“A man laid a sheep down intending to slaughter it while he was sharpening his blade. The Prophet — may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him — said: ‘Do you wish to cause it to die multiple deaths?! Why did you not sharpen your blade before laying it down?’”
Narrated by al-Ḥākim in al-Mustadrak (no. 7563), al-Ṭabarānī in al-Awsat (no. 3590) and al-Kabīr (no. 11916), and al-Bayhaqī in al-Sunan al-Kubrá (no. 19141), with the additional wording: “and it was looking at him with its eyes,” from the narration of Ibn ʿAbbās (may Allah be pleased with them both).
Authenticated in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmiʿ (no. 93) and Ṣaḥīḥ al-Targhīb wa’l-Tarhīb (no. 1090).
Brief Explanation of the Hadith
From the perfection of the Islamic Law and its mercy toward all creatures is that it commands kindness to animals even at the time of slaughter, and forbids everything that leads to frightening or tormenting them—thereby realizing the meaning of mercy with which the Prophet, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, was sent.
In this ḥadīth, Ibn ʿAbbās (may Allah be pleased with them both) relates that the Prophet — may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him — “observed a man laying a sheep down intending to slaughter it while he was sharpening his blade.” That is, he laid it on its side in preparation for slaughter. The ‘blade’ refers to the knife, and ‘sharpening the blade’ means honing it on something to make it sharp. In one wording it adds: “and it was looking at him with its eyes.” He — may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him — disapproved of this and said: “Do you wish to cause it to die multiple deaths?!’” For laying it down while displaying the knife and sharpening it as it watches frightens and pains the animal, so that it experiences a kind of death in advance. Then he — may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him — directed him to the proper prescribed etiquette, saying: “Why did you not sharpen your blade before laying it down?” Thus, he reproached him for abandoning what is more complete and exhorted him to show kindness in the future. And in the other ḥadīth: “Indeed, Allah has prescribed excellence (ihsān) in all things; so when you kill, kill in the best manner, and when you slaughter, slaughter in the best manner. Let one of you sharpen his blade and give ease to his sacrificial animal.”
In this ḥadīth is evidence of the elevated and perfect nature of the Islamic Law, for it commands kindness even toward animals and forbids all that causes them torment or fear—such as sharpening the blade before laying down the sacrificial animal, concealing it from her view, and intending to ease her suffering. This is in accordance with other texts that enjoin excellence (ihsān) when killing or slaughtering.