The 10th of Zil Hajj is the date on which the Eid Al Adha festival of Sacrifice takes place, and it is a significant day in the Islamic calendar. It honors the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) to sacrifice his son in compliance with Allah’s directive. Muslims globally engage in the practice of Qurbani (Sacrifice) during this observance. Animals permitted for Qurbani are classified into two categories: smaller animals, such as sheep and goats, and larger animals, including cows and camels. Sheep and goats must be a minimum of one year old, cows must be at least two years old, and camels must be a minimum of five years old. The animals used for Qurbani must satisfy particular standards, including being healthy and devoid of abnormalities. This guarantees the selection of animals for Sacrifice during the Islamic holiday. The reward for each of these sacrificial animals is different.
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- Animal sacrifice is advised for all those who can afford it, accompanied by Sadaqa (charity) according to its value.
- Individuals may sacrifice one animal for themselves and their family or collaboratively with two or more individuals.
- The optimal time to do an animal sacrifice is post-sunrise on Eid al-Adha, following the completion of the Eid prayer.
- The sacrificial animal must be one of the three categories of livestock: camels, cattle, or sheep/goats.
- The requirements for mandatory animal sacrifice during Hajj are unrelated to Udhiya (Eid animal sacrifice).
- The sacrificial animal may be one-eyed, lame, ear-cropped, horn-broken, castrated, or skinny.
- The individual who sacrifices an animal may retain one-third for personal use or their family, while the remaining third can be bestowed upon any Muslim of their choosing.
- The skin of the slaughtered animal is advised to be donated as Sadaqa (charity), while the remaining one-third should be allocated to impoverished Muslims.
- Providing an Udhiya (Eid animal sacrifice) is sufficient in place of Aqīqa (recommended animal sacrifice for a baby).
- Offering a sacrifice for a deceased individual with the goal of Rajā (i.e., the prospect of receiving a reward) is not improper.
The Best Animals for Qurbani
- A camel is the most suitable animal for qurbani, then a cow, then a sheep, hissa in bakra(goat), and finally a one hissa of camel or one hissa in cow. in cow.
- Larger animals are expensive and yield greater meat, which is advantageous for the impoverished.
- The fattest and most costly animal is favored, particularly those wholly white or a combination of white and black.
- The animal's sex does not influence the quality of the Sacrifice.
- The best animals for Qurbani are well-fattened animals, possess abundant meat, exhibit physical completeness, and display aesthetic appeal.
The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): Characteristics and Sacrifice
- The Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) occasionally made the suboptimal choice out of compassion for his ummah.
- The messenger of Allah would sacrifice two horned rams, one white with black speckles.
- Sa’id al-Khudri asserted that the Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) sacrificed a male sheep with a black face, eyes, and legs that were entirely horned.
- Abu Rafi', the Holy Prophet’s (P.B.U.H) released enslaved person, observed that the Prophet would acquire two healthy rams for his sacrifice.
- Fat denotes an animal characterized by a substantial amount of fatty tissue and muscle, whereas castrated refers to one that has undergone the removal of its testicles.
Animals to Avoid in Qurbani
It is makruh to slaughter for sacrifice animals that have half or more of their horns or ears severed, exhibit crosswise or lengthwise slits, possess holes in their ears, are emaciated, have entirely removed horns, are completely blind, or do not follow the flock unless forced. Animals exhibiting such defects are likewise deemed makruh for Sacrifice, including those with half or more of their tails severed, a severed penis, missing teeth, or excised teats. When the nine previously mentioned points are combined with these five, the total number of fourteen makruh points is calculated.