In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
We all have heard about animal cruelty in slaughterhouses. They are not just happening in slaughterhouses in non-Muslims countries, but you will find animal cruelty in slaughterhouses in Muslim countries as well as in the hands of Muslim individuals and communities. You might have witnessed it yourself during slaughter for sacrifice ('udhiya'/qurbani) this Eid. Obviously, the degree of cruelty varies, ranging from forcing the animal down through manpower to actual beating/stunning.
Islam commands Muslims to practice and apply Ihsan, striving for excellence, in all that they do. Ihsan is so important that it was actually made obligatory, or wajib. It has been mentioned in the Qur'an, where Allah the Almighty says,
إِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ يَأْمُرُ بِٱلْعَدْلِ وَٱلْإِحْسَـٰنِ وَإِيتَآئِ ذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَيَنْهَىٰ عَنِ ٱلْفَحْشَآءِ وَٱلْمُنكَرِ وَٱلْبَغْىِ ۚ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ ﴿٩٠[Qur'an, An-Nahl 16:90]
Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded. (90)
On the authority of Abu Ya'la Shaddad bin Aws (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
"Verily Allah has prescribed ihsan (perfection) in all things. Thus if you kill, kill well; and if you slaughter, slaughter well. Let each one of you sharpen his blade and let him spare suffering to the animal he slaughters."
[Muslim]
The meaning of "kill well" is to exert oneself the utmost in performing the action well, without causing unnecessary pain or torment through it. “Slaughter well" implies that we show mercy and kindness to the animal being slaughtered, do not push it to the ground cruelly or harshly, nor drag it from one place to another. It also includes facing it towards the Qibla (facing towards Ka'abah), pronouncing the name of Allah upon it, cleanly and quickly cutting the throat and the two jugular veins, and finally leaving it until it has turned cold. This hadith also includes recognizing and acknowledging Allah's favors upon us, and thanking Him and being grateful to Him. Allah Almighty has subjected some of His creation to us, and made their meat permissible when He could have made it forbidden, if He had wished.
The whole universe, that is, with its heavens, stars, planets, galaxies, the sun, the moon, rain, fishes, birds, animals, plants, flowers, is but a substantiation of Allah’s Love for mankind.
Allah Almighty says,
ٱللَّـهُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَأَخْرَجَ بِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ رِزْقًا لَّكُمْ ۖ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلْفُلْكَ لِتَجْرِىَ فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ بِأَمْرِهِۦ ۖ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرَ ﴿٣٢﴾ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ دَآئِبَيْنِ ۖ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ ﴿٣٣[Qur'an, Ibrahim 25:32-33]
It is Allah who created the heavens and the earth and sent down rain from the sky and produced thereby some fruits as provision for you and subjected for you the ships to sail through the sea by His command and subjected for you the rivers. (32) And He subjected for you the sun and the moon, continuous [in orbit], and subjected for you the night and the day. (33)
The sacrifice Muslims are doing during this time of the year is offered in order to commemorate the total submission displayed by Prophet Ibrahim (may Allah grant him peace) when he was commanded to sacrifice his son, Ismail (may Allah grant him peace).
Allah Most High says,
فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ ٱلسَّعْىَ قَالَ يَـٰبُنَىَّ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰ فِى ٱلْمَنَامِ أَنِّىٓ أَذْبَحُكَ فَٱنظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَىٰ ۚ قَالَ يَـٰٓأَبَتِ ٱفْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ ۖ سَتَجِدُنِىٓ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّـهُ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ ﴿١٠٢[Qur’an, As-Saffat 37:102]
And when he reached with him [the age of] exertion, he said, "O my son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I [must] sacrifice you, so see what you think." He said, "O my father, do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allah wills, of the steadfast." (102)
It is a demonstration of total submission to Allah and a proof of complete obedience to Allah’s will or command. When a Muslim offers an ‘udhiya’ this is exactly what he intends to prove. Thus, the ‘udhiya’ offered signifies that he is a slave of Allah at his best. And that he would not hesitate even for a moment once he receives an absolute command from his Creator to surrender before it, to obey it willingly, even if it be at the price of his life and possessions.
So, why then we are not applying ihsan to the cows, goats, lambs or camels that we are sacrificing for the sake of Allah? It is no wonder these animals would escape each time you try to get them down to the ground for slaughter, as if these animal didn't want to die in your hands. Of course, 5, 10, 15 or 20 men can eventually overpower a resistant domestic animal, no matter how big, but how could you begin to offer its meat as charity or even put it on your dinner table for your family and friends, when you had killed it without ihsan? How could you step or walk on it after it is dead, not honoring this gift from Allah? Remember, it reaches Allah before it reaches people's hands and mouths.
Among the many virtues we know of our Mother Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, the one she received a nickname for was charity. She was called Umm al-Teeb (the mother of fragrance). Using “umm” or “mother” in Arabic emphasizes that this person is the source of something or that this is a particular characteristic of the person or object. Aisha was called Umm al-Teeb because she used to spray perfume on the money she donated. When asked why she did this, she explained that charity reaches Allah before the receiving person’s hand so she wanted it to smell nice. She did this so often that it became her trademark and earned her this nickname.
Slaughtering animals is worship, not merely for food, and slaughtering for 'udhiya' is your opportunity to come close to Allah. Don't spoil it by being cruel to the animal. Slaughter the animal well and treat it with honor even after its death. May Allah accept your qurbani.
Please watch and benefit from these very insightful videos.
Mercy Halal Islamic Slaughter Part 1
Mercy Halal Islamic Slaughter Part 2A
Mercy Halal Islamic Slaughter Part 2B
An award winning Muslim slaughterhouse in Abu Dhabi
InshaAllah you and your community will take an active role to promote mercy on animals and spread ihsan in animal slaughter, whether for 'udhiya', aqiqah, or normal consumption.
May Allah grant us tawfiq and guide us to excellence. Ameen.
Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
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