"Indeed, Allah has enjoined Ihsān (kindness/excellence) in all things
Abu Ya‘la Shaddād ibn Aws (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
"Indeed, Allah has enjoined Ihsān (kindness/excellence) in all things. So, when you kill, kill with kindness; and when you slaughter, slaughter with kindness. Let one of you sharpen his blade and spare the animal he slaughters suffering."
«إِنَّ اللهَ كَتَبَ الْإِحْسَانَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ، فَإِذَا قَتَلْتُمْ فَأَحْسِنُوا القِتْلَةَ، وَإِذَا ذَبَحْتُمْ فَأَحْسِنُوا الذِّبْحَةَ، وَلْيُحِدَّ أَحَدُكُمْ شَفْرَتَهُ، وَلْيُرِحْ ذَبِيحَتَهُ».
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informs that Allah Almighty prescribed ihsān (kindness/excellence) upon us in everything. Ihsān: It is constantly being heedful of Allah in worshipping Him, doing good, and abstaining from harming other created beings. An aspect of this is ihsān in killing and slaughtering. Ihsān in killing, for legal retribution, is to choose the easiest method which causes the least suffering to the one being killed and the quickest in taking his life. Ihsān in slaughtering animals is to show kindness toward the animal by sharpening the blade and not sharpening it while the animal is looking on, and not slaughtering an animal while another animal is looking.
The Hadīth shows Allah's mercy and kindness toward His creation.
Ihsān in killing and slaughtering is to do it in the manner prescribed by the Shariah.
The Shariah is perfect and comprises all forms of goodness, one of which is mercy and kindness toward animals.
It is prohibited to mutilate a person after killing him.
Anything that causes suffering to animals is prohibited.
Sahīh Muslim (3/ 1548) (1955).
More (8)
التحفة الربانية في شرح الأربعين حديثا النووية (ص38).
شرح الأربعين النووية.
لابن عثيمين (ص185).
فتح القوي المتين في شرح الأربعين وتتمة الخمسين.
للعباد (ص65).
فتح الباري.
لابن حجر (9/ 644).
شرح النووي على مسلم (13/ 107).
Cited in books
8 Books- The Astounding Reality'Verily, Allah has enjoined goodness in all things; so when you kill, kill with kindness; and when you slaughter, slaughter with kindness. Let one of you sharpen his blade and spare the suffering of the animal he slaughters.' [152]
- Rawh wa Rayāhīn Sharh Riyād Al-Sālihīnرياض الصالحين مع فوائد وهدايات - 3“Allah has prescribed good conduct for everything. If one of you kills, he should do so in a good manner, and if one of you slaughters, he should do so in a good manner. He should sharpen his blade and comfort his sacrificial animal.”
- If They Knew You ... They Would Surely Love You"Verily, Allah has enjoined kindness upon all things."
More (5)
- تلخيص كتاب الأضحية والذكاةتلخيص كتاب أحكام الأضحية والذكاة«إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَتَبَ الْإِحْسَانَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ، فَإِذَا قَتَلْتُمْ فَأَحْسِنُوا الْقِتْلَةَ، وَإِذَا ذَبَحْتُمْ فَأَحْسِنُوا الذَّبْحَةَ، وَلْيُحِدَّ أَحَدُكُمْ شَفْرَتَهُ، وَلْيُرِحْ ذَبِيحَتَهُ»
- سؤال وجواب حول الإسلام«إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَتَبَ الإِحْسَانَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ، فَإِذَا قَتَلْتُمْ فَأَحْسِنُوا القِتْلَةَ، وَإِذَا ذَبَحْتُمْ فَأَحْسِنُوا الذِّبْحَةَ، وَلْيُحِدَّ أَحَدُكُمْ شَفْرَتَهُ، فَلْيُرِحْ ذَبِيحَتَهُ»
- شرح الأربعين النووية«إنَّ اللَّهَ كَتَبَ الْإِحْسَانَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ، فَإِذَا قَتَلْتُمْ فَأَحْسِنُوا الْقِتْلَةَ، وَإِذَا ذَبَحْتُمْ فَأَحْسِنُوا الذِّبْحَةَ، وَلْيُحِدَّ أَحَدُكُمْ شَفْرَتَهُ، وَلْيُرِحْ ذَبِيحَتَهُ».
- ما لا يسع أطفال المسلمين جهله«إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَتَبَ الإِحْسَانَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ»[180].
- نبراس طالب (1)1«إِنَّ اللهَ كَتَبَ الْإِحْسَانَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ»