EID-IL KABIR: ISLAMIC INJUNCTIONS

ISLAMIC INJUNCTION OF SACRIFICE OF ANIMAL AS ACT OF WORSHIP

As Muslims faithful prepare to celebrate this year’s Eid-el-Kabir to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s obedience to Allah, Sheikh Islam AB Muhammed, in this piece, writes on the Islamic injunction of slaughtering animals for the sole purpose of worshipping Allah.

“It is not their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah. It is your piety that reaches Him.” (Surat Hajj verse 37)

It is the fear of Allah (SWT) that is mentioned in the above verse that will assist a Muslim to be able to follow Allah’s injunctions and the Holy Prophet’s (SAW) way of doing things. This include sacrifice of animals for Eid-el-Kabir and for food.

On sacrifice of animals

The Almighty Allah instructed the Holy Prophet Muhammed (SAW) in the Glorious Qur’an, Chapter 108 verse 2 to “pray unto your God and sacrifice the animal.”

To start with, animals permissible for Eid-el-Kabir, which is to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s obedience to Allah’s command for him to sacrifice his son, Ismail, to Him (Allah), are ram, goat, sheep, cow and camel. For Muslims to get reward for sacrificing animals during the festival or any other Islamic festival, he must observe the following tenets:

He must proclaim the intention by mentioning the name of Allah, at least saying Bisimillahi, Allahu Akbar, meaning in the name of Allah, Allah is the greatest. A sharp knife must be used in cutting the jugular vein of the animal sharply to ensure continuous and free flow of blood from the animal. If the animals are killed by any other means apart from using sharp knife, for example, using gun or arrow, such animal must not be eaten. According to the Sharia, animals must be slaughtered with a sharp knife facing the Qibla. However, if for a reason this direction could not be faced, the Sharia permits that any other direction that is convenient can be faced, while such animal is Halal (allowed).

In the case of camel, however, a very sharp arrow must be used to kill it. Also, an arrow can be used to kill a cow if, for a reason, it is not convenient to use a knife.The Sharia permits such animal to be eaten. In case of camel, if it is killed with a sharp knife, its flesh is forbidden to be eaten.

If the knife being used to slaughter the sacrificial animal is not sharpened enough to cut the veins at once, such that the person slaughtering it lifted the knife up and finally completed the slaughtering, such an animal is forbidden to be eaten by Muslims. It should be thrown away. If cattle or poultry birds are killed in this manner, such becomes Haram.

If incidentally the animal is completely beheaded as a result of the sharpened object and the vigour of the person killing it, such an animal is accepted as long as the name of Allah is mentioned at the beginning.

The following items are permitted by Sharia to be used to slaughter animals, including poultry birds, in case of lack of or inability to get knife: Glass (very sharp), sharpened wood, sharpened sword, sharpened blade. We can also use metal, axe or sharpened arrow.

It must be noted that slaughtering animals for the purpose of making sacrifice to Allah, as stated above or for domestic consumption, must be properly done, making sure that the jugular veins are thoroughly cut, not at the back of the neck. Eating any animal not slaughtered directly from the neck is not permissible in Sharia. It is prescribed by the Sharia that the name of Allah should be mentioned completely before starting the act of slaughtering. However, if forgotten before killing the animal completely, the name of Allah can still be mentioned and the animal is halal. But, if completely forgotten until the knife is lifted, the animal becomes forbidden for Muslims to eat. Animals killed by mentioning names of idols or names of any other thing, person or even saints apart from that of Allah or combination of His names is forbidden.

Names of Allah that have to be mentioned when one intends to kill animal are Bisimillahi; Subuanalla; Allahu Akbar; Lau la wa lakuwata illabi lahi; Alhamdulilahi or at least Allah. As long as you mention one of these, kill the animal and it is fit for eating. It is also recommended that after mentioning one of these names of Allah, one should add Rabbana taqabbali mina, meaning “Oh Allah accept it from us.” This is meant not only for animals slaughtered for Eid-el-Kabir but also for all occasions, such as naming ceremony or Hadayah, animal slaughtered by Hujjaj (pilgrims performing Hajj) to atone for Hajj rite or  for marriage. The injunction holds also for animals or poultry birds meant for home use only.

Killing animal for any Islamic rite, according to the Sharia, must be done by Muslim faithful, man or woman by his/herself. But if he/she is unable to do this, he/she can hire someone who is knowledgeable to do it for him/her at a price. It is not compulsory to give such person out of the animal. It is good to get helpers to slaughter animals for a category of people including the blind, deaf and dumb as well as someone who does not know how to slaughter  animal properly. The Sharia forbids underaged and non-knowledgeable person to kill the animal. Also forbidden are drunkard; someone under the influence of alcohol; thug: haemaphrodite; an impotent man; an unbeliever or an uncircumcised person. However, the Sharia permits women having their menstruation to kill animal. It is also permitted for faithful with Janabah (sexual impurity), either male or female, to kill animal for worship.

The time recommended for slaughtering of animals for Eid-el Kabir starts from the sunrise, after observing the Eid prayer till the sun is about to set. The Sharia allows for three days to kill animals for Eid-el-Kabir. It is forbidden to kill animals in the night so as to avoid killing animals in wrong manners as well as to avoid inconveniencing the poor who are to be given from the flesh of the animal. But if it is for home consumption, it can be killed at anytime.

If Christians killed permissible animals for home consumption that is not for any of their festivals, Muslims can eat from such animals, but animal slaughtered by the Majuus is forbidden for Muslims to eat.

All these Islamic injunctions on domesticated animals are also applicable to non-domesticated animals that are accepted by Sharia for eating. There is no difference in their injunctions, including birds. Note that you can only consume  acceptable undomesticated animals in the bush.

Let it be stated that acquatic animals are acceptable to eat without having to slaughter them. Example of such animals are fish, among others.

Equally important here is the fact that Muslims are forbidden to eat pigs; hamstrung animals; animal that falls from a height and dies; animal gored to death by another animal; remnant of hunting animals like dogs; sacrificial animals by the unbelievers; animal that is killed by mentioning name of a sage e.g. Jesus Christ. For more on this see Qur’an 5 verse 3.

Animals that are recommended for worshipping Allah

The Holy Prophet (SAW) says that Allah is Holy and will not take anything unholy from any one. In view of this, any one who has the intention of slaughtering animals to worship Allah (SWT) must do so with the best intention devoid of any mundane motive. Also, he/she must buy animal that are fit and really worth it to use in worshipping our Creator. Animals that are recommended for worshipping Allah must be up to six-year-old camel, four-year-old cow, while a ram, goat or sheep should be, at least, a year old. Note that it is allowed for people up to seven in number to contribute money and buy bigger animal jointly.

On the other hand, the following animals are forbidden for worshipping Allah or for home consumption: a blind animal, either one or the two eyes; animal with any form of disease; deformed animal, either in the leg or any part of its body; emanciated animal; animal which tail is cut more than one-third, but if it is not up to one-third and the tail is healed, it is accepted; animal which lenght of its ears is torn over one-third, however, if it is not more than one-third it is acceptable; any animal that is deformed by accident and the lenght of its horn is broken up to over one-third. If it is not up to one-third and it is healed, it is allowed.

The Eid prayers

The Eid prayer consists of two rakats of Salat and it is performed between sunrise and noon. The Takbir, that is saying Allahu Akbar, is pronounced seven times in the first rakat, while it is said six times in the second. The prayer can be observed at any clean place that is spacious. In fact, we Muslims are blessed as, according to Prophet Muhammed (SAW), the surface of the earth is place of worship for the Ummah in as much as it is clear, devoid of any impurity.

However, the Schools of Jurispudence in Islam differ on the number of times Allahu Akbar can be pronounced in the Eid prayer. Imam Ahmad said it was related by Ibn Umar who said that he obseved Eid prayers behind Abu Hurayrah (RA) who prayed and mentioned Allahu Akbar seven times in the first rakat and six times in the second, which the great Sahaba (companion of the Holy Prophet) related that he saw the Prophet (SAW) prayed in the same manner.

Imam Shafiy’s opinion is that Allahu Akbar should be mentioned seven times after the first compulsory Allahu Akbar (Takbir Ihram) to make eight in the first rakat and six in the second.

Imam Abu Hanifah said that we should pronounce Allahu Akbar three times after Takbir Ihram to make four in the first rakah, while it should be pronounced three times in the second without raising our hands up. Ibn Abbas, Anas Ibn Malik, Sheikh Nawawiyy and Sayyid ibn Musayyib all agreed that the pronouncement should be nine times in each rakat.

Please note that all these submissions are correct and authentic but the most appropriate is the first one. This is in reference to the wife of the Prophet (SAW) that the first one is the best.