It's not true to say "cruelty is okay in Islam".

Submitted by Anne-Marie Delcambre (France), May 20, 2009 at 17:20

A book known as "An-Nawawi's Forty Hadiths", - a popular small book in which the author gathered forty two of the sayings of prophet Muhammad,
Hadith 17
Abu Ya'la Shaddad Ibn Aws said that the messenger of Allah said : "Inna Allaha kataba al-iHsâna 'alâ kulli chay'in"
"Verily Allah has prescribed proficiency in all things. Thus, if you kill, kill well; and if you slaughter, slaughter well. Let each one of you sharpen his blade and let him spare suffering to the animal he slaughters"
(related by Muslim)

Anne-Marie Delcambre, French Orientalist

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