Source: Aḥkām wa Masā’il: In Light of the Qur’an and Sunnah by Shaykh Mubashshir Ahmad Rabbānī
Can the sacrificial animal for Eid al-Adḥā be slaughtered before the Eid prayer?
I asked a certain scholar who said: “Since Eid prayer is not valid in villages, the sacrifice is valid before prayer.” Another scholar gave a similar fatwa. Kindly clarify this matter in the light of the Qur’an and Sunnah.
Slaughtering the animal before Eid prayer does not fulfill the obligation of Qurbānī (sacrifice). This is clearly established by authentic ḥadīth of the Prophet ﷺ.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever slaughters the animal before the prayer has only offered meat for himself, but whoever slaughters after the prayer has completed his sacrifice and followed the way of the Muslims.”
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī – Kitāb al-Aḍāḥī, Bāb Qawl al-Nabī ﷺ li Abī Burdah…: ḥadīth 5556
✧ The wording of the ḥadīth is general — it applies to both cities and villages.
✧ To restrict this ruling to urban areas only would require clear and authentic evidence, which does not exist.
✧ Therefore, the view that villagers can offer the sacrifice before Eid prayer due to the supposed "non-obligation" of Eid in rural areas is unfounded.
Some Ḥanafī jurists argue:
“Eid is only obligatory on those upon whom Jumuʿah is obligatory.”
al-Hidāyah al-Awwalīn, p. 171
And regarding Jumuʿah:
“Jumuʿah is valid only in large cities or city mosques. It is not valid in small towns or villages.”
al-Hidāyah al-Awwalīn, p. 128
These statements indicate that, according to this school of thought, neither Jumuʿah nor Eid is valid in villages — but this view is invalid and contradicted by authentic evidence.
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَاةِ مِن يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْا إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَذَرُوا الْبَيْعَ﴾
“O you who believe! When the call is proclaimed for the prayer on the Day of Jumuʿah, hasten to the remembrance of Allah and leave off trade. That is better for you, if only you knew.”
[Surah al-Jumuʿah: 9]
This command is general, addressing all believers — whether in large cities, small towns, or rural villages.
There is no evidence in the Qur’an or Sunnah to restrict this command to only urban residents.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“After the Prophet's Mosque, the first Jumuʿah prayer was offered in the mosque of ʿAbd al-Qays in a village called Jawāthā in Bahrain.”
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī – Kitāb al-Jumuʿah, Bāb al-Jumuʿah fī al-Qurā wa al-Mudun: ḥadīth 893 / 1381
Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar رحمه الله writes in explanation:
“According to one narration, it was a village in Bahrain; according to another, it belonged to the tribe of ʿAbd al-Qays.”
This proves:
✔ Jumuʿah prayer was offered in villages,
✔ With the approval of the Prophet ﷺ,
✔ The Companions never initiated a religious practice without prophetic instruction, especially during the era of revelation.
If Jumuʿah in villages was incorrect, a Qur’anic revelation or prophetic correction would have occurred, as was the case in other matters.
✔ Slaughtering before Eid prayer is invalid and does not fulfill the obligation of Qurbānī, regardless of whether one resides in a village or city.
✔ The Eid prayer is valid and legislated in both cities and villages.
✔ Any opinion to the contrary has no sound basis in the Qur’an or Sunnah.
✔ Such misconceptions stem from weak reasoning or outdated jurisprudential views which are contradicted by authentic texts.
❖ Question:
Can the sacrificial animal for Eid al-Adḥā be slaughtered before the Eid prayer?
I asked a certain scholar who said: “Since Eid prayer is not valid in villages, the sacrifice is valid before prayer.” Another scholar gave a similar fatwa. Kindly clarify this matter in the light of the Qur’an and Sunnah.
✿ Answer:
Slaughtering the animal before Eid prayer does not fulfill the obligation of Qurbānī (sacrifice). This is clearly established by authentic ḥadīth of the Prophet ﷺ.
◈ Hadith Evidence
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever slaughters the animal before the prayer has only offered meat for himself, but whoever slaughters after the prayer has completed his sacrifice and followed the way of the Muslims.”
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī – Kitāb al-Aḍāḥī, Bāb Qawl al-Nabī ﷺ li Abī Burdah…: ḥadīth 5556✧ The wording of the ḥadīth is general — it applies to both cities and villages.
✧ To restrict this ruling to urban areas only would require clear and authentic evidence, which does not exist.
✧ Therefore, the view that villagers can offer the sacrifice before Eid prayer due to the supposed "non-obligation" of Eid in rural areas is unfounded.
◈ Refuting the Ḥanafī Position on Eid and Jumuʿah in Villages
Some Ḥanafī jurists argue:
“Eid is only obligatory on those upon whom Jumuʿah is obligatory.”
al-Hidāyah al-Awwalīn, p. 171And regarding Jumuʿah:
“Jumuʿah is valid only in large cities or city mosques. It is not valid in small towns or villages.”
al-Hidāyah al-Awwalīn, p. 128 These statements indicate that, according to this school of thought, neither Jumuʿah nor Eid is valid in villages — but this view is invalid and contradicted by authentic evidence.◈ Qur’anic Refutation
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَاةِ مِن يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْا إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَذَرُوا الْبَيْعَ﴾
“O you who believe! When the call is proclaimed for the prayer on the Day of Jumuʿah, hasten to the remembrance of Allah and leave off trade. That is better for you, if only you knew.”
[Surah al-Jumuʿah: 9]This command is general, addressing all believers — whether in large cities, small towns, or rural villages.
There is no evidence in the Qur’an or Sunnah to restrict this command to only urban residents.
◈ Hadith Supporting Jumuʿah in Villages
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“After the Prophet's Mosque, the first Jumuʿah prayer was offered in the mosque of ʿAbd al-Qays in a village called Jawāthā in Bahrain.”
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī – Kitāb al-Jumuʿah, Bāb al-Jumuʿah fī al-Qurā wa al-Mudun: ḥadīth 893 / 1381Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar رحمه الله writes in explanation:
“According to one narration, it was a village in Bahrain; according to another, it belonged to the tribe of ʿAbd al-Qays.”
This proves:
✔ Jumuʿah prayer was offered in villages,
✔ With the approval of the Prophet ﷺ,
✔ The Companions never initiated a religious practice without prophetic instruction, especially during the era of revelation.
If Jumuʿah in villages was incorrect, a Qur’anic revelation or prophetic correction would have occurred, as was the case in other matters.
Conclusion
✔ Slaughtering before Eid prayer is invalid and does not fulfill the obligation of Qurbānī, regardless of whether one resides in a village or city.
✔ The Eid prayer is valid and legislated in both cities and villages.
✔ Any opinion to the contrary has no sound basis in the Qur’an or Sunnah.
✔ Such misconceptions stem from weak reasoning or outdated jurisprudential views which are contradicted by authentic texts.
