Qurbani - Sacrifice in Islam

THE QURBANI ANIMAL

The animal that is being sacrificed for Qurbani should be respected and treated in the best possible manner. The Qurbani animal must qualify in terms of specification, quality, age and being free from defects. The following domesticated animals are permitted for Qurbani:

Animal  Age

• goat/sheep/ram              1 year or older
• bull/buffalo/cow/ox        2 years or older
• camel                              5 years or older

Animals younger than the prescribed age are not suitable for Qurbani A sheep that is more than six months old but less than a year, and physically appears to be a year old will suffice for Qurbani. A cow, bull, buffalo or camel will suffice for seven persons provided no single share is less than one seventh and the intention of all partners is to attain reward and not merely to benefit from the meat.

Animals chosen for Qurbani should be healthy and free from defects. Animals with Defects

The following animals are not suitable for Qurbani:

1. An animal whose horn/s has been broken off from the root. However, an animal born without horns or if the horns are broken off but not from the root is suitable for Qurbani.

2. An animal that has lost its sight, has one eye only or has lost more than one-third of its vision.

3. An animal that is born without ears or lost more than a third of the ear.

4. An animal that limps and walks on three legs and cannot put the injured (fourth) leg onto the ground, or that it can put the injured leg onto the ground, but is unable to walk on it. However, if it is unable to walk on it, but can still take support from it, then Qurbani is permitted with such an animal.

5. Animals that are so lean and thin that their bones have no marrow.

6. If an animal gets injured while slaughtering, e.g. breaks its leg, ear gets cut etc., the Qurbani will be valid.

7. If an animal was bought in a healthy and perfect state and thereafter became unfit for Qurbani then,

• If the owner is not wealthy (possessor of nisab) it will be permissible to offer this animal for Qurbani.
• If the owner is wealthy (possesses the nisab), then it is compulsory for him to obtain another animal.

Method of Slaughtering an Animal

Every care should be taken to slaughter the animal without subjecting it to  unnecessary pain and torture. The following pertinent points are to be kept in mind:

• The knife must be sharp so that it slits the throat swiftly, without causing undue pain to the animal.
• The knife should not be sharpened in the presence of the animals.
• The animal should not be slaughtered whilst it is hungry and thirsty.
• The animal should not be dragged along to the place of slaughter.
• The animal should be slaughtered at a place where other animals cannot witness the slaughter.
• It should be laid on the ground with ease and slaughtered without delay.
• The animal should not be slaughtered with such a force that its head is severed,or the knife reaches the spinal cord.
• It is incorrect to slaughter the animal above the neck because it causes the animal too much pain and agony.
• After slaughtering, the head should not be cut off nor should the animal be skinned until the body is cold (lifeless).
• The Qurbani animal should be placed on its left side facing the Qiblah and the following dua should be recited before slaughtering the animal:

Inni wajjah tu wajhiya lillazi fataras samawati wal arda haneefaw wama ana minal mushrikeen – 

Inna salati wanusuki wa mahyaya wa mamati lillahi rabbil alameen – 

La shareekalah wa bizalika umirtu wa ana awwalul muslimeen

"For me I have set my face firmly and truly towards Him Who created the heavens end the earth. And never shall I associate partners with Allah. Verily my worship, my sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds. O Allah this sacrifice is from you and is for you."

• When slaughtering the animal recite: Bismillahi Allahu Akbar. (In the name of Allah - Allah is the Greatest) Du'aa to be read after zabah (slaughter):

Allahumma taqabbalhu minni kama taqabbalta min habeebika Muhammadin wa 

Khaleelika Ibrahim alayhimas salam

“O Allah accept from me this sacrifice like You have accepted from Your beloved

Muhammad and Your friend Ibrahim peace be upon them.”

The Meat of the Sacrificed Animal

It is advisable but not compulsory to apportion the Qurbani animal into three parts. One part for one's family, another may be distributed among friends and relatives and the third to the poor and needy. It is permissible to keep all the meat for oneself.

The meat of the animal which has more than one share should be distributed by weighing it and not by estimation unless the head, feet and skin form part or the distributed shares.

• It is unlawful to sell the Qurbani meat.
• It is not permissible to tender the skin or meat as payment to the slaughterer (or skinner). Their fees should be paid separately.
• The meat of the voluntary (nafl) Qurbani, made on behalf of a deceased person may be eaten by all.
• Qurbani meat may be consumed by oneself and may be served to others, e.g. at a Walima.
• It is permissible to utilize the skin for one's personal use, e.g. as a Musalla or a leather pouch. However, if the skin is sold, it is not permissible to use the income thereof. It is Wajib to give it in charity.

Reference: Sahih Muslim,Sunanus Sughra lil Baihaqi, Mishkat, I'laaus Sunan, Sunan Ibn Majah, Tanweerul Absaar, Bazlul Majhood, Raddul Muhtar, Ad Durrul Mukhtar

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 ETIQUETTE AND MANNERS

Eidul Azha and Qurbani Points to Remember A Staff Writer Safe disposal of waste should be the foremost concern for all those who decide to go for sacrifice of animals in cities and towns. Eidul Azha is upon us. Soon after this issue reaches your hands, you will be celebrating the only second festival recommended by Islam i.e., Eidul Azha or to simply call it Bakrid. It is important to remember that we live in a multi-religious and culturally plural country in which power-wielding elite are mainly vegetarian. Even those among them who consume meat dishes, detest being associated with any activity involving processing of meat. It is therefore imperative that the main event i.e., sacrifice of the animals is performed in a manner that it does not hurt the sensitivities of the fellow countrymen. Care must be taken in transporting and keeping the animals in the cities. Since cities in India lack wide spaces, it is better if the sacrifice is carried out only in rural area or slaughterhouses and meat is distributed among the needy and the relatives from there. Animals should not be tied in the streets and sacrifice should at no cost be carried out in open. Droppings and urine spread putrid smell in the air. Proper sanitation is therefore prerequisite for any place designated for safekeeping of animals prior to sacrifice. Children should not roam dragging these animals in the street before the sacrifice. The animals should be slaughtered at homes only if the houses are big enough to accommodate the entire processing. The blood and wastages should be disposed off in a manner that neither it fouls the air nor stains the streets and exteriors of the houses. The entrails and offal of the animals should not be allowed to rot in the open air. Bones should not be cast outside, lest they entice dogs, cats, and kites. Blood of the animals should be let out only in the covered sewerage, not in the open gutters where it will attract the notice of the passersby or the dogs. Women must avoid drying the strands of leftover meat over the laundry wires on terraces as they emit smell and invite kites and crows. Skins of the animals should not be left in the verandah in wait for the personnel appointed for their collection. It should be neatly packed in bags and dispatched to such collection centres. Carcasses of slaughtered animals should not be carted over in open pushcarts as public view of the slaughtered animals offends sensitivities. It is preferable to opt for collective (mushtarka) qurbani which takes care of safe disposal of waste and hygienic processing of the meat. Source