What are the conditions for the tool used in slaughter?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Hunting and Slaughter
Primary text
The tool used for slaughter must meet two conditions: it must be sharp, capable of cutting or piercing with its edge rather than by its weight, and it must not be a tooth (*Sinn*) or a fingernail (*Dhafr*). If these conditions are met, slaughter is lawful with it, regardless of whether the material is iron, stone, an axe, or wood. This is based on the Prophet's saying: 'Whatever causes blood to flow and the name of God is mentioned over it, then eat, unless it is a tooth or a nail.' Furthermore, it is permissible to slaughter with bone, excluding teeth and nails, which is the explicit view of Ahmad, Shafi'i, Abu Thawr, Malik, and the school of Abu Hanifah (except where the tooth/nail is attached).
Supporting text
Abu Hanifah stipulated that if the tooth or nail is attached, slaughter is impermissible, but if detached, it is permissible. Ibn Jurayj specified that slaughter is permitted with the bone of a donkey but not the bone of a monkey. Al-Nakh'i held that slaughter is not permitted with bone or horn, citing the Prophet's explanation that the tooth is a bone, thus drawing an analogy to all bones. However, the prevailing view is that the general permission includes all bones, as the specific exception only applies to the tooth and the nail.