Its a trend nowadays for people to have their Qurbani/Udhiyah animal slaughtered by others, at some far off farm, or even abroad. Whilst there may be justifiable reason for some, one should consider the following:

Sayyiduna Buraydah (radiyallahu’anhu) reports that ‘Nabi (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) would not go for the ‘Eidul Fitr Salah without eating something. On the day of ‘Eidul Adha, he would not eat anything until he returned [from the ‘Eid Salah].’

(Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 542, Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, Hadith: 1426, Sahih Ibn Hibban, Hadith: 2812, Mustadrak Hakim, vol.1 pg.294)

 

Although this narration merely states that on the day of ‘Eidul Adha, Rasulullah (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) would not eat until after the Salah, the same Hadith appears with the following addition in Sunanud Daraqutni (Hadith: 1715) with the following words:

‘… On the day of ‘Eidul Adha, he would not eat anything until he returned [from the ‘Eid Salah], and eat from his animal of sacrifice.

 

Hafiz Ibnul Qattan (rahimahullah) has declared it as authentic (sahih)

(Bayanul Wahmi wal Iham, Hadith: 2531. Also see: Nasbur Rayah, Hadith: 2796 and Talkhisul Habir, vol.2 pg.84)

 

This version specifically mentions eating from the Qurbani animal.

Mention of eating from the liver of the Qurbani animal appears in a weak version of the same narration in As-Sunanul Kubra of Bayhaqi, vol.3 pg.283.

 

Despite its weakness, it can be used to understand which part of the animal was referred to in the above authentic narrations. Although one is at liberty to eat from any part of the animal.

 

Lessons

1. In light of these narrations, the Fuqaha (Jurists) have ruled it preferable (mustahabb) to let the first thing one eats on ‘Eidul Adha be from one’s own animal of sacrifice.

Those who assign their animals to be slaughtered by some far off farmer or abroad, and do not slaughter their animals themselves, or under their personal supervision, or locally, are actually deprived of this recommended deed…

2. Further, the rewards for personally slaughtering the animal are also lost to such people.

3. Such people don’t fully experience the spirit of Qurbani/Udhiyah as well.

4. Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:

’When Dhul Hijjah begins and a person intends to make Udhiyah (slaughter on ‘Eid day), then he should not remove hair nor clip his nails [until his animal is slaughtered].’

(Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 5090)

How would such a person practice on the above Hadith, when he doesn’t know on which day his animal is being slaughtered?

Strive for the ideal

As followers of Nabi Muhammad (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam), we should always be striving for the ideal Sunnah.

Experience shows that once a person begins to compromise on matters that seem trivial, it generally leads to the omission of other major practices.

May Allah Ta’ala remove the obstacles from those who are genuinely forced by circumstances to delegate their slaughter to others. Amin.

Fortunate indeed are those who get tawfiq to do it locally and personally.

2019/02/01