1171 – Shaddad ibn Aws (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Allah has decreed iḥsān (excellence) in all things. So when you kill, do so in the best manner; when you slaughter, slaughter in the best manner. Let each of you sharpen his blade and give relief to his sacrificial animal.” Reported by Muslim. (1)

• Vocabulary of the ḥadith
– iḥsān: denotes perfecting and mastering a deed, and also showing favor and generosity. Both senses apply here, for sparing the animal undue pain by an expertly performed slaughter is a kindness to it.
– al-qiṭlah / al-dhibḥah: each with a kasrah on the initial letter; both are nouns of manner, meaning “the mode of killing” and “the mode of slaughtering.”
– yuḥidd: with a ḍammah on the yāʾ; one says aḥadda or ḥaddada the knife, i.e., he sharpened it until it cut cleanly.
– shafrah: the large, broad knife.
– wa-liyu riḥ: with a ḍammah on the yāʾ, jussive due to the imperative lām, from rāḥah (rest). Meaning: let him grant the animal ease by swiftly drawing the blade and not skinning it until the life has departed.

• Points derived from the ḥadith
1 – The narration demonstrates Allah’s all-encompassing mercy toward every creature—human, animal, every living soul. Exalted is He, the Benefactor who bestows favors upon His creation, and He has commanded people to show kindness to one another.