that are lactating.’”

"‏ انْطَلِقُوا بِنَا إِلَى الْوَاقِفِيِّ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَانْطَلَقْنَا فِي الْقَمَرِ حَتَّى أَتَيْنَا الْحَائِطَ فَقَالَ مَرْحَبًا وَأَهْلاً ‏.‏ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ الشَّفْرَةَ ثُمَّ جَالَ فِي الْغَنَمِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ…

Narrated by Abu Bakr as-Siddīq

It was narrated from a son of Ka’b bin Malik, from his father, that a woman slaughtered a sheep with a stone, and that was mentioned to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), but he did not see anything wrong with that.

أَنَّ امْرَأَةً، ذَبَحَتْ شَاةً بِحَجَرٍ فَذُكِرَ ذَلِكَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَلَمْ يَرَ بِهِ بَأْسًا ‏.‏

Narrated by Ka‘b ibn Mālik

“We were with the Prophet (ﷺ) on a journey, and a camel ran away. A man shot an arrow at it and the Prophet (ﷺ) said: ‘It has the inclination to run away like a wild animal. If this happens to any of you, do likewise.’”

"‏ إِنَّ لَهَا أَوَابِدَ - أَحْسَبُهُ قَالَ - كَأَوَابِدِ الْوَحْشِ فَمَا غَلَبَكُمْ مِنْهَا فَاصْنَعُوا بِهِ هَكَذَا ‏"

Narrated by Rāfi‘ ibn Khadīj + 27 other versions

“I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, should slaughtering only be done in the throat or upper chest?’ He said: ‘If you stab it in the thigh that will suffice you.’”

"‏ لَوْ طَعَنْتَ فِي فَخِذِهَا لأَجْزَأَكَ ‏"

Narrator: مالك الداري + 2 other versions

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade mutilating animals.”

أَنْ يُمَثَّلَ بِالْبَهَائِمِ ‏.‏

Narrated by Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade tying up animals.”

عَنْ صَبْرِ الْبَهَائِمِ ‏.‏

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik

‘Do not take anything with a soul as a target.”

"‏ لاَ تَتَّخِذُوا شَيْئًا فِيهِ الرُّوحُ غَرَضًا ‏"

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās + 11 other versions

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade killing any animal when it is tied up (for use as a target).”

أَنْ يُقْتَلَ شَىْءٌ مِنَ الدَّوَابِّ صَبْرًا ‏.‏

Narrated by Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh + 5 other versions

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade the meat and milk of Al-Jallalah.”*

عَنْ لُحُومِ الْجَلاَّلَةِ وَأَلْبَانِهَا ‏.‏

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar

“We slaughtered a horse and ate its meat during the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).”

نَحَرْنَا فَرَسًا فَأَكَلْنَا مِنْ لَحْمِهِ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ‏.‏

Narrated by Asmā bint Abu Bakr + 7 other versions

“At the time of Khaibar we ate horses and wild donkeys.”

أَكَلْنَا زَمَنَ خَيْبَرَ الْخَيْلَ وَحُمُرَ الْوَحْشِ ‏.‏

Narrated by Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh

“I asked ‘Abdullah bin Abu Awfa about the flesh of domesticated donkeys and he said: ‘We were starving on the Day of Khaibar, when we were with the Prophet (ﷺ). The people had gotten some donkeys as spoils of war on the way out from Al-Madinah, so we slaughtered them and our cooking pots were…

أَنِ اكْفَئُوا الْقُدُورَ وَلاَ تَطْعَمُوا مِنْ لُحُومِ الْحُمُرِ شَيْئًا ‏.‏ فَأَكْفَأْنَاهَا ‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ لِعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي أَوْفَى حَرَّمَهَا تَحْرِيمًا قَالَ تَحَدَّثْنَا أَنَّمَا حَرَّمَهَا رَسُولُ…

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn Abi Awfa

It was narrated from Miqdam bin Ma’dikarib Al-Kindi that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade several things, until he mentioned (the meat of) domesticated donkeys.

ـ حَرَّمَ أَشْيَاءَ حَتَّى ذَكَرَ الْحُمُرَ الإِنْسِيَّةَ ‏.‏

Narrated by Al-Miqdām

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) commanded us to throw away the meat of domesticated donkeys, raw or cooked, then he did not say anything to us about it after that.”

أَنْ نُلْقِيَ لُحُومَ الْحُمُرِ الأَهْلِيَّةِ نِيئَةً وَنَضِيجَةً ثُمَّ لَمْ يَأْمُرْنَا بِهِ بَعْدُ ‏.‏

Narrated by Al-Barā' ibn ‘Āzib + 2 other versions

“We went out with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on the campaign of Khaibar, and in the evening the people lit their fires. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: ‘What are you cooking?’ They said: ‘The meat of domesticated donkeys.’ He said: ‘Throw out what is in them (the pots) and break them.’ A man said: ‘Or can we…

"‏ عَلاَمَ تُوقِدُونَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالُوا عَلَى لُحُومِ الْحُمُرِ الإِنْسِيَّةِ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ أَهْرِيقُوا مَا فِيهَا وَاكْسِرُوهَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ أَوْ نُهَرِيقُ مَا فِيهَا وَنَغْسِلُهَا فَقَالَ…

Narrated by Salamah ibn al-Akwa‘

“Allah and His Messenger forbid you to eat the flesh of domesticated donkeys, for it is filthy.”

إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ يَنْهَيَانِكُمْ عَنْ لُحُومِ الْحُمُرِ الأَهْلِيَّةِ فَإِنَّهَا رِجْسٌ ‏.‏

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik + 10 other versions

“We used to eat the meat of horses.” I said: “And mules?” He said: “No.”

كُنَّا نَأْكُلُ لُحُومَ الْخَيْلِ ‏.‏ قُلْتُ فَالْبِغَالُ قَالَ لاَ ‏.‏

Narrated by Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh + 1 other version

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade the flesh of horses, mules and donkeys.”

ـ عَنْ لُحُومِ الْخَيْلِ وَالْبِغَالِ وَالْحَمِيرِ ‏.‏

Narrated by Khālid ibn al-Walīd

“We asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about the fetus. He said: ‘Eat it if you wish, for it is considered legally slaughtered with the slaughtering of its mother.’”

كُلُوهُ إِنْ شِئْتُمْ فَإِنَّ ذَكَاةَ الْجَنِينِ ذَكَاةُ أُمِّهِ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri + 8 other versions