Eid Al Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, commemorates the act of obedience of Prophet Ebrahim to Almighty Allah's command that he should sacrifice his son, Esmail to Him (Allah), according to scholars.
Prophet Ebrahim, the Quran said, had a revelation that Allah commanded him to sacrifice his son to Him, and he informed the son, who told his father to carry out the command of Allah. It was while carrying out the wish of Allah that a ram was sent down to Prophet Ebrahim as a sacrifice for his son, Esmail. It is that act that Muslims celebrate till date to show submission to Allah.
The festival coincides with the final days of Haj, when millions of Muslims from all over the world converge on Makkah in Saudi Arabia to perform Haj pilgrimage, which is the fifth pillar of Islam.
On the days of sacrifice, Muslims, who have the means, are expected to slaughter sacrificial animals, such as ram, cow, camel, goat and sheep, but preferably ram, in commemoration of Prophet Ebrahim's sacrifice in obedience to Allah's directive.
The sacrificial animals are slaughtered and distributed among family members (one-third), friends, neighbours (one-third) and the needy (one-third), bringing joy to rich and poor alike.
Scholars say what Muslims do on each Eid Al Adha is to re-enact what was done by their forefather, Prophet Ebrahim, who named them Muslims as it is stated in the Quran.
Sacrificial animals are only symbolic, and scholars say what is most important for Muslims is the fear of Allah with which they slaughter the animals. The Quran says: "It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah, but it is piety from you that reaches Him. Thus have we made them (sacrificial animals) subject to you that you may magnify Allah for His Guidance to you."
Scholars add when Muslims re-enact Prophet Ebrahim's act of obedience to Allah, what they are doing in slaughtering sacrificial animals include killing the evils in them, their acts of disobedience to Allah, so that Allah will accept them to His mercies.
Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) said that every part of the sacrificial animal attracts rewards for the Muslim who sacrifices it for the sake of Allah.
Scholars are of the opinion that the best animal for the sacrifice is the ram, noting that seven Muslims can combine resources to buy a camel or a cow. However, other animals such as goat and sheep can also be sacrificed as well.
Slaughtering animals for the festival, according to scholars, is a true reflection of Allah's mercy for mankind as He subjugates the animals for man for his use as well as a source of nourishment. This is the reason those slaughtering animals for the Eid Al Adha ought to do so with absolute fear of Allah, bearing in mind that without Almighty Allah's permission no one will be able to kill any animals.
The earliest time to slaughter is after the Eid prayer and sermon; the latest time is the end of the second day of Tashreeq (the days following Eid). The slaughtering days, therefore, are three: the Eid and the two days following it, that is, 10, 11, and 12 Dhu Al Hijja.
According to the vast majority of scholars and imams, offering a sacrificial animal on Eid Al Adha by non-pilgrims is not considered as obligatory but only a highly recommended act. Imam Abu Hanifah, however, adopted the position that sacrifice is obligatory upon those who can afford to do it. All other scholars and jurists, including the Prophet's Companions, successors and others, do not consider sacrifice as obligatory but as a strongly recommended Sunnah (tradition) of the Prophet. Sacrifice for pilgrims depends on the form of Haj pilgrimage they are performing. If they are performing Haj alone, then sacrifice is not obligatory. If, on the other hand, they are performing Haj and Umrah, then sacrifice is obligatory for them.
A sacrificial animal should be healthy and free from all physical defects. A butcher may be given a portion of the meat in charity.
