Who should slaughter the sacrificial animal?
By the grace of Allah, four points are being presented on this matter:
➊ It is established from the pure Sunnah that the one who offers the sacrifice should slaughter his own animal. Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim have narrated from Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said:
”ضحى النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم بكبشين أملحين فرأيته واضعا قدمه على صفاحهما يسمي ويكبر فذبحهما بيده“
“The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) sacrificed two large rams. I saw him placing his foot on their sides while saying [Bismillah Allahu Akbar] and he slaughtered both with his own hands.”
The wording of the hadith is from Sahih al-Bukhari.
➋ It is also established from the pure Sunnah that seeking assistance from another person during the sacrifice is permissible. Imam Ahmad narrated from an Ansari person:
”عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه أضجع أضحيته ليذبحها فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم للرجل: أعني على ضحيتي فأعانه“
“The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was about to slaughter his sacrificial animal and he said to a man: ‘Help me in the sacrifice.’ The man assisted him.”
Hafiz Ibn Hajar has declared its narrators as [trustworthy].
Additionally, Imam Bukhari mentioned regarding Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both):
”وأعان رجل ابن عمر فى بدنته“
“A man assisted Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) in slaughtering a camel.”
➌ Slaughtering the sacrificial animal on behalf of another person is also established from the pure Sunnah. Imam Bukhari narrated from Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that she said:
”وضحى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عن نسائه بالبقر“
“And the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) sacrificed a cow on behalf of his wives.”
Imam Bukhari wrote the following title on this hadith:
(باب من ذبح ضحية غيره)
[Chapter concerning slaughtering the sacrifice on behalf of another person]
This is also indicated by the hadith narrated by Imam Muslim from Hazrat Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) regarding the Farewell Pilgrimage of the Prophet (peace be upon him), in which it is stated:
ثم انصرف إلى المنحر فنحر ثلاثا وستين بيده ثم أعطى رضی اللہ عنہ عليا فنحر ما غبر
“Then he went to the place of sacrifice. He slaughtered sixty-three sacrifices with his own hand, then gave the remaining to Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and he slaughtered them.”
Imam Nawawi wrote about this:
”وفيه استحباب ذبح المهدي هديه بنفسه وجواز الاستنابة فيه وذلك جائز بالإجماع“
“This means that it is recommended to slaughter the Hajj sacrifice oneself, and it is permissible to appoint someone else to slaughter on one’s behalf, and there is consensus on the permissibility of appointing a deputy.”
➍ It is permissible for a Muslim woman to slaughter her own sacrificial animal. Imam Bukhari mentioned:
”وأمر أبو موسى بناته أن يضحين بأيديهن“
“Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him) instructed his daughters to slaughter their own sacrifices.”
Allama Aini wrote:
”وَفِيهِ أَنَّ ذَبْحَ النِّسَاءِ نِسَاءَهُنَّ يَجُوزُ إِذَا كُنَّ يُحْسِنَّ الذبح“
“And the point is that if women have the skill to slaughter, then it is permissible for them to slaughter their own sacrificial animals.”
The permissibility of women slaughtering animals is also indicated by the hadith narrated by Imam Bukhari from Hazrat Ka’b bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that:
”أن امرأة ذبحت شاة بحجر فسئل النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم عن ذلك فأمر بأكلها“
“Indeed, a woman slaughtered a goat with a stone. It was asked from the Prophet (peace be upon him) about this, and he permitted her to eat it.”
