Zulhijjah: Eidul-Adha, Hajj, Sacrifice, etc.

By Mufti Taqi Usmani

- First Ten Days

- The 9th day of Zulhijjah
- The Fast of Youmul 'Arafah
- Takbir-ut-tashriq
- On the Eid day
- How to Perform Eid Prayers (Hanafi School)
- Khutbah: The Address of Eidul-Adha
- Sacrifice or Qurbani: Philosophy and Rules
- The Time of Qurbani
- Who is Required to Perform Qurbani?
- No Alternate for Qurbani
- The Animals of Qurbani
- Rules about Defective Animals
- The Sunnah Method of Qurbani
- Distribution of the Meat
- Hajj

Zulhijjah is the last month of the Islamic calendar. Literally, it means "hajj." Obviously, this name of the
month indicates that the great annual worship of "hajj" is performed in this month, which gives it
special significance. Some specific merits and rules relevant to this month are mentioned below:

First Ten Days

The first ten days of Zulhijjah are among the most magnificent days in Islamic calendar. The Holy
Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, has said, "One fast during these days is equal to the fasting of one
complete year, and the worship of one night during this period is equal to the worship in the"Lailatul-
Qadr".

Every Muslim should avail of this wonderful opportunity by performing during this period as
much Iba'dah (acts of worship) to Allah as he or she can.

The 9th day of Zulhijjah

The 9th day of Zulhijjah is called 'Youmul - "Arafah' (The Day of 'Arafah). This is the date when
the Hujjaj (Haji pilgrims, plural of Haajj) assemble on the plain of 'Arafat, six miles away from Makkah
al-Mukarramah, where they perform the most essential part of the prescribed duties of hajj, namely,
the 'Wuqoof of'Arafat (the stay in 'Arafat).

The Fast of Youmul 'Arafah

For those not performing hajj, it is mustahabb (desirable) to fast on this day according to their own
calendar. It sometimes occurs that 9th Zuihijjah falls on different days in different countries according
to the sighting of the moon. In such cases, Muslims of each country should observe 'Youmul
'Arafah according to the lunar dates of their own country.

For example, if 'Youmul 'Arafah' is being observed in Saudi Arabia on Friday, and in Pakistan on
Saturday, Pakistani Muslims should treat Saturday as'Youmul 'Arafah' and should fast on that day if
they desire to benefit from the fast of 'Youmul'Arafah'.
The fast of 'Youmul 'Arafah' has been emphasized by the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, as
a mustahabb (desirable) act. According to ahadith, the fast of this day becomes a cause, hopefully so, of
forgiveness for sins committed in one year.

Takbir-ut-tashriq
Beginning from the Fajr of the 9th Zulhijjah up to the 'Asr prayer of the 13th, it is obligatory on each
Muslim to recite the Takbir of Tashriq after every fard prayer in the following words.

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, La Ilaha Illallahu, Wallahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar wa lillahilhamd.

(There is no god but Allah and Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest and to Allah belongs all praise.)

According to authentic Islamic sources, it is obligatory on each Muslim, to recite this Takbir after

every fard salah. For women also, it is commendable though not obligatory. Whether you are
performing salah with Jama'ah (collectively) or on your own (individually) makes no difference. You
must recite the Takbir. However, male Muslims should recite it in a loud voice, while females should
recite it in a low voice.

On the Eid day
The following acts are sunnah on the day of Eidul- adha:

1. To wake up early in the morning.

2. To clean one's teeth with a miswak or brush

3. To take bath.

4. To put on one's best available clothes.

5. To use perfume.

6. Not to eat before the Eid prayer.

7. To recite the Takbir of Tashriq in a loud voice while going to the Eid prayer.

How to Perform Eid Prayers (Hanafi School)

The Eid prayer has two raka'at performed in the normal way, with the only addition of
six Takbirs, three of them in the beginning of the first raka'ah,and three of them just before ruku' in
the second raka'ah. The detailed way of performing the Eid prayer is as follows:

The Imam will begin the prayer without Adhan or iqamah. He will begin the prayer by
reciting Takbir of Tahrimah (Allahu Akbar). You should raise your hands up to the ears, and after
reciting the Takbir, you should set your hands on your navel. The Imam will give a little pause during
which you should recite Thana' (Subhanakallahumma .:.). After the completion
of Thana', the Imam will recite Takbir (Allahu Akbar) three times. At the first two calls of Takbir you
should raise your hands up to the ears, and after reciting Takbir (Allahu Akbar) in a low voice, should
bring your hands down and leave them earthwards. But, after the third Takbir, you should set them on
your navel as you do in the normal prayers.
After these three Takbirs, the Imam will recite the Holy Qur'an, which you should listen calmly and
quietly. The rest of the raka'ah will be performed in the normal way.

After rising for the second raka'ah, the Imam will begin the recitations from the Holy Qur'an during
which you should remain calm and quiet. When the Imam finishes his recitation, he will recite
three Takbirs once again, but this time it will be just before bowing down for ruku'. At each Takbir you
should raise your hands up to the ears, and after saying 'Allahu Akbar', bring them down and leave
them earthwards. After these three takbirs have been called and completed, the Imam will say
another takbir for bowing down into the ruku' position. At this takbir you need not raise your hands.
You just bow down for your ruku' saying, 'Allahu Akbar'. The rest of the salah will be performed in its
usual way.

Khutbah: The Address of Eidul-Adha

In this salah of Eid, Khutbah is a sunnah and is delivered after the salah, unlike
the salah of Jumu'ah where it is fard and is delivered before the salah.However, listening to
the khutbah of Eid salah is wajib or necessary and must be listened to in perfect peace and silence.

It is a sunnah that the Imam begins the first Khutbah by reciting takbir (Allahu Akbar) nine times and

the second Khutbah with reciting it seven times.

Note:

The way of Eid prayer described above is according to the Hanafi school of Muslim jurists. Some other
jurists, like Imam Shafi'i, have some other ways to perform it. They recite Takbir twelve times before
beginning the recitations of the Holy Qur'an in both the raka'at. This way is also permissible. If the
Imam, being of the Shafi'i school, follows this way, you can also follow him. Both ways are based on the
practice of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam.

Sacrifice or Qurbani: Philosophy and Rules

The Urdu and persian word Qurbani (Sacrificial slaughter) is derived from the Arabic word Qurban.
Lexically, it means an act performed to seek Allah's pleasure. Originally, the word Qurban included all
acts of charity because the purpose of charity is nothing but to seek Allah's pleasure. But, in precise
religious terminology, the word was later confined to the sacrifice of an animal slaughtered for the sake
of Allah.

The sacrifice of an animal has always been treated as a recognized form of worship in all religious
orders originating from a divine book. Even in pagan societies, the sacrifice of an animal is recognized
as a form of worship, but it is done in the name of some idols and not in the name of Allah, a practice
totally rejected by Islam.

In the Shari'ah of our beloved Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, the sacrifice of an animal has been
recognized as a form of worship only during three days of Zulhijjah, namely, the 10th, 1lth and 12th of
the month. This is to commemorate the unparalleled sacrifice offered by the Prophet Sayyidna Ibrahim,
Alayhi Salam, when he, in pursuance to a command of Allah conveyed to him in a dream, prepared
himself to slaughter his beloved son, Sayyidna Isma'il, Alayhi Salam, and actually did so but, Allah
Almighty, after testing his submission, sent down a sheep and saved his son from the logical fate of
slaughter. It is from that time onwards that the sacrifice of an animal became an obligatory duty to be
performed by every well to do Muslim.

Qurbani is a demonstration of total submission to Allah and a proof of complete obedience to Allah's
will or command. When a Muslim offers aQurbani, this is exactly what he intends to prove. Thus,
the Qurbani offered by a Muslim signifies that he is a slave of Allah at his best and that he would not
hesitate even for a moment, once he receives an absolute command from his Creator, to surrender
before it, to obey it willingly, even if it be at the price of his life and possessions. When a true and
perfect Muslim receives a command from Allah, he does not make his obedience dependent upon the
command's reasonability' as perceived through his limited understanding. He knows that Allah is All-
knowing, All-Wise and that his own reason cannot encompass the knowledge and wisdom underlying
the divine command. He, therefore, submits to the divine command, even if he cannot grasp the reason
or wisdom behind it.

This is exactly what the Prophet Ibrahim, Alayhi Salam, did. Apparently, there was no reason why a
father should slaughter his innocent son. But, when came the command from Allah, he never asked
about the reason for that command, nor did he hesitate to follow it. Even his minor son when asked by
his father about the dream he had seen, never questioned the legitimacy of the command, nor did he
pine or whine about it, nor did he ask for one good reason why he was being slaughtered. The one and
only response he made was:

'Father, do what you have been ordered to do. You shall find me, God willing, among the patient".

The present-day Qurbani is offered in memory of this great model of submission set before us by the
great father and the great son. So Qurbani must be offered in our time emulating the same ideal and
attitude of submission.

This, then, is the true philosophy of Qurbani. With this in mind, one can easily unveil the fallacy of
those who raise objections against Qurbani on the basis of economic calculations and depict it to be a
wastage of money, resources and livestock. Unable to see beyond mundane benefits, they cannot
understand the spirit Islam wants to plant and nourish among its followers, the spirit of total
submission to Allah's will which equips man with most superior qualities so necessary to keep humanity
in a state of lasting peace and welfare.

Qurbani is nothing but a powerful symbol of the required human conduct vis-a-vis the divine
commands, however "irrational" or "uneconomic" they may seem to be in their appearance. Thus, the
distrustful quest for mundane economic benefits behind Qurbani is, in fact, the negation of its real
philosophy and the very spirit underlying it.

No doubt, there are in every form of worship ordained by Allah, certain worldly benefits too, but they
are not the main purpose of these prescribed duties, nor should they be treated as a pre-condition to
submission and obedience. All acts of worship, including Qurbani, must be carried out with a spirit of
total submission to Allah, irrespective of their economic, social or political benefits. This is what
Ibrahim, Alayhi Salam, did, and this is what every true Muslim is required to do,

Keeping this in view, we are giving here some rules governing the worship of Qurbani in our Shari'ah
according to the Hanafi School.

The Time of Qurbani
Qurbani can only be performed during the three days of Eid, namely the 10th, Ilth and 12th of Zulhijjah.
It is only in these days that slaughtering of an animal is recognized as an act of worship.
No Qurbani can be performed in any other days of the year.

Although Qurbani is permissible on each of the three aforesaid days, yet it is preferable to perform it on
the first day i.e. the 10th of Zulhijjah.

No Qurbani is allowed before the Eid prayer is over. However, in small villages where the Eid prayer is
not to be performed, Qurbani can be offered' any time after the break of dawn on the 10th of Zulhijjah.
Qurbani can also be performed in the two nights following the Eid day, but it is more advisable to
perform it during daytime.

Who is Required to Perform Qurbani?

Every adult Muslim, male or female, who owns 613.35 grams of silver or its equivalent in money,
personal ornaments, stock-in-trade or any other form of wealth which is surplus to his basic needs, is
under an obligation to offer a Qurbani. Each adult member of a family who owns the above mentioned
amount must perform his own Qurbani separately. If the husband owns the required quantity, but the
wife does not, the Qurbani obligatory on the husband only and vice-versa. If both of them have the
prescribed amount of wealth, both should perform Qurbani separately.

If the adult children live with their parents, Qurbani is obligatory on each one of them possessing the
prescribed amount. The Qurbani offered by a husband for himself does not fulfil the obligation of his
wife, nor can the Qurbani offered by a father discharge his son or daughter from their obligation. Each
one of them should care for his own.

However, if a husband or a father, apart from offering his own Qurbani, gives another Qurbani on

behalf of his wife or his son, he can do so with their permission.

No Alternate for Qurbani
Some people think that instead of offering a Qurbani they should give its amount to some poor people
as charity. This attitude is totally wrong. Actually, there are different forms of worship obligatory on
Muslims. Each one of them has its own importance and none of them can stand for the other. It is not
permissible for a Muslim to perform salah instead of fasting in Ramadan, nor is it permissible for him
to give some charity instead of observing the obligatory Salah. Similarly, Qurbani is an independent
form of worship and this obligation cannot be discharged by spending money in charity.

However, if somebody, out of his ignorance or negligence, could not offer Qurbani on the three
prescribed days (10th, 1lth and 12th Zulhijjah) then, in that case only, he can give the price of
a Qurbani as sadaqah to those entitled to receive Zakah. But during the days
of Qurbani no Sadaqah can discharge the obligation.

The Animals of Qurbani

The following animals can be slaughtered to offer a Qurbani:

1. Goat, either male or female, of at least one year of age.

2. Sheep, either male or female, of at least six months of age.

3. Cow, ox buffalo of at least two years of age.

4. Camel, male or female, of at least five years of age.

One head of goat or sheep is enough only for one person's Qurbani. But as for all other animals like
cow, buffalo or camel, one head of each is equal to seven offerings thus allowing seven persons to
offer Qurbani jointly in one such animal.

If the seller of animal claims that the animal is of the recognized age and there is no apparent evidence
to the contrary; one can trust his statement and the sacrifice of such an animal is lawful.
Rules about Defective Animals
The following defective animals are not acceptable in Qurbani:

1. Blind, one eyed or lame animal.

2. An animal so emaciated that it cannot walk to its slaughtering place.

3. An animal with one-third part of the ear or the nose or the tail missing.

4. An animal that has no teeth at all, or the major number of its teeth are missing.

5. An animal born without ears.

The following animals are acceptable in Qurbani:

1. A castrated he - goat. (Rather, its Qurbani is more preferable).

2. An animal that has no horns, or its horns are broken. However, if the horns of an animal are
uprooted totally so as to create a defect in the brain, itsQurbani is not lawful.

3. An animal the missing part of whose ear, nose or tail is less than one third.

4. A sick or injured animal, unless it has some above mentioned defects rendering its Qurbani unlawful.

The Sunnah Method of Qurbani
It is more preferable for a Muslim to slaughter the animal of his Qurbani with his own hands. However,
if he is unable to slaughter the animal himself, or does not want to do so for some reason, he can
request another person to slaughter it on his behalf. In this case also, it is more preferable that he, at
least, be present at the time of slaughter. However, his absence at the time of slaughter does not render
the Qurbani invalid, if he has authorized the person who slaughtered the animal on his behalf. It is
a Sunnah to lay the animal with its face towards the Qiblah, and to recite the following verse of the Holy
Quran:

I, being upright, turn my face towards the One who has created the heavens and the earth, and I am not
among those who associate partners with Allah. ( Al-An'am, 6:79)

But the most essential recitation when slaughtering an animal is: Bismillah, Allahu
Akbar. (In the name of Allah, Allah is the greatest). If somebody intentionally avoids to
recite it when slaughtering an animal, it does not only make his Qurbani unlawful, but
also renders the animal haram, and it is not permissible to eat the meat of that animal.
However, if a person did not avoid this recitation intentionally, but he forgot to recite it
when slaughtering the animal, this mistake is forgiven and both the Qurbani and the
slaughter are lawful.

If somebody is unable to recite "Bismillah Allahu Akbar" in the Arabic language, he can recite the name
of Allah in his own language by saying, "In the name of Allah".

Distribution of the Meat

If an animal is sacrificed by more than one person, like cow or camel, its meat should be distributed
equally among its owners by weighing the meat strictly and not at random or by mere guess. Even if all
the partners agree on its distribution without weighing, it is still not permissible according toshari'ah.

However, if the actual weighing is not practicable due to some reason, and all the partners agree to
distribute the meat without weighing, distribution by guess can be done with the condition that each
share necessarily contains either a leg of the animal or some quantity of its liver.

Although the person offering a Qurbani can keep all its meat for his own use, yet, it is preferable to
distribute one-third among the poor, another one-third among his relatives and then, keep the rest for
his personal consumption.

All parts of the sacrificed animal can be used for personal benefit, but none can be sold, nor can be
given to the butcher as a part of his wages. If somebody has sold the meat of the Qurbani or its skin, he
must give the accrued price as sadaqah to a poor man who can receive Zakah.

Hajj
The most important way of worship performed in this month is "hajj", one of the five pillars of Islam.
The Muslims from every part of the world assemble in Arabia to perform this unique way of
worship. Hajj is a worship, which requires at least five days to be performed in its proper way. There are
detailed rules for different acts of hajj for which separate books are available, and the present article
does not aim at explaining all these details. However, some basic information about its obligation is
being given here:

1. Hajj is obligatory on every adult Muslim who can afford to go to Makkah during the hajj season,
whether on foot or by any other carriage.

2. If a person can travel to Makkah to perform hajj, but he cannot travel to Madinah, hajj is obligatory
on him also. He can perform hajj without visiting Madinah.

3. A Muslim woman cannot travel for hajj unless she is accompanied by a mahram (i.e. husband or

relative of a prohibited degree like son, father, brother etc.) If she does not find any mahram to
accompany her, hajj is not obligatory on her until she finds one. However, she must make a will that in
case she dies before performing hajj, his heirs should arrange for her hajj-e-badal out of her left over
property.

4. Hajj is obligated only once in one's life. After performing the obligatory hajj; one is not required to
perform it again. However, he can perform thenafl (optional hajj as many times as he or she wishes.)