Al-Sharḥ al-Mumtiʿ - Ibn al-'Uthaymin - (15/91)

Al-Sharḥ al-MumtiʿIbn al-'Uthaymin

“It is disliked to slaughter with a dull instrument; to sharpen it while the animal is watching; to turn the animal away from the direction of the qiblah; to break its neck; or to skin it before it has cooled.”

His statement, “It is disliked”: in the terminology of the jurists, disliked means that whoever does it is not punished, while whoever refrains from it for Allah’s sake is rewarded. Accordingly, if one slaughters with a dull instrument, he does not incur sin, because it is merely disliked. The evidence is the Prophet’s statement, may Allah bless him and grant him peace: “Indeed, Allah has prescribed excellence in all things. So, when you kill, kill well; and when you slaughter, slaughter well. Let each of you sharpen his blade and spare his slaughtered animal suffering.” (1)

Yet, when we return to the evidence, we find that its apparent meaning indicates that slaughtering with a dull instrument is prohibited, for two reasons:

The first reason is that the Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “Indeed, Allah has prescribed excellence.” The word “prescribed” here means made obligatory, because it is used of a matter that is binding, whether by Sacred Law or by divine decree. It is not used for something merely recommended; rather, it applies to that which is binding.

Allah Most High says:

“And We have already written in the Psalms, after the Reminder, that My righteous servants shall inherit the earth.” [The Prophets 21:105]

And He says:

“Allah has decreed: ‘I shall surely prevail.’” [The Pleading Woman 58:21]

These are instances of creational decree. As for prescriptive decree, examples include His saying:

“Fasting has been prescribed for you.” [The Cow 2:183]

“Indeed, prayer has been prescribed for the believers at specified times.” [Women 4:103]

“And We prescribed for them therein: a life for a life.” [The Table Spread 5:45]

“Retaliation for those killed has been prescribed for you.” [The Cow 2:178]

and similar verses.

The Prophet’s statement, “Allah has prescribed excellence in all things”—when we refer

(1) Its source has been cited previously on p. 55.

وَيُكْرَهُ أَنْ يَذْبَحَ بِآلَةٍ كَالَّةٍ. وَأَنْ يَحُدَّهَا وَالْحَيَوَانُ يُبْصِرُهُ، وَأَنْ يُوَجِّهَهُ إِلَى غَيْرِ الْقِبْلَةِ، وَأَنْ يَكْسِرَ عُنُقَهُ، أَوْ يَسْلُخَهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَبْرُدَ. وقوله: «ويكره» الكراهة عند الفقهاء ﵏ هي التي مَنْ فعلها لا يعاقب، ومن تركها لله أثيب، وعلى هذا فإذا ذبح بالآلة الكالة لم يأثم؛ لأنه مكروه، والدليل قوله ﷺ: «إن الله كتب الإحسان على كل شيء، فإذا قتلتم فأحسنوا القتلة، وإذا ذبحتم فأحسنوا الذبحة، وليحد أحدكم شفرته، وليرح ذبيحته» (١)، ولكنا إذا رجعنا إلى الدليل، وجدنا أن ظاهره يقتضي تحريم الذبح بآلة كالة من وجهين: الوجه الأول: أن الرسول ﷺ قال: «إن الله كتب الإحسان» والكَتْب بمعنى الفرض؛ لأنه يطلق على الأمر الواقع اللازم، إما شرعاً، وإما قدراً، فلا يأتي الكَتْب في الشيء المستحب. بل يأتي على الشيء اللاّزم. فقوله تعالى: ﴿وَلَقَدْ كَتَبْنَا فِي الزَّبُورِ مِنْ بَعْدِ الذِّكْرِ أَنَّ الأَرْضَ يَرِثُهَا عِبَادِيَ الصَّالِحُونَ﴾ [الأنبياء:١٠٥]، وقوله تعالى: ﴿كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لأََغْلِبَنَّ﴾ [المجادلة: ٢١]. فهذه كتابة قدرية، أما الكتابة الشرعية فمثل قوله تعالى: ﴿كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ﴾ [البقرة: ١٨٣]، و ﴿إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَابًا مَوْقُوتًا﴾ [النساء: ١٠٣]، و ﴿وَكَتَبْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ فِيهَا أَنَّ النَّفْسَ بِالنَّفْسِ﴾ [المائدة: ٤٥]، و ﴿كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْقِصَاصُ فِي الْقَتْلَى﴾ [البقرة: ١٧٨] وأمثال ذلك. وقوله ﷺ: «كتب الله الإحسان على كل شيء» فإذا ارجعنا

(١) سبق تخريجه ص (٥٥).