Udhiyah (sacrifice) is among the great rituals of Islam, which signify the Oneness of Allah, His Blessings, and Bounties. It reminds us the exemplary obedience of our father, Ibrahîm (alaihi as-salâm), to His Lord and his great sacrifices to Him. Udhiyah encompasses much goodness and blessings and thus acquires a great deal of importance in the lives of Muslims.
"And for every nation We have appointed religious ceremonies, that they may mention the Name of Allah over the beast of cattle that He has given them for food. And your Lord is One Lord, so you must submit to Him Alone (in Islam)" [Surah al-Hajj (22): 34]
Its meaning and definition
Udhiyah refers to the animal (camel, cattle or sheep) that is sacrificed as an act of worship to Allah, during the period from after the Eid prayer on the Day of Nahr (Eid al-Adha) until the last day of Tashrîq (the 13th day of Dhul-Hijjah), with the intention of offering sacrifice. Allah says: "Say (O Muhammad (sallalahu alaihi wa-sallam)): 'Verily, my prayer, my sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the Alamîn (mankind, Jinns and all that exists)." [Sûrah al-An'âm (6): 162]
Is Udhiyah an Obligation?
Scholars differ concerning the ruling of Udhiyah, some are of the opinion that Udhiyah is Wajib or obligatory while others hold Udhiyah as a confirmed Sunnah.
Among those who uphold the first opinion (Wajib or obligatory) are Imâm al-Awzâ'i, Imâm al-Layth and Imâm Abu Hanîfah, and it is one of the two opinions narrated from Imam Ahmad. It was also the opinion of Shaikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, and is one of the two opinions in the mathhab of Imâm Mâlik. Those who favour this opinion take the following as evidence: Allah says: "Therefore turn in prayer to your Lord and sacrifice (to Him only)." [Sûrah al-Kawthar 108:2]
This verse is a command and a command implies obligation. Also, it is repeated in the Sahîhayn (i.e. Sahîh al-Bukharî and Sahîh Muslim) from Jundub (radhi allahu anhu), "The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: "Whoever slaughtered his sacrifice before he prays, let him slaughter another one in its place, and whoever did not slaughter a sacrifice, let him do so in the name of Allah." [Sahîh Muslim vol. 3, no: 4818-21]
and: "Whoever can afford to offer a sacrifice but does not do so, let him not approach our place or prayer."
The Principle of Udhiyah (Qurbani)
The basic rule of Udhiyah is that sacrifice is required at an appointed time from one who is alive, on behalf of himself or on behalf of his household. With regards to Udhiyah of a deceased person, if he has bequeathed up to one third of his wealth for the purpose of sacrifice or included it in his Waqf (endowment), then his wishes must be carried out. Otherwise, offering sacrifice on behalf of the deceased is a good deed and it is considered to be giving charity on behalf of the dead.
Animals prescribed for Udhiyah are camels, cattle and sheep. With regards to sharing a sacrifice, then a camel or a cow can be shared by seven people, this is based on the narration of Jabir (radhi allahu anhu), who said: "The Messenger of Allâh (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) commanded us to share camels and cattle, each seven men sharing one animal." [Sahîh Muslim v: 2, p. 662, no. 3024]
If a sheep, a goat or a ram is offered for Udhiyah, then sharing is not allowed, since no evidence is found in the Sunnah for it. It should be mentioned here that the scholars agree that sacrificing an animal and giving its meat in charity is better than giving its value in charity. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) chose to perform sacrifice and he did not do anything but that which is best and most befitting. This refutes the saying of those who say that today people need money more than they need food; therefore it is better to give the money rather then sacrifice an animal.
From the conditions of Udhiyah is that the animal offered for sacrifice must have reached the required age, one year for a goat, two years for a cow and five years for a camel. The animal should be completely free of any faults because sacrifice is an act of worship and Allah is Tayyib and He only accepts that which is Tayyib.
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: "There are four that will not be accepted for sacrifice: a one-eyed animal whose defect is obvious, a sick animal whose sickness is obvious, a lame animal whose limp is obvious and an emaciated animal that has no marrow in its bones." [(Sahîh) by Shaikh al-Albanî in Sahîh al-Jamî no. 886]”
Milder defects do not disqualify an animal, but it is Makrooh to sacrifice such animals, for e.g. animal with a horn or ear missing, or an animal with slits in its ears, etc. Whoever honours the rites of Allah; this has to do with the Taqwaa (piety and righteousness) of his heart.
The Sacrificial animal is not for sale. It is forbidden to sell the animal chosen for sacrifice, except for a better exchange. If it gives birth to an offspring, the offspring must be sacrificed along with it. It is permissible to ride the animal. Narrated Abu Hurayrah (radhi allahu anhu), the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) saw a man leading his camel. He (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: "Ride it." The man replied: "It (the animal) is for sacrifice." The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: "Ride it." A second or a third time." [Sahîh Muslim vol: 2, no: 3046]
Prescribed time for sacrifice
The animal can be sacrificed after the Eid prayer and the Khutbah (not when the Khutbah or the prayer starts) until before the sunset of the last day of Tashrîq, which is 13th Dhul-Hijjah. Rasulullah SAW said: "Whoever sacrifices before the prayer let him repeat it." [Sahîh Muslim vol: 3, p. 1084, no: 4818]
It is related from Ali RA "The days of Nahr (sacrifice) are the day of al-Adha and the three days following it."
Slaughtering the animal with one's own hands is better, but if one does not do so, it is Mustahab (liked, preferable) for him to be present at the time of slaughtering. Anas RA reported that Rasulullah SAW sacrificed with his own hands, two horned rams with black markings, reciting the name of Allah and glorifying Him (saying Allâhu-Akbar). He placed his foot on their sides (while sacrificing). [Sahîh Muslim: vol. 3, p. 1087, no: 4841]
Eating from one's sacrifice is Mustahab (liked, preferable). It is also Mustahab for him, who performs a Udhiyah, not to eat before he offers his sacrifice; he should break his fast with the meat of his sacrifice the prayer. Rasulullah SAW: Let every man eat from his sacrifice." [(Sahîh) by Shaikh al-Albanî in Sahîh a-Jamî no: 5349]
Buraidah RA reported: " Rasulullah SAW would not go out on the day of breaking the fast (Eid al-Fitr) until he had eaten, and on the day of sacrifice (Eid al Adha) he would not eat until he had returned [from Salaah]" This is related by at-Tirmidhî and Ibn Majah and also by Sunan Ad-Dâramî who added: "And he would eat from his sacrifice." [Sharah as-Sunnah, vol. 4, p. 306]
Dividing the meat into three is Mustahab (liked, preferable), one-third to keep for oneself, one-third to be given as gifts and one-third to be given in charity. This was the opinion of Ibn Mas'ûd RA and Ibn Umar. [(Sahîh) by Shaikh al-Albanî in Sunan Ibn Majah vol: 2, p: 203, no: 2546]
Selling any part of the sacrificed animal is prohibited
Scholars agree that it is not permissible to sell anything from the sacrificed animal's meat, skin or fat. Rasulullah SAW said: "Whoever sells the skin of his Udhiyah, there is no Udhiyah for him (i.e. his sacrifice is not counted)." [(Hasan) by Shaikh al-Albanî in Sahîh al-Jamî, no: 6118]
The butcher should not be given anything from the sacrifice, by way of reward or payment. Ali RA said: " Rasulullah SAW commanded me to take care of the sacrifice and to give its meat, skin and raiment (covering used for protection) in charity, and not to give anything of it to the butcher as compensation. He said: 'We will give him something from what we have.'" [(Agreed upon). Sahîh Muslim, vol: 2, no: 3019]
"It was said that it is permissible to give the butcher something as a gift. It is also permissible to give some of it to a Kafir, if he is poor or a relative or a neighbour, in order to open his heart to Islam." [Fatawa Shaikh Abd al-Azîz Ibn Bâz] "IF ANY OF YOU WANTS TO OFFER UDHIYAH…"
CUTTING OF THE HAIR AND NAILS
Umm Salamah RA related that the Rasulullah SAW said: "If you see the Hilâl (new moon) of Dhul-Hijjah, and any one of you wants to make a sacrifice, then he should not cut (anything) from his hair and his nails." and in one narration he said: "…then he should not take (cut) anything from his hair, nor from his nails, until he performs the sacrifice." [Sahîh Muslim]. Anyone who does any of the above-mentioned acts deliberately then he should seek forgiveness from Allah, but there is no report for any compensation.
If the hairs or nails cause harm to a person, like a broken nail, or a hair on the place of wound, then he is permitted to cut it. It should be mentioned here that both men and women can wash their hairs, because Rasulullah SAW only forbade cutting of the hairs and not washing them. There is no harm in washing the head, or scratching it, even if some hairs may fall out.
If a person cuts his hairs or nails because he did not intend to perform a sacrifice and then later decides to slaughter an Udhiyah (in the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah), then he should refrain from cutting them from the time he intends to perform a sacrifice. In the case, when a person does not intend to perform a sacrifice but he later plans to perform Hajj, then he should also not cut his nails or hairs because the cutting is only permitted in times of necessity. But if he is performing Hajj Tamattu (a form of Hajj, whereby the Hajj and Umrah are combined but separate Ihram is made for Umrah and a new Ihram is made for the Hajj), then he should trim his hairs after the Umrah because it is a part of the ritual.
Scholars mention that the wisdom behind this prohibition is so that he may resemble those in Ihram in some aspects of the rituals and the one who sacrifice may draw nearer to Allah by offering his sacrifice. "…and do not shave your heads until the Hadî (sacrifice) reaches the place of sacrifice…" Therefore, he leaves his hairs and nails along until the time when he offers his sacrifice in hope that Allah will save him form the Fire. And Allah knows best.
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