The Book of Slaughtering Animals for Food

سُئِلَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ ذَبِيحَةِ الْغُلَامِ قَالَ إِذَا قَوِيَ عَلَى الذَّبْحِ وَ كَانَ يُحْسِنُ أَنْ يَذْبَحَ وَ ذَكَرَ اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا فَكُلْ قَالَ وَ سُئِلَ عَنْ ذَبِيحَةِ الْمَرْأَةِ فَقَالَ إِذَا كَانَتْ مُسْلِمَةً فَذَكَرَتِ اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا فَكُلْ.

“Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about the animal slaughtered by a boy. He (the Imam) said, ‘If he is strong enough, slaughters properly and mentions the name of Allah on it, you can use it for food.’ He (the Imam) was asked about women’s slaughtering. He (the Imam) said, ‘If she is Muslimah and has mentioned the

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ ذَبِيحَةِ الْغُلَامِ وَ الْمَرْأَةِ هَلْ تُؤْكَلُ فَقَالَ إِذَا كَانَتِ الْمَرْأَةُ مُسْلِمَةً وَ ذَكَرَتِ اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَى ذَبِيحَتِهَا حَلَّتْ ذَبِيحَتُهَا وَ كَذَلِكَ الْغُلَامُ إِذَا قَوِيَ عَلَى الذَّبِيحَةِ وَ ذَكَرَ اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَيْهَا وَ ذَلِكَ إِذَا خِيفَ فَوْتُ الذَّبِيحَةِ وَ لَمْ يُوجَدْ مَنْ يَذْبَحُ غَيْرُهُمَا.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the slaughtering by a boy and women if it can be used for food. He (the Imam) said, ‘If she is Muslimah and has mentioned the name of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, on the animal to be slaughtered, then what she has slaughtered is lawful and so also is the boy if he is s

سَأَلَ الْمَرْزُبَانُ الرِّضَا ع عَنْ ذَبِيحَةِ الصَّبِيِّ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَبْلُغَ وَ ذَبِيحَةِ الْمَرْأَةِ فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِذَبِيحَةِ الْخَصِيِّ وَ الصَّبِيِّ وَ الْمَرْأَةِ إِذَا اضْطُرُّوا إِلَيْهِ‌[1].

‘It is not unlawful to use for food what is slaughtered by castrated people, a child and a woman if they slaughter it properly and mention the name of Allah, if they are compelled to do so in an emergency.’”

أَنَّ ذَبِيحَةَ الْمَرْأَةِ إِذَا أَجَادَتِ الذَّبْحَ وَ سَمَّتْ فَلَا بَأْسَ بِأَكْلِهِ وَ كَذَلِكَ الْأَعْمَى إِذَا سُدِّدَ[2].

“One of the two Imam, (abu Ja‘far or abu ‘Abd Allah) (a.s.), has said, ‘If a woman slaughters an animal properly and mentions the name of Allah, then it is not unlawful to use it for food and so also is slaughtering by a blind person if he is helped in what he needs.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ ذَبِيحَةِ الْخَصِيِّ فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about an animal slaughtered by a castrated person. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful to use it for food.’”

كَانَتْ لِعَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ ع جَارِيَةٌ تَذْبَحُ لَهُ إِذَا أَرَادَ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), had a slave-girl who would slaughter animals if he (the Imam) wanted.”’

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِذَا بَلَغَ الصَّبِيُّ خَمْسَةَ أَشْبَارٍ أُكِلَتْ ذَبِيحَتُهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When a child grows five Ashbar (span of the hand) it is not unlawful to use for food what he has slaughtered.’”

سُئِلَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ ذَبِيحَةِ الذِّمِّيِّ فَقَالَ لَا تَأْكُلْهُ إِنْ سَمَّى وَ إِنْ لَمْ يُسَمِ‌[3].

‘Do not use it for food even if he has mentioned the name of Allah or not.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّا قَوْمٌ نَخْتَلِفُ إِلَى الْجَبَلِ وَ الطَّرِيقُ بَعِيدٌ بَيْنَنَا وَ بَيْنَ الْجَبَلِ فَرَاسِخُ فَنَشْتَرِي الْقَطِيعَ وَ الِاثْنَيْنِ وَ الثَّلَاثَةَ وَ يَكُونُ فِي الْقَطِيعِ أَلْفٌ وَ خَمْسُمِائَةِ شَاةٍ وَ أَلْفٌ وَ سِتُّمِائَةِ شَاةٍ وَ أَلْفٌ وَ سَبْعُمِائَةِ شَاةٍ فَتَقَعُ الشَّاةُ وَ الِاثْنَتَانِ وَ الثَّلَاثَةُ فَنَسْأَلُ الرُّعَاةَ الَّذِينَ يَجِيئُونَ بِهَا عَنْ أَدْ

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), that we often meet a people from the mountains, the distance between us is quite far to the mountains by many Farsakh (a certain unit of measurement for distance). We buy one, two or three flocks and every flock numbers one thousand five hundred, one thousand six hundred or one th

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ الْحُسَيْنَ بْنَ الْمُنْذِرِ رَوَى عَنْكَ أَنَّكَ قُلْتَ إِنَّ الذَّبِيحَةَ بِالاسْمِ وَ لَا يُؤْمَنُ عَلَيْهَا إِلَّا أَهْلُهَا فَقَالَ إِنَّهُمْ أَحْدَثُوا فِيهَا شَيْئاً لَا أَشْتَهِيهِ‌[1] قَالَ حَنَانٌ فَسَأَلْتُ نَصْرَانِيّاً فَقُلْتُ لَهُ أَيَّ شَيْ‌ءٍ تَقُولُونَ إِذَا ذَبَحْتُمْ فَقَالَ نَقُولُ بِاسْمِ الْمَسِيحِ.

3. It is narrated from the narrator of the previous Hadith from Hanan who has said the following: “I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, ‘Al-Husayn ibn al-Mundhir has narrated from you that you have said, “Slaughtering is by name and you cannot trust for it in (slaughtering) except the people of the name.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ نَصَارَى الْعَرَبِ أَ تُؤْكَلُ ذَبِيحَتُهُمْ فَقَالَ كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع يَنْهَى عَنْ ذَبَائِحِهِمْ وَ صَيْدِهِمْ وَ مُنَاكَحَتِهِمْ.

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), if animal slaughtered by the Christian Arabs can be used for food. He (the Imam) said, ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), would prohibit using what they slaughtered for food, as well as their hunting and marriage with them.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ ذَبِيحَةِ الْيَهُودِيِّ وَ النَّصْرَانِيِّ فَقَالَ لَا تَقْرَبُوهَا.

“I once asked abu Ibrahim (a.s.), about the animals slaughtered by the Jews and Christians. He (the Imam) said, ‘Do not go close to such slaughtered animals.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّا نَكُونُ بِالْجَبَلِ فَنَبْعَثُ الرُّعَاةَ فِي الْغَنَمِ فَرُبَّمَا عَطِبَتِ الشَّاةُ أَوْ أَصَابَهَا الشَّيْ‌ءُ فَيَذْبَحُونَهَا فَنَأْكُلُهَا فَقَالَ ع هِيَ الذَّبِيحَةُ وَ لَا يُؤْمَنُ عَلَيْهَا إِلَّا مُسْلِمٌ.

‘It is a matter of proper slaughtering, thus, no one can be trusted in it except a Muslim.’”

اصْطَحَبَ الْمُعَلَّى بْنُ خُنَيْسٍ وَ ابْنُ أَبِي يَعْفُورٍ فِي سَفَرٍ فَأَكَلَ أَحَدُهُمَا ذَبِيحَةَ الْيَهُودِ وَ النَّصَارَى وَ أَبَى الْآخَرُ عَنْ أَكْلِهَا فَاجْتَمَعَا عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَأَخْبَرَاهُ فَقَالَ أَيُّكُمَا الَّذِي أَبَى قَالَ أَنَا قَالَ أَحْسَنْتَ.

“At one time I travelled with al-Mu‘alla’ ibn Khunays and ibn abu Ya’fur. One of them used the flesh of the animal slaughtered by Jews and Christians and the other abstained. They both went to visit abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and informed him of their story. He (the Imam) asked, ‘Which one of you abstained?’ He (one of the

قَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّهُ إِنَّ لَنَا جَاراً قَصَّاباً فَيَجِي‌ءُ بِيَهُودِيٍّ فَيَذْبَحُ لَهُ حَتَّى يَشْتَرِيَ مِنْهُ الْيَهُودُ فَقَالَ لَا تَأْكُلْ مِنْ ذَبِيحَتِهِ وَ لَا تَشْتَرِ مِنْهُ.

“Once a man said to ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘I pray to Allah to keep you well, we have a neighbor who is a butcher and he brings Jews who slaughter for him so that Jews can buy from him.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Do not use for food what he sells and do not buy from him.’”

قَالَ: هُوَ الِاسْمُ فَلَا يُؤْمَنُ عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا مُسْلِمٌ.

‘It is a matter of the name (mentioning the name of Allah), thus, no one can be trusted in it except a Muslim.’”

سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ أَنَا عِنْدَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْغَنَمُ يُرْسَلُ فِيهَا- الْيَهُودِيُّ وَ النَّصْرَانِيُّ فَتَعْرِضُ فِيهَا الْعَارِضَةُ فَيَذْبَحُ أَ نَأْكُلُ ذَبِيحَتَهُ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لَا تُدْخِلْ ثَمَنَهَا مَالَكَ وَ لَا تَأْكُلْهَا فَإِنَّمَا هُوَ الِاسْمُ وَ لَا يُؤْمَنُ عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا مُسْلِمٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ الرَّجُلُ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى- الْيَوْمَ أُحِلَّ لَكُمُ الطَّيّ

“A man once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when I was with him (the Imam) and said, ‘Sheep are sent to Jews and Christian for maintenance and something happens and it is slaughtered; if I can use it for food. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Do not mix the price you receive for it with your other assets and do not use i

ابْنُ سِنَانٍ قَالَ إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ جَابِرٍ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ لَا تَأْكُلْ مِنْ ذَبَائِحِ الْيَهُودِ وَ النَّصَارَى وَ لَا تَأْكُلْ فِي آنِيَتِهِمْ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Do not use for food what is slaughtered by Jews and Christians and do not eat in their utensils.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ ذَبَائِحِ الْيَهُودِ وَ النَّصَارَى فَقَالَ الذَّبِيحَةُ اسْمٌ وَ لَا يُؤْمَنُ عَلَى الِاسْمِ إِلَّا مُسْلِمٌ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the animals slaughtered by Jews and Christians. He (the Imam) said, ‘Slaughtering is a matter of name (mentioning the name of Allah); no one can be trusted in it except a Muslim.’”

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ لَا تَأْكُلْ ذَبَائِحَهُمْ وَ لَا تَأْكُلْ فِي آنِيَتِهِمْ يَعْنِي أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ.

‘Do not use for food the animals they slaughter, do not eat in their utensils, meaning thereby people of the book.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ ذَبَائِحِ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ إِذَا ذَكَرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ لَكِنِّي أَعْنِي مِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَكُونُ عَلَى أَمْرِ مُوسَى وَ عِيسَى ع.

‘It is not unlawful if they mention the name of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, and I mean those of them who are on the command of Moses and Jesus.’”

دَخَلْنَا عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَنَا وَ أَبِي فَقُلْنَا لَهُ جَعَلَنَا اللَّهُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّ لَنَا خُلَطَاءَ مِنَ النَّصَارَى وَ إِنَّا نَأْتِيهِمْ فَيَذْبَحُونَ لَنَا الدَّجَاجَ وَ الْفِرَاخَ وَ الْجِدَاءَ[1] أَ فَنَأْكُلُهَا قَالَ فَقَالَ لَا تَأْكُلُوهَا وَ لَا تَقْرَبُوهَا فَإِنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ عَلَى ذَبَائِحِهِمْ مَا لَا أُحِبُّ لَكُمْ أَكْلَهَا قَالَ فَلَمَّا قَدِمْنَا الْكُوفَةَ دَعَانَا بَعْضُهُمْ فَ

“Once my father and I visited abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and said, ‘We pray to Allah to keep our souls in service for your cause, we have Christian associates and they slaughter for us chickens and goats; if we can eat thereof. He (the Imam) said, ‘Do not eat and do not get close to it; what they say on it is something bec

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ ذَبِيحَةِ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ قَالَ فَقَالَ وَ اللَّهِ مَا يَأْكُلُونَ ذَبَائِحَكُمْ فَكَيْفَ تَسْتَحِلُّونَ أَنْ تَأْكُلُوا ذَبَائِحَهُمْ إِنَّمَا هُوَ الِاسْمُ وَ لَا يُؤْمَنُ عَلَيْهَا إِلَّا مُسْلِمٌ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the animals the people of the book slaughter. He (the Imam) said, ‘By Allah they do not eat what you slaughter; then how can you consider what they slaughter as lawful? It is a matter of name (mentioning the name of Allah), and no one can be trusted in it except a Muslim.’”

رَأَيْتُ عِنْدَهُ رَجُلًا يَسْأَلُهُ فَقَالَ إِنَّ لِي أَخاً فَيُسْلِفُ فِي الْغَنَمِ فِي الْجِبَالِ فَيُعْطِي السِّنَّ مَكَانَ السِّنِ‌[2] فَقَالَ أَ لَيْسَ بِطِيبَةِ نَفْسٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ قَالَ بَلَى قَالَ فَلَا بَأْسَ قَالَ فَإِنَّهُ يَكُونُ لَهُ فِيهَا الْوَكِيلُ فَيَكُونُ يَهُودِيّاً أَوْ نَصْرَانِيّاً فَتَقَعُ فِيهَا الْعَارِضَةُ فَيَبِيعُهَا مَذْبُوحَةً وَ يَأْتِيهِ بِثَمَنِهَا وَ رُبَّمَا مَلَّحَهَا فَيَأْت

17. Certain persons of our people have narrated from Mansur ibn al-‘Abbas from ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthman from Qutaybah al-A’sha’ who has said the following: “I once saw a man with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), who asked, ‘I have a brother in the mountains who exchanges things for other things. He (the Imam) asked, ‘Is it because of mu