Udhiyyah (sacrificing or offering) in Islam is something that is considered to be ‘Sunnah Mu’akidah’. This means that we should all be trying to perform this type of worship if possible, as it is an action that The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) established and continued to perform. We know that is is something that is legislated in Islam by way of Quran, where Allah said {Therefore turn in prayer to your Lord and sacrifice (to Him only).} [108:2]. It is also something that we know to be from the actions of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم). There are many different narrations about this, like that which Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said that “The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) sacrificed two white sheep that had two big horns each. He did it himself. He said Allah’s name over it and also said the takbeer (Allahu Akbar) and placed his foot on their sides” (related by al Bukhari).
You can offer a sheep that has completed the first year of its life and has begun it’s second year. We know this because Ahmad narrated that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said, “Offer the sheep that is in it’s second year because this is what is permissible.” You can also use a goat. You may also use a cow that has entered into it’s third year of life, or a camel that has begun its sixth year of its life. This is something that is know by the Ijmaa’ or consensus of the Scholars.
When we talk about more than one person trying to put their money together to purchase an animal. There are rules that need to be followed for this as well. For example, it is acceptable for seven people to come together and participate in the offering of a male or female camel. The same is true for coming together in trying to offer a cow. This is known because of the Hadeeth of Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) where he said, “We sacrificed with the Prophet the year of Hudaibiyyah a camel was sufficient for seven people and a cow was sufficient for seven people as well. The sheep though is only sufficient for one person.
There are four types of animals that are not acceptable to sacrifice. These are;
1. The one that is blind in one eye, so much that it is clear that it is blind or has lost its eyesight.
2. The one that is lame, so much that it is obvious.
3. The one that is sick and it is apparent that it is sick.
4. The one that is so skinny that is from either starvation or disease, that it’s problem is easily noticed.
A proof for the aforementioned is the statement of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) “Four types of animals are not permissible to be used as offerings; the blind that is noticeably, the sick which it’s sickness is noticeably, the one that is noticeably lame and the one that has a broken leg” (related by Abi Dawood).
It is completely permissible to offer an animal that has been castrated or has a broken horn. This is because neither of these things take away from the meat of the animal. The action of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) is used as proof for the permissibility of using these types of animals. You may not though sacrifice and animal that has it’s ear cut off nor it’s tail. This is because by doing these things you are actually taking away from the meat therefore some parts of that which can be eaten.
The time in which the sacrifice should be made is from the time of the Eid Prayer until the sun sets on the last of the days of Tashreeq. The days of Tashreeq are the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth of Dhil Hijjah.
There are five things that are recommended during the sacrifice itself. They are 1) Mentioning the name of Allah, 2) Sending prayers upon the Prophet, 3) Facing the qiblah, 4) Takbeer (saying Allahu Akbar) and 5)Making duaa that it be accepted. From the proofs of these things is that fact that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) was recorded as saying, “Bismillah and Allahu Akbar” (related by Muslim). There is another hadeeth where The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) sacrificed a sheep and when he did he said, “Bismillah, Oh Allah accept this from Muhammad, His family and His nation” (also related by Muslim).
There are different types of sacrifices. It is very important that we understand the different types. One of the reasons why is because the one that is sacrificing because of an oath or vow, then he is not to eat from the animal. The one that is sacrificing an animal because of him doing something that is only recommended for him to do, then he eats from the animal.
It is also important that we remember that it is not permissible for us to sell anything from the animal that was offered. As well, some of it should be given to the poor people, as we know this was from the Sunnah of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم).
There are just some of the rulings that we must take into consideration when we talk about partaking in this type of worship. And we ask Allah to accept from all of us our worship, and grant us success in both this life and the here-after. Allahuma ameen.
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