Chapter on Slaughter and Hunting

The permissibility of animal meat in Islam is contingent upon valid ritual slaughter (dhabh) or valid hunting (sayd). Ibn Abi Zayd al-Qayrawani outlines the Maliki conditions for lawful slaughter and hunting, distinguishing what is obligatory, recommended, and invalidating in each case.

For ritual slaughter, the Maliki school requires: a Muslim (or a person from the People of the Book — Jews or Christians — as their slaughter is permissible per the Quran) as the slaughterer; the use of a sharp instrument that causes blood to flow (except bone and teeth, which are prohibited); cutting the throat and windpipe (and preferably the two jugular veins as well); and the pronouncement of the name of Allah (basmala: 'Bismillah'). The basmala is obligatory according to the Maliki school — intentionally omitting it renders the animal impermissible (haram), while omitting it forgetfully is excused.

The animal must be facing the qiblah when slaughtered, as this is a strong recommendation of the Maliki school. The animal should be laid on its left side, and the slaughterer should face the qiblah as well. One must not cut the spinal cord or decapitate the animal before it is fully dead, as this constitutes unnecessary cruelty (muthla).

Hunting by trained animals — dogs, falcons, and other trained birds or beasts of prey — is permissible under the following conditions in the Maliki school: the hunter must be a Muslim or a Person of the Book; the hunting animal must have been trained and must retrieve but not eat the prey; the name of Allah must be pronounced at the moment of releasing the hunting animal; and the prey must not be found still alive in a condition where slaughter is possible (if the prey is found alive, one must slaughter it properly; if it is already dead from the hunting animal's strike, it remains permissible provided the above conditions are met).

Certain animals are inherently prohibited to eat regardless of slaughter method, according to the Maliki school: pigs, predatory animals with fangs (lions, wolves, leopards, etc.), birds of prey with talons (eagles, falcons, hawks when not hunted for their prey), rats, scorpions, and any animal that feeds primarily on filth (jallalah) until it has been penned and fed clean food for a period. The Maliki school permits the consumption of horses, though some scholars hold this to be disliked (makruh).

Sea creatures — fish and other marine animals — do not require ritual slaughter and are permissible whether caught alive or found dead, as the Prophet said: 'Its water is pure and its dead are lawful.' The Maliki school holds that all sea animals are permissible except those that are specifically prohibited by text or analogy to land animals known to be impure.