This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Zubair Ali Zai Rahimahullah's book "Rules and Issues of Qurbani".
الحمد لله رب العالمين والصلوٰة والسلام على رسوله الامين ، اما بعد:
In this brief and comprehensive article, some rulings and issues of Qurbani are presented with evidence:
Qurbani is a confirmed Sunnah
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "Today (on Eid al-Adha) we will first perform the prayer, then return and offer the sacrifice. (InshaAllah) Whoever does this has followed our Sunnah, and whoever sacrifices before the prayer, his sacrifice is not valid."
Reference: (Sahih Bukhari, Book of the Sunnah of Sacrifice, Hadith No. 5545)
According to some scholars, sacrifice is obligatory, but they do not have any explicit evidence for this, while the hadith in Sahih Muslim
Reference: (1977, Taqreem Darussalam: 5119)
proves that sacrifice is not obligatory. Also, according to Sayyiduna Abu Bakr and Sayyiduna Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, sacrifice is not obligatory.
Reference: (See Ma'rifat al-Sunan wal-Athar 7/198, and its chain is Hasan)
❀ Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
"Sacrifice is Sunnah, not obligatory, and whoever has the ability, I do not like that he abandons it."
Reference: (Muwatta Imam Malik 487/2)
❀ Imam Shafi'i, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
"Sacrifice is Sunnah, and I do not like abandoning it."
Reference: (Kitab al-Umm 221/1)
It is established that on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, offering the sacrifice after the Eid prayer is a confirmed Sunnah, and not offering the sacrifice without a valid Shariah excuse is disliked.
Some deniers of hadith have denied the Sunnah status of sacrifice along with denying many essential beliefs and issues, whereas the proof of sacrifice is found in authentic, mutawatir hadiths and also in the Holy Quran.
Reference: (For example, see Surah As-Saffat: 107, Surah Al-Hajj: 32, Surah Al-An'am: 162)
Technical Meaning of Qurbani
Slaughtering an animal from بهيمة الأنعام (such as goat, sheep, cow, and camel) in a Shariah-compliant manner as a sacrifice and means of drawing closer to Allah after the Eid al-Adha prayer on the first day or during the days of sacrifice is called Qurbani.
Note: Whether in a city or a village, it is not permissible to perform Qurbani before the Eid prayer.
Important Conditions for the One Performing Qurbani
➊ It is essential that the person offering the sacrifice has the correct belief, is a Muslim following the Quran and Sunnah, and is free from polytheism, disbelief, and innovations. If one's belief is corrupted, none of their actions are acceptable. Keeping in mind the Quran, Hadith, and consensus, always take special care of your faith and actions.
Reference: For details, see the same book (p.99) Mu'adh
➋ The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "When you see the crescent of Dhu al-Hijjah and any of you intends to offer a sacrifice, he should refrain from cutting his hair and nails."
Reference: (Sahih Muslim: 1977)
From this Hadith, it is established that the person offering the sacrifice should not cut his hair or trim his nails from the first of Dhu al-Hijjah until the sacrifice is made.
If someone's nail breaks or there is some condition that makes it necessary to trim the nails, then it is permissible to do so, as established by consensus.
➌ In a Hadith, it is mentioned that a person asked the Prophet, peace be upon him: If I only get a female animal (one that gives milk) for sacrifice, should I offer its sacrifice? He said: "No, but you should cut your nails and hair, trim your mustache, and shave the pubic hair; then this will be your complete sacrifice in the sight of Allah."
Reference: (Sunan Abi Dawood: 2789, its chain is Hasan)
From this Hadith, it is understood that a person who does not have the means to offer a sacrifice, if he refrains from cutting his hair and nails from the first of Dhu al-Hijjah until the Eid prayer, then he receives the full reward of the sacrifice. SubhanAllah.
Purpose of Sacrifice
The purpose of sacrifice is to please Allah Almighty and to sincerely follow the pure Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, and, God willing, it will bring great reward.
Conditions of the Sacrificial Animal
What kind of animal should be sacrificed and what are its conditions? The details are presented in various points and numbers:
➊ Sacrifice is only permissible for a male animal (mandha), and if due to scarcity a male animal cannot be found, then the sacrifice of a one-year-old sheep (dumba) is permissible.
Reference: (See Sahih Muslim: 1963)
Scarcity means that despite full effort and search in the market and bazaar, a male animal cannot be found.
Reference: For details see the same book (p.103) Mu'adh
➋ It is proven from Hadith that the sacrifice of four types of animals is not permissible:
① Clearly blind animals
② Clearly sick animals
③ Clearly lame animals
④ And very weak animals that are just a skeleton of bones.
Reference: (Sunan Abi Dawood: 2802, and its chain is authentic)
Reference: For the response to objections regarding the authenticity of this narration, see the book (p.108) Mu'adh
➌ It is narrated from Sayyidina Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) forbade the sacrifice of an animal with broken horns.
Imam Saeed bin Al-Musayyib (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "An animal whose half or more of the horn is broken."
Reference: (Sunan Tirmidhi: 1504, and he said: Hasan Sahih)
In another narration from Sayyidina Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) commanded us: "Look at the eyes and ears (of the sacrificial animal)."
Reference: (Sunan Tirmidhi: 1503, and he said: Hasan Sahih)
There is consensus that the sacrifice of a blind animal is not permissible.
Reference: (Al-Majmu' Sharh Al-Muhadhdhab 404/8)
❀ Imam Khattabi (may Allah have mercy on him)
Reference: (died 388 AH)
said:"This Hadith indicates that minor defects in the sacrificial animal are excused."
Reference: (Ma'alim al-Sunan 199/2)
Ubaid bin Firooz (a Tabi'i) said to Sayyidina Bara bin Azib (may Allah be pleased with him): "I dislike an animal with a defect in its teeth."
He said: "Leave what you dislike and do not make it forbidden for others."
Reference: (Sunan Abi Dawood: 2803, and its chain is authentic)
Note: If there is a minor scratch on the horn of an animal or the upper cap of the horn is broken, then according to the narration of Imam Saeed bin Al-Musayyib (may Allah have mercy on him), its sacrifice is permissible.
Reference: (Also see Miscellaneous Issues, point number 8)
Skins of the Sacrifice
The skins of the sacrifice should be distributed among the poor, as proven by the Hadith of Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him).
Reference: (See Sahih Muslim: 1317)
It is not permissible to give the skins of the sacrifice as payment to the slaughterer or butcher, and similarly, it is not permissible but rather forbidden to give the meat of the sacrifice as payment.
Distribution of Meat
It is permissible to eat or store all the meat of the sacrifice oneself, and it is also permissible to divide it into three parts: one part for oneself, one part for the poor and needy, and one part for relatives and friends, which is even better.
Reference: (Also see Surah Al-Hajj, verse numbers 36, 28)
Shares and Partnership in the Sacrifice
Goat and lamb are only one share of a sheep, but for cow, bull, and camel, seven shares in a she-camel are proven from an authentic hadith, and from a good narration, ten shares in a camel and she-camel are also proven.
Reference: (For evidence see Sahih Muslim: 1318, Sunan Tirmidhi: 1501, and it is said: Hasan Gharib)
Warning:
Partnership in seven or ten shares can only be made with Muslims of correct belief, and one should never perform sacrifice with people of innovation, misguided, and misguiding people, nor does any act of such misguided people carry any weight; rather, all the deeds of such people will be rendered void and blown away in the air. InshaAllah.
Reference: For more details see the same book (pp. 100 to 102) Mu'adh
Miscellaneous Issues
Finally, several miscellaneous issues regarding sacrifice are presented in the form of points:
➊ It is proven from Sunnah to say Tasmiyah and Takbeer( بسم الله والله أكبر ) while slaughtering the animal.
Reference: (See Sahih Muslim: 1966, Sahih Bukhari: 5564)
It is also proven to recite only بسم الله.
Reference: (See Sahih Muslim: 1967)
➋ One sacrifice on behalf of the entire household is sufficient. Other members of the household can also perform sacrifices.
Reference: (Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 1505, and he said: Hasan Sahih)
➌ It is not proven to sacrifice on behalf of a deceased person, and the narration regarding this is weak due to the chain involving the co-judge and Hukm bin Utaybah being narrators of tadlis (concealing defects) and Abu al-Hasna being unknown. However, giving charity on behalf of the deceased is permissible, so if someone sacrifices on behalf of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ or any deceased person, all the meat, skin, etc., should be given as charity.
➍ It is permissible to buy the sacrificial animal beforehand and feed it to fatten it.
Reference: (See Taghleeq al-Ta'leeq 6/5, and its chain is authentic)
➎ It is permissible to perform sacrifice at the Eidgah, and it is also permissible to sacrifice outside the Eidgah, for example, at home or elsewhere.
Reference: (See Sahih Bukhari: 5551, 5552)
➏ It is Sunnah to slaughter the sacrificial animal oneself, and it is also permissible to have someone else slaughter it.
Reference: (See Muwatta Imam Malik, narration of Ibn al-Qasim al-Haqiqi: 145)
➐ If the animal intended for Sunnah or Nafl sacrifice is lost, it is up to the owner to either take another animal and sacrifice or not to sacrifice.
Reference: (See Al-Sunan al-Kubra 389/9, and its chain is authentic)
➑ Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Zubair رضي الله عنهما saw a one-eyed she-camel among the sacrificial animals and said: "If it became one-eyed after purchase, then sacrifice it, but if it was one-eyed before purchase, then replace it and sacrifice another she-camel."
Reference: (Al-Sunan al-Kubra by Al-Bayhaqi 389/9, and its chain is authentic)
It is established that if the sacrificial animal is purchased and then develops a defect, its sacrifice is permissible.
➒ If a person intending to sacrifice cuts his nails or hair and then sacrifices, his sacrifice will be valid but he will be sinful.
Reference: (Al-Sharh al-Ma'ani 430/3)
➓ If the sacrifice is done on behalf of another person, then at the time of slaughter, one should mention that this sacrifice is on his behalf.
Note: For detailed evidences and issues on this matter, see my book "Tahqiqi wa Ilmi Maqalat"
Reference: (211/2-219)
⓫ Sacrifice of a castrated animal is permissible, and there is no authentic evidence against its permissibility.
Reference: There is consensus of the majority of scholars on the permissibility of sacrificing a castrated animal, see the same book (p.106) [Mu'adh]
⓬ If a person is blessed by Allah with wealth, he can perform many sacrifices, and obviously, this act will benefit the poor, needy, and general Muslims.
⓭ Eating beef is completely halal and there is no risk of any disease except if a person is already ill. The narration that claims beef causes disease is weak and it is wrong to consider it authentic.
Reference: For beef and milk, see the same book (p.108) [Mu'adh]
⓮ Eating camel meat breaks wudu (ablution), as proven by the hadith in Sahih Muslim
Reference: (360)
, whereas eating other meats such as cow, goat, and sheep does not break wudu.⓯ The main purpose of sacrifice is to attain piety, so one should always fear Allah.
Reference: (See Surah Al-Hajj: 37)
⓰ It is not permissible to include the parts of Aqiqah in the sacrificial animal (e.g., cow), and remember that only the sacrifice of a goat or sheep is proven for Aqiqah: two for a boy and one for a girl. Aqiqah should be done separately and sacrifice separately.
Always protect yourself from lying, backbiting, gossiping, and all kinds of major sins, and pray that Allah accepts your and our deeds in His court. Ameen.
Reference: For further explanation of this issue, see the same book (p.107) Mu'adh
وما علينا إلا البلاغ
Reference: Maqalat 5/199
