Muslims are enjoined to sacrifice an animal in commemoration of Abraham’s attempt to sacrifice his son Ishmeal. In his bid to fulfill an order from Allah, in a dream he had where Allah instructed him to sacrifice his son, Allah in His infinite mercy substituted a ram in place of that sacrifice.
As a way of showing our gratitude for removing such heavy yoke from our subservience to Him, with ease of affordability we Muslims of later generations continue this ritual till the end of times.
Several livestock can be slaughtered in worship of Allah(swt)on the 10th day of DHUL-HIJJAH and any of the 3 days that follow it. It is not an obligatory act of worship, thus those who cannot afford the sacrifice are exempted from bothering with it.
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Only camels, cattle, sheep, or goats may be slaughtered. At the youngest, camels must be over five full years, cattle and goats over two full years, and sheep over one full year. It is a necessary condition that a sacrificial animal be free of any defects.
It is invalid to slaughter :-
– A lame animal
– A blind or one-eyed animal
– A sick animal
– An animal that is deranged by malnutrition or insane
– An animal that is mangy or scabrous
– An animal with an ear that has been cut off or a piece of it separated, even if not much.
– An animal missing a considerable part of the haunch or similar meat-be aring portion.
It is best to slaughter the animal oneself. If not, then it is obligatory to have someone else who can slaughter it properly. It is recommended to be present when it is done.
DISTRIBUTING THE MEAT
It is recommended that a third of the animal sacrificed be eaten, a third be given away, and a third be given as charity.
It is obligatory to give away some of the meat as charity, preferably raw, and preference be given to fellow Muslims whose household had no animal to sacrifice.
It is not permissible to sell the hide/skin or meat.
The size of your animal does not matter to Allah(Subhana wa ta ala), but your sincere intention of trying to please Allah with all acts of ibadah.
May Allah accept all our acts of ibadah. Amin.
Alh. Lukman Idris
