Monday, November 8, 2010

Udhiyah... Qurbani

Assalam-o-Alikum
The moon have been sighted, and DulHijjah have started. Inshallah I will be Performing Hajj this year. Kindly forgive me if i have hurt anyone intentionally or unintentionally, Kindly let me know if i owe anything to anyone. 
The word udhiyah means an animal of the 'an'aam class (i.e., camel, cow, sheep or goat) that is slaughtered during the days of Eid al-Adha because of the Eid and as an act of worship, intending to draw closer to Allaah thereby. 
This is one of the rituals of Islam prescribed in the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and according to the consensus of the Muslims. 

Evidence of Udhiyah from Quran and Sunnah: 

In the Qur'aan:

Allaah says in Chapter 108 Surah Al Kawthar Verse 2 (interpretation of the meaning):  
"Therefore turn in prayer to your Lord and sacrifice (to Him only)"

Also in Chapter 6, Surah Al Anaam Verse 162

"Say (O Muhammad): Verily, my Salaah (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allaah, the Lord of the 'Aalameen (mankind, jinn and all that exists).
He has no partner. And of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims"

The word nusuk (translated here as sacrifice) means sacrifice; this is the view of Sa'eed ibn Jubayr. And it was said that it means all acts of worship, including sacrifice, which is more comprehensive.  

Also in Chapter 22 Surah Al Hajj verse 34 Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

"And for every nation We have appointed religious ceremonies, that they may mention the Name of Allaah over the beast of cattle that He has given them for food. And your Ilaah (God) is One Ilaah (God Allaah), so you must submit to Him Alone (in Islam). And (O Muhammad) give glad tidings to the Mukhbitoon [those who obey Allaah with humility and are humble from among the true believers of Islamic Monotheism]"
[al-Hajj 22:34]  


In the Sunnah: 

1 – It was narrated in Saheeh al-Bukhaari (5558) and Saheeh Muslim (1966) that Anas ibn Maalik (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: "The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) sacrificed two white rams speckled with black. He slaughtered them with his own hand, said 'Allaahu akbar' and put his foot on their necks." 

2 – It was narrated that 'Abd-Allaah ibn 'Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: "The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) stayed in Madeenah for ten years, offering sacrifice (every year on Eid)." Narrated by Ahmad, 4935; al-Tirmidhi, 1507; classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 1475. 
3 – It was narrated from 'Uqbah ibn 'Aamir (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) shared out sacrificial animals amongst his companions, and 'Uqbah got a sheep that was six months old. He said, "O Messenger of Allaah, I got a sheep that is six months old." He said, "Offer it as a sacrifice." Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5547
4 – It was narrated from al-Baraa' ibn 'Aazib (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Whoever offers a sacrifice after the prayer has completed his rituals (of Eid) and has followed the way of the Muslims." Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5545


Best Type of Animal for Udhiyah

The best type of animals for udhiyah are: camels, then cows – if sacrificed on behalf of one person; then sheep; then goats; then one-seventh of a camel; then one-seventh of a cow. The best type of animals are those which are fat and have more meat, and are physically complete and good looking. 

Prophet Mohammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) used to sacrifice ram. According to the hadith of Abu Raafi' the freed slave of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) offered a sacrifice, he would buy two fat rams. According to one version, castrated rams. Narrated by Ahmad, classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Ibn Maajah, 3122. 


Conditions for Udhiyah

There are 6 conditions for Udhiyah.

1. Type of Animal

The animal must be of Anaam Class, i.e. Camel, Sheep, Goat, Cattle.

2. Age of Animal

It should have reached the age Stipulated by Shariah 
  • Sheep - six months; 
  • Goats - one year 
  • Cattle - two years; 
  • camels - five years
3. Health/Condition of Animal

It should be free from Defects. 

As per the Hadith in which when Prophet Mohammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) 
 was asked about what should be avoided in udhiyah, he gestured with his hand and said: "Four: a lame animal which is obviously lame, a one-eyed animal whose defect is obvious, a sick animal whose sickness is obvious, and an emaciated animal that no one would choose." Narrated by Maalik in al-Muwatta' from the hadeeth of al-Bara' ibn 'Aazib. According to a hadeeth narrated from him in al-Sunan, he said: "The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) stood up among us and said: 'There are four which are not permissible for sacrifice,'" and he mentioned something similar. Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Irwa' al-Ghaleel, 1148.

The animal must be free from the following defects

1 – An obvious defect in one eye, such as when the eye is sunken in its socket, or when it sticks out like a button, or is white and obviously defective. 
2 – Obvious sickness, whose symptoms are clearly apparent in the animal, such as fever that prevents it from grazing and causes loss of appetite; mange that obviously affects its flesh or its health; deep wounds that affect its health, and so on. 
3 – Obvious lameness, which prevents the animal from walking normally. 
4 – Emaciation that leaves no marrow in the bones,

These four faults render an animal unsuitable for sacrifice, and they include similar faults or more severe faults. So the following animals are also unsuitable for sacrifice: 
1-     One that is blind in both eyes.
2-     One that has eaten more than it can stand, until the danger has passed.
3-     One that has encountered difficulty in giving birth, until all danger has passed.
4-     One that has suffered something that could kill it, such as strangulation or a fall from a high place, until the danger has passed.
5-     One that is unable to walk because of a defect.
6-     One that has had one of its forelegs or hind legs cut off. 

4. Ownership of Animal

The animal must belong to the person sacrificing it. 

5. Rights to Sacrifice the animal

No one else should have any rights to the sacrificial animal; the sacrifice of an animal that is held in pledge is not valid.

6. Sacrificed on the time stipulated by Shareeah

The stipulated time of sacrifice starts after the Eid prayer and ends on the sunset of the last day of Al-Tashreeq which is 13th of Dulhijjah.

because of the hadeeth narrated by al-Bukhaari from al-Bara' ibn 'Aazib (may Allaah be pleased with him), according to which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Whoever slaughters (his sacrifice) before the prayer, it is meat that he has brought to his family, but that is not the sacrifice." And he narrated that Jundub ibn Sufyaan al-Bajali (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: "I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) saying, 'Whoever slaughters the sacrifice before he prays, let him replace it with another.'" And it was narrated that Nubayshah al-Hadhali (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: "The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: 'The days of al-Tashreeq are the days of eating, drinking and remembering Allaah.'" Narrated by Muslim. 

But if he has an excuse for delaying it beyond the days of Tashreeq, such as if the animal ran away, without there being any negligence on his part, and he could not find it until after the time was over, or he appointed someone else to slaughter it and that person forgot until the time was over, then there is nothing wrong with slaughtering it after the appointed time. This is by analogy with the one who sleeps and misses a prayer, or forgets it – he should pray it as soon as he wakes up or remember it. 
It is permissible to slaughter the udhiyah at any time, night or day, but it is better to slaughter it during the day, and it is better to slaughter on the day of Eid after the two khutbahs. Each day is better than the day that follows it, because that means that one is hastening to do good.
One animal is sufficient sacrifice for:

One sheep is sufficient as udhiyah for one man and his family and whoever he wants among the Muslims, because of the hadeeth of 'Aa'ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) who said that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) ordered that a ram with black legs, black belly and black (circles) round the eyes should be brought to him, so that he could sacrifice it. He said to 'Aa'ishah: "Give me the knife," and she did that. He took it, then he took the ram, placed it on the ground and then slaughtered it (i.e., prepared to slaughter it), saying: "In the name of Allaah, O Allaah, accept (this sacrifice) on behalf of Muhammad and the family of Muhammad and the ummah of Muhammad." Then he sacrificed it. 
Narrated by Muslim


one-seventh of a camel or Cow is equal to one sheep. 



Division of the Meat

Scholar differ about the division of the meat. however the best way is to divide it in 3 parts. Keep one part, Give one part to the rich as a gift and give one part to the poor as charity.

The part which is kept, can be stored until it is safe to do so. however it is not allowed to store any part for more than 3 days during famine. because of the hadeeth of Salamah ibn al-Akwa' (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Whoever among you offers a sacrifice should not have anything of it left in his house after three days." The following year, they said, "O Messenger of Allaah, should we do what we did last year?" He (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, "Eat some, give some to others and store some, for last year the people were having a hard time and I wanted you to help (the needy)." Agreed upon. 

The meat Can NOT be sold by the person who have sacrificed it. however if the person gives it to someone in charity or gift, the receiver have the right to sell it or eat it.


Offering Udhiyah on behalf of dead

There is nothing Wrong in doing so. Because evidence is found by the hadith of Prophet Mohammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him). Animal can be sacrificed on behalf of Living person, or Living and Dead person. but  it is NOT appreciated to single out an animal for sacrifice on behalf of dead person Alone. For Example sacrificing one sheep on behalf of dead Father or mother. It can be sacrificed for the living as well as the dead but NOT alone for the dead. Only for dead is not proven by Sunnah


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For Correction, Suggestions, Questions please post below


JazakAllah

Asim