Sacrifice rules in the light of Quran and Sunnah

Sacrifice rules in the light of Quran and Sunnah

A sacrifice is an important act of worship. It is the means of attaining nearness to Allah. This is the blessed Sunnah of our father Ibrahim (PBUH). This Sunnah is performed by every able-bodied Muslim on the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah after the Eid prayers. Since the holy month of Dhu al-Hijjah has begun. And Eid-ul-Adha is also coming.

 On the occasion of this Eid, all Muslims sacrifice animals in the way of Allah. Therefore, we should know all the rules of sacrifice so that we can perform it according to the Sunnah. The commandments of sacrifice are as follows:

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(1) Slaughtering the sacrificial animal with one's own hands:

 The best thing is for a person to slaughter the sacrificial animal with his own hands. Hazrat Anas (RA) states that «ضَحَّى النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِكَبْشَيْنِ أَمْلَحَيْنِ أَقْرَنَيْنِ، ذَبَحَهُمَا بِيَدِهِ، وَسمَّى وَكَبَّرَ، وَوَضَعَ رِجْلَهُ عَلَى صِفَاحِهِمَا» The Prophet PBUH) sacrificed two black and white sheep with horns. He slaughtered them with his own hands. He recited Bismillah and said Takbir. And placed his feet on their necks. (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 5565)

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(2) Slaughtering someone:

  In the same way, a person can have an animal slaughtered by anyone. Hazrat Ali (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) commanded me to look after the animals of his sacrifice. And I will give alms to their flesh, skins, and swings.

 And I will not give any of it (as a price) to the butcher. And say: «نَحْنُ نُعْطِيهِ مِنْ عِنْدِنَا» We will pay (the wages) on our behalf. (Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 1317)

From this hadith, we know that the Prophet (PBUH) had his sacrificial animals slaughtered by a butcher. And his wages were paid by himself. Furthermore, it is also known that we cannot give the meat of the sacrificial animal or its skin, etc. to the butcher as his wages. Rather, we will pay his wages separately.

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(3) Sacrifice by the whole family:

Living in the same house where food is cooked in one place, the sacrifice made by the head of the house is sufficient for the whole family.

 Hazrat Abu Ayyub Ansari (RA) states كَانَ الرَّجُلُ فِي عَهْدِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، يُضَحِّي بِالشَّاةِ عَنْهُ، وَعَنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ، فَيَأْكُلُونَ وَيُطْعِمُونَ۔ In the time of the Prophet, a man used to offer a sacrifice on behalf of himself and his family. He used to eat himself and also feed others. (Sunan Ibn Majah and his chain of transmission is correct. Hadith Number: 3147)

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(4) Where to run the knife while slaughtering?

When slaughtering an animal, the place to move the knife is the throat and the labbah. Hazrat Ibn Abbas (RA) states: «الذَّكَاةُ فِي الحَلْقِ وَاللَّبَّةِ» The place of slaughter is the throat and the labbah. (Sahih Al-Bukhari, before Hadith: 5510)

The throat is a breathing vein. And the "Labbah" is a light jug above the chest. That is, we must run a knife between these two places.

(5) What if the neck of the animal becomes detached while moving the knife?

We should sharpen our knife well before slaughtering. But if the knife became so sharp that the neck of the animal became detached from its body while slaughtering, there is nothing wrong with that.

Hazrat Anas (RA) states: «إِذَا قَطَعَ الرَّأْسَ فَلاَ بَأْسَ» There is no problem if the head of this animal is cut off. (Sahih Al-Bukhari, before Hadith: 5510)

(6) What if the baby comes out of the animal's stomach?

  If a baby comes out of the animal's stomach during slaughter (and it is dead), it can also be eaten. Because this is what we know from the edicts of the Prophet. As the following hadith will make clear to us.

Hazrat Abu Saeed (RA) narrates that when we asked the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) about the child that came out of the stomach of a slaughtered animal, the Prophet (PBUH) said: «كُلُوهُ إِنْ شِئْتُمْ، فَإِنَّ ذَكَاتَهُ، ذَكَاةُ أُمِّهِ» Eat if you want Because the slaughter of his mother is also the slaughter of him. (Sunan Ibn Majah and his chain of transmission is correct. Hadith No. 3199)

There is no need to slaughter a child if it is dead. But if a child comes out alive, then such a child must be slaughtered first. Furthermore, this hadith also shows us that we can sacrifice a pregnant woman.

(7) What if one forgets to recite Bismillah while slaughtering?

  If a person does not recite Bismillah while deliberately slaughtering an animal, then the sacrifice of such a person has no validity. But if a person forgets, there is forgiveness for such a person. As is clear from the Qur'anic verse.

Allah said: رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِنْ نَسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا Our Lord! If we forget or make a mistake, do not blame us. ”(Surat al-Baqara, 286)

(8) Can a non-Muslim be given sacrificial meat?

Muslims can give sacrifice meat to non-Muslims. There is nothing wrong with that. Allah said: فَكُلُوا مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا الْقَانِعَ وَالْمُعْتَرَّ۔Eat yourselves (from the sacrificial meat). Give to the needy who do not ask and give to the needy who ask. (Surat al-Hajj, verse no. 36)

With the help of Allah, we have explained the essential rules of sacrifice very briefly. May Allah help us to understand the religion. Praise be to God, Lord of the worlds.

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