I said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! We are going to face the enemy tomorrow and we do not have knives." He said, "Hurry up (in killing the animal). If the killing tool causes blood to flow out, and if Allah's Name is mentioned, eat (of the slaughtered animal). But do not slaughter with a tooth or a nail. I will tell you why: As for the tooth, it is a bone; and as for the nail, it is the knife of Ethiopians." Then we got some camels and sheep as war booty, and one of those camels ran away, whereupon a man shot it with an arrow and stopped it. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Of these camels there are some which are as wild as wild beasts, so if one of them (runs away and) makes you tired, treat it in this manner."
Commentary on Hunting and Slaughtering
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari 5509 addresses fundamental principles of Islamic slaughtering. The Prophet's instruction to "hurry up in killing" emphasizes minimizing the animal's suffering, reflecting Islam's mercy toward creatures. The requirement that the "killing tool causes blood to flow out" ensures proper drainage of blood, which is considered impure (najis) in Islamic law.
Prohibited Instruments
The explicit prohibition against using teeth and nails for slaughter carries profound wisdom. Teeth are bones, which cannot properly sever blood vessels and would cause undue suffering. Nails, described as "the knife of Ethiopians," reference pre-Islamic practices that Islam sought to reform.
Scholars explain that any sharp instrument that facilitates quick, merciful slaughter is permissible - including modern mechanical blades - while anything causing unnecessary pain or resembling pre-Islamic customs is forbidden.
Emergency Situations and Hunting
The final portion demonstrates Islam's practicality in extraordinary circumstances. When the escaped camel could not be conventionally slaughtered, the Prophet permitted shooting it with an arrow. This ruling applies to situations where normal slaughter is impossible, such as hunting or when an animal becomes dangerously unmanageable.
The condition remains that Allah's name must be mentioned at the time of discharging the weapon, and the animal must be properly bled afterward if possible.