Al-Raḥmān shows mercy to the merciful

As mentioned in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Allah’s Messenger صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم announced, لَا يَرْحَمُ اللَّهُ مَنْ لاَ يَرْحَمُ النَّاسَ  – “Allah does not show mercy to those who are not merciful to people.”^[1]

In another hadith it was said, الرَّاحِمُونَ يَرْحَمُهمُ الرَّحْمٰن – “Al-Raḥmān has mercy on those who are merciful.”^[2]

Explanation of being kind-hearted to the sacrificial animal

Dear Islamic brothers! The Merciful Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم taught us a principle:     اِنَّ اللہَ کَتَبَ الْاِحْسَان َعَلٰی کُلِّ شَیءٍ – “Allah has indeed ordered for kindness to be shown to everything.” Explaining this, he said:

وَ اِذَا ذَبَحْتُمْ فَاَحْسِنُوا الذِّبْحَ    وَ لْيُحِدَّ اَحَدُكُمْ شَفْرَتَهٗ وَلْيُرِحْ ذَبِيحَتَهٗ

“When you slaughter, then slaughter well. Let one of you sharpen his blade and grant ease to the animal being slaughtered.”^[3]

In this hadith, the Merciful Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has specifically mentioned showing mercy at the time of slaughtering an animal. Scholars of Islam have mentioned different scenarios relating to this:

1) Slaughter with a tender heart

Imam al-ShaꜤrānī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه writes: “(A form of mercy is that) When we are slaughtering the animal, there should be tenderness in our heart at that moment.”^[4]