Hadith Text and Context

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Eat what is slaughtered (with any instrument) that makes blood flow out, except what is slaughtered with a tooth or a nail." (Sahih al-Bukhari 5506)

This hadith from the Book of Hunting and Slaughtering establishes the fundamental principles of Islamic slaughter (dhabīḥah), emphasizing that the method must cause blood to flow and specifying prohibited instruments.

Scholarly Commentary

The phrase "makes blood flow out" indicates that the slaughter must sever the throat vessels (windpipe, esophagus, and jugular veins) to ensure rapid bleeding, which is essential for the meat's purity and the animal's swift death.

The prohibition of teeth and nails stems from their impurity and association with predatory animals. Scholars explain that teeth may carry harmful bacteria, while nails are considered unclean instruments unfit for ritual slaughter.

This ruling applies to both hunting and conventional slaughter. The instrument must be sharp and metallic (like iron), as this ensures a clean cut and minimizes the animal's suffering.

Legal Implications and Exceptions

If no proper tool is available during hunting, one may use sharp stones, wood, or any object that causes bleeding - except teeth and nails. The meat remains lawful as long as Allah's name is invoked at the time of slaughter.

The majority of scholars consider this prohibition to extend to bones, as they share similar characteristics with teeth in terms of impurity and potential harm.

This hadith demonstrates Islam's concern for both ritual purity and animal welfare, balancing permissibility with necessary restrictions to maintain divine guidelines.