These animals have instincts like those of the wild beasts, so if you lose control over one of them, treat it in this way

Arabic text

عَنْ رَافِعِ بْنِ خَدِيجٍ رَضيَ اللهُ عنهُ قَالَ: كُنَّا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِذِي الحُلَيْفَةِ، فَأَصَابَ النَّاسَ جُوعٌ، فَأَصَابُوا إِبِلًا وَغَنَمًا، قَالَ: وَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي أُخْرَيَاتِ القَوْمِ، فَعَجِلُوا، وَذَبَحُوا، وَنَصَبُوا القُدُورَ، فَأَمَرَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِالقُدُورِ، فَأُكْفِئَتْ، ثُمَّ قَسَمَ، فَعَدَلَ عَشَرَةً مِنَ الغَنَمِ بِبَعِيرٍ فَنَدَّ مِنْهَا بَعِيرٌ، فَطَلَبُوهُ، فَأَعْيَاهُمْ وَكَانَ فِي القَوْمِ خَيْلٌ يَسِيرَةٌ، فَأَهْوَى رَجُلٌ مِنْهُمْ بِسَهْمٍ، فَحَبَسَهُ اللَّهُ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: «إِنَّ لِهَذِهِ البَهَائِمِ أَوَابِدَ كَأَوَابِدِ الوَحْشِ، فَمَا غَلَبَكُمْ مِنْهَا فَاصْنَعُوا بِهِ هَكَذَا»، فَقَالَ أي رافع: إِنَّا نَرْجُو -أَوْ نَخَافُ- العَدُوَّ غَدًا، وَلَيْسَتْ مَعَنَا مُدًى، أَفَنَذْبَحُ بِالقَصَبِ؟ قَالَ: «مَا أَنْهَرَ الدَّمَ، وَذُكِرَ اسْمُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ فَكُلُوهُ، لَيْسَ السِّنَّ وَالظُّفُرَ، وَسَأُحَدِّثُكُمْ عَنْ ذَلِكَ: أَمَّا السِّنُّ فَعَظْمٌ، وَأَمَّا الظُّفُرُ فَمُدَى الحَبَشَةِ».

Translation

Rāfi‘ ibn Khadīj (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: We were with the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) in Dhul-Hulayfah when the people were struck by hunger. They got camels and sheep as war booty. He said: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was at the rear. They hurried and slaughtered the animals and set up the pots. So, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) ordered that the pots should be overturned. Then he distributed, deeming ten sheep equal to one camel. One of the camels fled, and the people ran after it till they were exhausted. There were only a few horses with them. A man, thus, threw an arrow at the camel, and Allah caused it to stop. Then he said: "These animals have instincts like those of the wild beasts, so if you lose control over one of them, treat it in this way." He, i.e., Rāfi‘, said: We hope—or we fear—to meet the enemy tomorrow, and we have no knives; can we slaughter with reeds? He said, "Whatever causes the blood to flow, and the name of Allah is mentioned over it, then eat it, except for teeth and claws. I will tell you about this: as for teeth, they are bones, and as for claws, they are the knives of the Abyssinians."

Explanation

Rāfi‘ ibn Khadīj (may Allah be pleased with him) informed that they were with the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) at Dhul-Hulayfah when the people were struck by hunger. They had captured camels and sheep as spoils of war from the polytheists. Acting hastily before the booty was divided, they slaughtered some of the animals and set up the pots without seeking permission from the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), who was walking at the rear of the group, learned about this and ordered that the pots be overturned, spilling out the stock therein. Then he divided the spoils among them, deeming ten sheep equal to one camel. During this, a camel escaped, and they were unable to catch it. With only a few horses available, one of the men shot it with an arrow, and Allah caused it to stop for them. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: Indeed, these domestic animals have instincts like those of wild beasts. Whatever of them overcomes you and you are unable to catch them, deal with it in this manner. Rāfi‘ said: We hope to encounter the enemy tomorrow and fear that using our weapons for slaughtering might dull their edges, while we are in urgent need of slaughtering, yet we have no knives. Can we slaughter using hollow reeds? The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: Whatever causes the blood to flow abundantly, and Allah's name is mentioned over it, then eat it—except for teeth and claws. I will tell you about this: as for teeth, they are bones, and as for claws, they are used by the polytheists of Abyssinia.

Benefits

• Manifesting a glimpse of the Prophet’s humility through his walking at the rear of the army, his care for his Companions, his checking on their well-being, and his acceptance of their advice, may Allah be pleased with them.
• The leader's disciplining his subjects and soldiers, as the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) disciplined them for their haste and actions before seeking his permission. Their consequence was deprivation of what they had wanted.
• The Companions' quick response to the commands of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him).
• The prohibition of taking from the spoils of war until they are distributed.
• Justice, especially in the context of Jihad against the enemies and the disbelievers, for it is one of the causes of victory and triumph over the enemies.
• An-Nawawi said: If a domestic animal such as a camel, cow, horse, or sheep becomes wild, or if it strays away, it is treated like a game, and it becomes lawful by shooting.
• The slaughter of an animal is required to make it lawful to eat. Conditions to be fulfilled in the animal: 1. It must be permissible to eat. 2. It must be within one's ability to capture; an animal that cannot be captured is treated like a game. 3. It must be a land animal; however, for sea animals, slaughter is not required.
• Conditions for the validity of slaughter: 1. The slaughterer must be qualified, meaning he should be rational, discerning, Muslim, or from the People of the Book. 2. The name of Allah must be mentioned at the beginning of the slaughter. 3. The slaughtering tool must be suitable, i.e., it must be sharp and made of any material except for teeth and nails. 4. The slaughter should be carried out by cutting the windpipe, the pharynx, and the jugular veins of the animal.

Topics

• Jurisprudence and Juristic Principles
• Foods and Drinks
• Slaughtering