Disliked Acts in Slaughter

**Three Disliked Acts in Slaughter:** --- **1. Slaughtering with a dull blade:** Disliked because it is torture for the animal. **Evidence:** The hadith of Shaddad ibn Aws: "Let one of you sharpen his blade and give rest to his slaughtered animal" [Muslim]. And the hadith of Ibn Umar: "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded that blades be sharpened, and that they be hidden from the animals" [Ahmad, Ibn Majah]. --- **2. Breaking the animal's neck or skinning it before death:** Disliked to break its neck or begin skinning before its soul has departed. **Evidence:** - The hadith of Shaddad: "When you slaughter, slaughter well" [Muslim] - Umar said: "Do not hasten the souls before they depart" [Bayhaqi - hasan]. --- **3. Sharpening the knife in the animal's sight:** Disliked to sharpen the blade while the animal watches. **Evidence:** The hadith of Ibn Umar mentioned above: "And that they be hidden from the animals" [Ahmad, Ibn Majah]. This shows Islam's emphasis on mercy to animals even at the time of slaughter.