While we were with the Prophet. on a journey, one of the camels ran away. A man shot it with an arrow and stopped it. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Of these camels some are as wild as wild beasts, so if one of them runs away and you cannot catch it, then do like this (shoot it with an arrow)." I said, "O Allah's Apostle! Sometimes when we are in battles or on a journey we want to slaughter (animals) but we have no knives." He said, "Listen! If you slaughter the animal with anything that causes its blood to flow out, and if Allah's Name is mentioned on slaughtering it, eat of it, provided that the slaughtering instrument is not a tooth or a nail, as the tooth is a bone and the nail is the knife of Ethiopians."
Hunting, Slaughtering - Sahih al-Bukhari 5544
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari contains two important legal rulings concerning hunting and slaughtering during travel and military expeditions.
Ruling on Hunting Stray Camels
The Prophet permitted shooting a runaway camel with an arrow when it cannot be caught, recognizing that some camels possess wild natures that make them difficult to control. This demonstrates the Shari'ah's practicality in dealing with real-world situations where property might be lost.
This ruling applies specifically to situations where the animal cannot be apprehended through normal means, and the shooting serves the purpose of preventing its complete loss while making its meat permissible for consumption.
Conditions for Valid Slaughtering
The Prophet clarified that any instrument causing blood to flow can be used for slaughtering, provided: 1) Allah's Name is mentioned at the time of slaughter, 2) The instrument is not a tooth or nail.
The prohibition of teeth and nails is because teeth are bones (which do not properly slaughter) and nails were the customary knives of Ethiopians at that time - meaning they are unsuitable instruments. This shows the wisdom of using proper cutting tools that ensure quick and humane slaughter.
Scholarly Commentary
Classical scholars explain that the essential conditions for slaughtering are: sharpness of the instrument, flow of blood, and mention of Allah's Name. The instrument can be made of iron, stone, or any material that cuts effectively.
This hadith provides important concessions for travelers and soldiers who may not have access to proper knives, while maintaining the fundamental requirements that ensure the meat's permissibility and the animal's humane treatment.