zabihah

Zabihah (Arabic: zabiḥah) is the Islamic method of slaughter for meat. The term derives from the root z-b-h, meaning to slaughter or cut down, and is commonly transliterated as zabihah or dhabihah. It denotes a ritual process intended to render the meat permissible (halal) for Muslims when conducted according to Islamic law.

Core requirements typically include: the slaughter must be performed with a sharp knife, severing the trachea, esophagus, and the two jugular veins; the animal must be alive and healthy at the time of slaughter; blood must be drained from the carcass. The name of God must be pronounced at the moment of the incision, often by saying Bismillah, Allahu Akbar, or a similar formula.

Who performs zabihah varies by tradition and jurisdiction. Traditionally, a sane Muslim slaughterer is preferred; many halal certification schemes require the person to be Muslim and to follow proper humane handling procedures. Some frameworks allow exceptions or special arrangements for non-Muslim slaughterers under supervision, while others require the slaughterer to be Muslim regardless. Methods regarding pre-slaughter stunning differ among schools and regulators, with some permitting reversible stunning and others prohibiting pretreatment that could kill the animal.

In modern practice, zabihah is used to designate halal meat in many countries and is verified by certification bodies that audit slaughter practices, humane handling, and the invocation of God. The term is commonly encountered in markets, restaurants, and labeling, and it exists alongside other halal methods recognized by different communities and authorities.