====== Ritual Slaughter ======

In Islam, ritual slaughter (Arabic: الذَّبْحُ or ذكاة) means the slaughter of specific land animals, in which the throat, esophagus, and the two jugular veins are severed with a sharp object.

==== Etymology ====

Linguistically, //dhakah// (ذكاة) means **"goodness"**.
The term is also used for **"sharpness"** and **"acuteness/intelligence"**, which is why this term is also used for slaughtering, as sharp objects are used.

==== The conditions for ritual slaughter ====

=== 1. Legal Capacity (Arabic: أهلية, "Ahliyyah") ===
In relation to the slaughter, this includes the requirement that the slaughterer be a Muslim, Christian, or Jew.

> "And the food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you." (Quran 5:5)

All other non-believers, such as the Rafidah (رافضة), Ahmadiyyah (أحمدية), Ja'fari (جعفرية), Twelver Imami (الإمامية), Qadiyaniyyah (القاديانية), Hindus, Buddhists (بوذية), and Atheists (ملحدة) – the animal slaughtered by them is forbidden ([[haram]]) in all cases.

=== 2. Tool ===
The tool used for slaughter must be a sharp object,
for the Messenger of Allah said:

> "Whatever causes the blood to flow, and over which the Name of Allah has been mentioned, you may eat!"

=== 3. Severing the Throat, Esophagus, and the two Jugular Veins ===
If all four are severed, it is faultless according to all scholars;
others also permit only a part of these four to be severed.

=== 4. Mentioning the Name of Allah (Arabic: تسمية, "Tasmiyah") ===
The name of Allah must be mentioned during the slaughter.

> "And do not eat of that upon which the name of Allah has not been mentioned. Indeed, that is grave disobedience." (Quran 6:121)