What Does One Say When Slaughtering?

Answered by Ustadha Tabraze Azam

Question: What are we supposed to say when slaughtering an animal? Do we say: Bismillah, or Bismillahirrahmanirrahim, or Bismillah Allahu Akbar, or something else?

Answer: Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

I pray that you are well, insha’Allah.

It is obligatory to say the name of Allah (tasmiya) at the time of slaughter. This is minimally fulfilled by saying “Allah”. Although, it is recommended to say Bismillah Allahu Akbar (In the Name of Allah; Allah is the Greatest). [Haskafi, al-Durr al-Mukhtar; Ibn `Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

However, it is permitted to use any praise of Allah (bismillah, alhamdulillah, subhanAllah) as long as it is voiced with the intention of sacrifice, and not in the form of supplication or the like.

And Allah alone gives success.

Wassalam,

Tabraze Azam

Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani