Dear slaves of Allah,

The Adha ^Id is one of the great days of the year on which the pilgrim fulfils the obligations of Hajj. It is also recommended for the pilgrim to offer a sacrifice on that day, with the intention to gain rewards from Allah, the Exalted. This act is a regularly practised sunnah by the Prophet. Hence, the pilgrim and the non-pilgrim can practise this sunnah. This is evidenced in the ayah the meaning of which is:

[Perform the ^Id Prayer and offer a sacrifice seeking reward from Allah].

Also, Imam Muslim narrated from the route of Anas (may Allah reward him greatly) that when the Prophet (may Allah raise his rank) slaughtered two rams with horns, he slaughtered them by hand and said:  <<Bismillah, Allahu Akbar>>.

Also, Lady ^A’ishah related that the Prophet said: <<Purify yourself by offering a sacrifice, and know that every Muslim who offers a slaughtering seeking Allah’s rewards will earn rewards for the blood it sheds, the digested food in its stomach and its wool; rewards that will be presented in favour of that Muslim on the Day of Judgement>>.

Brothers in faith… how much are we in need of rewards to be placed in our scales and presented to us on the Day of Judgement? However, to earn these rewards one has to make a valid slaughter that requires the observation of certain conditions. Among them is to slaughter after the setting in of the time of the ^Id Prayer (on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah) and before the sunset of the third day of Tashriq (being the 13th of Dhul Hijjah).

And be aware my Muslim brothers, that it is not permissible to sell any part of the Udhiyyah. Moreover, it is not permissible to give the skin or the like to the slaughterer as a fee for slaughtering. It was related by Al-Bukhariyy and Muslim that Imam ^Aliyy said: “The Prophet, peace be upon him, assigned me to oversee the slaughtering of his camels as Udhiyah and ordered me to distribute its meat, skin and saddles to the poor, and to not give the slaughterer any piece of it as a fee for slaughtering.”

Udhiyah is only valid when the slaughtered animal is a camel, cattle, sheep or goat. Moreover, the slaughtered animal as Udhiyah must not have a blind eye or apparent sickness or apparent limp. So be cautious my dear Muslim brother.

Dear brothers in Islam, know that offering a sacrifice (Udhiyah), is the practice of Prophet Ibrahim ^alayhis-salam. When asked about the Udhiyah, Prophet Muhammad sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam said: <<It is the practice of your Father, Ibrahim>>. It is mentioned in the Holy Qur’an that Allah revealed to Prophet Ibrahim through a dream to slaughter his son Isma^il. Prophet Ibrahim knew that this was an order from Allah as the dreams of the Prophets are revelations from Allah. So, full of determination he set forth to fulfil the order of His Lord.

Prophet Ibrahim tried to slaughter his son but the knife did not cut the throat of Isma^il because Allah did not will for that incident of slaughtering to occur. Allah is the Creator of all existent things and the One Who controls all the creations; there is no Creator except Allah.

Verily, neither the knife creates the cutting nor does the human being by his movement. Ayah 2 of Suratul-Furqan means: [Allah created everything].

Allah knows by His Eternal Knowledge which does not increase, decrease or renew, the sincerity and total obedience of both the father and the son.

At this point, an angel told Prophet Ibrahim: “Oh Ibrahim, you have fulfilled the order of Allah!  Take this sacrifice instead of your son.”

Ibrahim looked up and saw Angel Jibril descending with a great ram to be slaughtered instead of his son Isma^il.

On this great occasion of Eid, it is important that you do the following:

  • Visit your relatives, give charity to the poor and orphans, and be especially kind to widows and those who are unhappy.
  • Visit the cemetery to recite verses of Qur’an for deceased Muslims and pray to Allah for them.
  • When you see your Muslim brothers, say to them: may Allah accept our good deeds.

And Allah knows best

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