Even slaughter has its ethics — because iḥsān is owed everywhere.
Narrated by Shaddād ibn Aws (شداد بن أوس)
إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَتَبَ الإِحْسَانَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ، فَإِذَا قَتَلْتُمْ فَأَحْسِنُوا الْقِتْلَةَ، وَإِذَا ذَبَحْتُمْ فَأَحْسِنُوا الذَّبْحَةَ، وَلْيُحِدَّ أَحَدُكُمْ شَفْرَتَهُ وَلْيُرِحْ ذَبِيحَتَهُ
"Allah has written iḥsān — excellence — upon everything. So when you kill, kill well; and when you slaughter, slaughter well. Sharpen your blade and bring ease to the animal."
The hadith extends iḥsān beyond worship into every human action — including actions that involve harm. If mercy is required even where killing is permitted, how much more in ordinary dealings? Classical jurists drew from this the principle that the Muslim is held to a standard of craftsmanship in whatever they do.
Passages that draw on this hadith
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"His saints and prophets. What God opens to people of mercy, none can withhold. This mercy is granted according to God's wisdom and generosity, appearing in hearts open to His gentle breaths of mercy. As the prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said, Indeed, your Lord has certain days of"
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"Allah envelops the person in his mercy. His mercy is vast and his generosity is abundant. We ask Allah to envelop us in his mercy and cover us with his forgiveness, for we acknowledge our inability to fully perform his obedience. Purifying prayer from defects and dedicating"
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"that overcomes it, and He made His mercy overcome His wrath. The famous report states that Allah wrote upon Himself mercy before He created the creation. My mercy prevails over My wrath. According to Mu'adh ibn Jabal and Anas ibn Malik, the Prophet, peace be upon him, said,"
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"forgiver of whoever repents and believes and does righteous deeds and then remains guided. And he also says, indeed, the mercy of Allah is near to the doers of good. The prophet, peace be upon him, said, Ihsan excellence is to worship Allah as though you"
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"My God, if I am not worthy to reach Your mercy, then surely Your mercy is worthy to reach me, for Your mercy encompasses everything, and I am something. My God, my sins, although they are great, are small in the face of Your pardon, so forgive"
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"of his sins through them. It is narrated that Moses, peace be upon him, saw a servant enduring severe trials and said, O Lord, have mercy on him. Allah replied, How can I have mercy on him in what I am using to have mercy on him by"
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"his workers, and he is like one who strives in the way of Allah, with Allah's hand extended in mercy over him, a weak leader who restrains himself but cannot restrain his workers due to his weakness. He is on the verge of destruction unless Allah has mercy on him, a ruler who restrains his"
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"asked them to slaughter it where no one could see. Each one went away and slaughtered it except for that aspirant, who returned the chicken. When asked, they said, We did as the sheikh commanded. The sheikh then asked the aspirant, Why did you not slaughter the chicken as the others"
More on character
- The Prophet's ﷺ three-word answer for a lifetime."A man said to the Prophet ﷺ: Counsel me. He said: "Do not be angry." The man asked several times, and each time the Prophet said: "Do not be angry.""
- Two honourable choices for the tongue."Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him speak good or remain silent."
- Worth is measured in akhlāq — manners, not titles."Truly, the best of you are the finest among you in character."