Days Righteous Deeds are More Beloved to Allah* [[-- Episode Four --]]

 *Days Righteous Deeds are More Beloved to Allah*

[[-- Episode Four --]]
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بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

As the Islamic calendar is based on the lunar calendar, Dhul Hijjah is anticipated to begin the night of June 6, 2024, with the sighting of the crescent moon.

Now,

Continuation of episode 1, 2 & 3 - as promised

*Established Practices Number 4:* The Sacrifice of Eid (Udhiyyah/Layyah)

The Ud’hiyah (sacrifice on ‘Eid Al-Adhā) is an emphasised Sunnah that is legislated for both men and women ― it is accepted from a man for himself and his household. Likewise, it is accepted from a woman for herself and her household. That is due to the fact that Prophet (PBUH) used to sacrifice two horned rams every year, they were white in colour mixed with some blackness. He sacrificed one ram for himself and his family ― and the other ram on behalf of those in his ummah who worship Allah alone yet were not able to sacrifice, as occurs in a report of At-Tirmidhi (no. 1504):

هَذَا عَمَّنْ لَمْ يُضَحِّ مِنْ أُمَّتِي

*“This is on behalf of those who did not sacrifice from my Ummah.”*

So,

The least one should sacrifice is one goat (or sheep or ram) and that will suffice him and his family.

Evidence:

Abu Ayyūb Al-Ansāri (r.a.) said: *“A man in the time of the Prophet (PBUH) would sacrifice one sheep for himself and his household ― they would eat from it and feed others.....”* 📚Ibn Mājah, no. 3147

Servants of Allah!

It is allowed for seven families (or seven people) to share in the sacrifice of a cow or camel.

Evidence:

Jābir bin Abdillāh (r.a.) said that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) stated:

الْبَقَرَةُ عَنْ سَبْعَةٍ وَالْجَزُورُ عَنْ سَبْعَةٍ

“A cow is shared between seven and a camel is shared between seven.” 📚Abu Dāwūd, no. 2808

Also,

The ud’hiyah (sacrifice) is to to be performed on the day of Nahr which is the first day of ‘Eid, 10th of Dhul-Hijjah and on the days of Tashreeq, i.e. 11th, 12th and 13th of Dhul-Hijjah. Yes. Any of these days is allowable for sacrifice. And the sacrifice is to be performed every year.

And,

The slaughtering cannot be performed before the Eid prayer.

Evidence:

Bukhāri and Muslim reported from Anas (ra) that the Prophet (PBUH) said: “The one who slaughtered before the ‘Eid prayer, then his sacrifice is not counted, rather it is merely meat that he had offered to his family.”

*Withholding from cutting hair and clipping nails:*

It is not allowed for the one offering the sacrifice to cut any of his/her hair or to clip their nails. This is due to the saying of the Prophet (PBUH): *“When the month of Dhul-Hijjah begins, and one of you intends to make a sacrifice (ud’hiyah), then let him or her not take anything from the hair of his body, or his nails until he has sacrificed.”* 📚(Muslim, no. 1977 from Umm Salamah)

And,

For this year time *for not cutting nails or hair* for whoever is intending to make sacrifice of animals begin on 6th, since the month of Dhul Hijjah is anticipated to begin the night of June 6, 2024, with the sighting of the crescent moon.

Now,

If a person forgetfully cuts their hair or nails, then they are not held accountable or sinful ― this also applies to the one who combs their hair, washes it, or scratches their scalp and hair falls out or if they pull away a broken nail―they are excused. However, if a person deliberately cuts any of the hair of his body, or clips his nails, then he has disobeyed the Messenger (PBUH) but it does not invalidate the sacrifice.

Also,

As for the one who is appointed to carry out the sacrifice on your behalf such as the butcher or another Muslim, then he is not prevented from cutting his hair or clipping his nails because he is not offering the sacrifice himself, rather he is only carrying out the sacrifice on someone else’s behalf.