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[Contents]-[Foreword]-[Terms]-[General principles]-[Methods of slaughter]
[Consumption of meat]-[Stunning of animals]-[Stunning and pain]

General principles

  • Tazkiya is the Arabic term for the correct method of slaughter of animals according to the requirements of the Islamic religion. This method is an act of faith, and it is necessary for the slaughter of all animals, and birds, the meat of which has been made permissible(1) for human consumption. It is achieved in one of the following three ways:

  • zabh(2): slitting the animal's throal:, oesophagus and jugular veins. It is mostly used on sheep, cows and birds, but could also be used on other animals.

  • nahr: stabbing the animal in the throat (al-manhar) and cutting downward to the top of the chest. This is mainly used in the case of camels and other such large animals, but could also be used for cows.

  • aqr(3): causing a physical wound to an unwieldy animal, whether a domestic but untamed animal or a wild one that is permissible for hunting.

  1. Before and during the slaughter, it is recommended that the animal is 1 treated with kindness(4). It should never be skinned or maimed before it is slaughtered; nor should it ever be tortured, slaughtered with a blunt instrument, have the knife sharpened before its eyes or be slaughtered within sight of other animals(5), However, if any of these considerations are neglected, the meat would still be permissible for consumption, though the culprit may well have committed a sin.

  2. Slaughter should be carried out using a sharp instrument, It may not be effected with teeth, nails, bones(6) or a bladeless tool            

  3. The person to carry the slaughter must be a sane, discriminate Muslim, Jew or Christian.

  4. Muslim scholars are agreed that the name of God should be invoked over the animal that is intended for slaughter(7), This is done by reciting the following Arabic phrase: bismillah allahu akbar, which means "In the name of God; God is Greatest", or words to that effect.           

  5. If the invocation of God's name over the slaughter is overlooked or forgotten, the meat is still permissible for consumption(8).       

  6. A Muslim shall not invoke the name of an idol, a personage, a king or a saint when slaughtering an animal(9).

  7. The animal must be healthy, free of infectious diseases and anything that could affect the quality of its meat and make it harmful for the consumer(10).

  • Animals whose meat is permitted for human consumption are discussed in section 3.

  • Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet had dispatched Budayl ibn Warqaa, to publicly announce to the pilgrims at Mina that, "the correct way to kill an animal is by cutting its throat or stabbing it in the neck". (Reported by al-Daraqutni.)

  • Rafae ibn Khadeej, has been quoted as saying: "Wre were once with the Prophet when a camel suddenly bolted. As the few horsemen present were not able to subdue it, someone threw an arrow at it and had it incapacitated. The Prophet then said to us: 'These beasts have fits of wild temper; so whenever they behave in this way, do what the archer has done". (Agreed upon by AI-Bukhari and Muslim.)

  • The Prophet said: "God has prescribed the pursuit of perfection in every action. When you kill or slaughter (an animal for food), do it well. Sharpt:n your tools and let the animal die in peace". (Reported by Muslim.)

  • Ibn Abbas related that the Prophet passed by a man pinning a sheep onto the ground with his foot on its head and holding his knife while the sheep was looking; the Prophet said: "Should you not have done this earlier, or do you have to kill the sheep twice?". (Reported by AI-Tabarani.)

  • The Prophet said: "Oncc the blood (of the animal) is spilt and the name of Allah was invoked, the meat is fit for consumption, unless the instrument used is a tooth or a nail... (Agreed Upon by all hadilh authorities).

  • God says in the Quran: Eat of that (meat) over which the name of God has not been invoked (6: 118) and, Do not eat of that (meat) over which the name of God has not been invoked ( 6: 121)       

  • Abu Hurayra reported that a man came to the Prophet and said: "What would you say to a man who had forgotten to invoke God's name when slaughtering all animal?" The Prophet replied: "God's name is (always) prescnt with every Muslim". (Reported by Al-Daraqutni.)

  • God says in the Quran ...or an abomination over which a name other than God's has been invoked (6:145).

  • God says in the Quran ...and he [Muhammad] would forbid them [his followers] all that is foul (7: 156). The Prophet was reported as saying: "There shall be no infliction of haram on oneself or others". (Reported by Imam Ahmad and Ibn Majah.)