Udh-hiyah is one of the great rituals of Islam. It is also one of the greatest acts of obedience which bring one closer to Allah The Almighty. It is a sign of sincere worship to Allah The Almighty and obedience to His commands and prohibitions. This is the rationale behind prescribing Udh-hiyah in Islam. The scholars mentioned the rulings relevant to Udh-hiyah which can be summarized in the following points:

Its Validity Under Sharee`ah (Islamic Legislation):

Udh-hiyah is a name for what is slaughtered of animals during the days of Nahr (the 10th day of Thul-Hijjah and the next three days) with the intention of worshipping Allah The Almighty. This act of worship is based on evidence from the Quran, the Sunnah (tradition) as well as the consensus.

Allah The Exalted Says (what means): {So pray to your Lord and sacrifice [to Him alone].} [Quran 108:2]

In a Hadeeth, the Prophet said: "He who slaughters after the (‘Eed) prayer has perfected his ritual and acted according to the Muslims' way." [Al-Bukhari]

It is also proved that the Prophet sacrificed two horned rams, black and white in color. He slaughtered them himself, mentioned the Name of Allah The Almighty over them, said Takbeer (saying: Allahu-Akbar) and put his foot on their necks. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

There is a consensus among Muslims that Udh-hiyah is valid under Sharee`ah and that it is one of the rituals of Islam.

Its Virtue:

There are many Ahadeeth (narrations) indicating the virtue and great reward of Udh-hiyah. Although such Ahadeeth do not reach the degree of authenticity, still the Udh-hiyah remain one of the rituals of Allah that should be exalted. It also features compliance to the Sunnah of the Prophet who constantly performed it and did not leave it.

Its Ruling:

According to the majority of scholars, Udh-hiyah is a confirmed Sunnah for those who can offer it. It was narrated on the authority of Umm Salamah that the Prophet said: "When the ten days (of Thul-Hijjah) come and one of you wants to offer the Udh-hiyah, he should not cut anything of his hair or nails." [Muslim]

The Prophet made it voluntary for the one who is competent for religious assignment either to offer it or not. Had it been obligatory, he would not have made it voluntary in the Hadeeth.

It was also proved that the Prophet offered the Udh-hiyah on behalf of Muslims who cannot offer it, as stated by At-Tirmithi and others . Consequently, it is not obligatory.

Some scholars, however, are of the view that Udh-hiyah is obligatory. They quote the following two Ahadeeth as evidence:

     *  “There is an Udh-hiyah due on each household.” [Ahmad]

     *  “Whoever is able to offer the Udh-hiyah and does not offer it, let him not approach our place of prayer.” [Ahmad]

Consequently, a Muslim should be prudent and not leave the Udh-hiyah when he can offer it, for this implies exaltation for Allah The Almighty and His remembrance. This also absolves one of liability.

Its Conditions:

There are several conditions for the Udh-hiyah to be valid and accepted:

     *  The sacrificial animals should be either camels, cows, sheep or goats. Allah The Exalted Says (what means): {And for all religion We have appointed a rite [of sacrifice] that they may mention the name of Allah over what He has provided for them of [sacrificial] animals….} [Quran 22:34] In a Hadeeth (narration), the Prophet said: “Do not slaughter except a mature (sacrifice); if it is difficult to find it, then you may slaughter a young ewe.” [Muslim] The mature sacrifice is from camels, cows or sheep that have reached the age stated by Sharee`ah (Islamic legislation). It was not reported that the Prophet sacrificed other types of animals nor commanded his Companions to do so. Consequently, it is obligatory to follow him.

     *  The sacrificial animal should have reached a certain age; as the Prophet said in the above-mentioned Hadeeth: “Do not slaughter but an old (sacrifice); if it is difficult to find it, then you may slaughter a young ewe.” [Muslim]

An old camel is the one that has completed five years. An old cow is the one that has completed two years. An old sheep is the one that has completed a year. A young sheep is the one that has completed six months. The best sacrifice is camels, then cows then sheep. A camel or cow is enough for seven persons. A sheep is enough only for one person. It is better for one to sacrifice an animal alone than to share with others in the same animal.

     *  It should be free of certain defects. Al-Baraa’ ibn ‘Aazib narrated, in a Marfoo‘ Hadeeth said: “The sacrifice of these four (animals) is not permissible: the one-eyed whose defect is obvious, the sick whose sickness is obvious, the lame whose limping is obvious and the broken (or the fleshless as in another narration) which is too weak to grow a brain.” [Abu Daawood, An-Nasaa’i, At-Tirmithi and Ibn Maajah]

There are some disliked defects that should be avoided in the sacrificial animal but they do not render the animal rejected, such as one whose horn, ear or tail is cut and similar cases.

It is better to choose a perfect animal in terms of fatness, abundance of flesh, beautiful appearance and expensive price. Allah The Exalted Says (what means): {That [is so]. And whoever honors the symbols of Allah -- indeed, it is from the piety of hearts.} [Quran 22:32] Commenting on the verse, Ibn ‘Abbaas said, “Honoring means choosing a fat, great and good animal.”

     *  It should be slaughtered in the prescribed fixed time under Sharee‘ah. It starts after the ‘Eed prayer if one stays in a place where that prayer is performed in congregation. As for a person who cannot perform the prayer due to a travel, etc., one should slaughter after leaving enough time for performing the prayer. If he slaughters before the prayer, it is just meat that he offers to his family.

In the Hadeeth narrated on the authority of Al-Baraa’ ibn ‘Aazib, the Prophet said: “The first thing we should do on this day of ours is to pray and then return and slaughter (our sacrifices). So anyone who does so has acted according to our Sunnah (way); and whoever slaughters before the prayer then it is just meat that he offers to his family and would not be considered as a sacrifice in any way….” [Al-Bukhari] In another narration, “Whoever slaughters before the prayer has only slaughtered for himself, and whoever slaughters after the prayer has perfected his ritual and fulfilled the Sunnah of Muslims.”

According to the sound view, the time of sacrifice lasts until the sunset of the last day of the days of Tashreeq, the 13th of Thul-Hijjah. This means that the period of slaughtering is four days. In a Hadeeth, the Prophet said: “Slaughtering is to be made in all days of Tashreeq.” [Ahmad. Al-Albaani: Hasan]

Slaughtering the Udh-hiyah:

It is better that one slaughters his Udh-hiyah by himself if he can do so, because slaughtering is an act of worship with which one draws himself near to Allah The Almighty. He is also permitted to delegate others to slaughter on his behalf. The Prophet slaughtered sixty-three camels with his hand and then delegated ‘Ali to slaughter the rest.

One should also adhere to the etiquettes of slaughtering, such as treating the animal mercifully, not prolonging its suffering, and facing the Qiblah (the direction of the Ka‘bah). When the Udh-hiyah is a camel, the Sunnah is to slaughter it (cut the jugular vein) while it is standing with its left foreleg tied. This is the meaning of the verse in which Allah The Exalted Says (what means): {….So mention the Name of Allah upon them when lined up [for sacrifice]…..} [Quran 22:36]

As for other animals, they are slaughtered while they are lying on their left side.

It is also recommended to put one's leg on the animal's neck and say, "Bismillaah, Allahu-Akbar (In the Name of Allah, Allah Is The Greatest)" and ask Allah The Almighty to accept it from him.

Only one Udh-hiyah is enough for a man and the members of his household even if they are many. It was narrated on the authority of Abu Ayyoob Al-Ansaari that he said: “During the lifetime of the Prophet a man used to sacrifice one sheep on his behalf and on behalf of his household. They used to eat some and give some (as charity).” [At-Tirmithi]

It is recommended for one who offers the Udh-hiyah to eat from it, give a part as a present and give a third part as charity. As for the quantity that should be given, the matter is flexible. Nevertheless, the chosen opinion of the scholars is that it should be divided into three thirds, one third is to be eaten, one third is to be given as a present and one third is to be given as charity.

It is forbidden to sell anything of the Udh-hiyah, whether meat, skin, wool or any other thing, because it represents money that the person has given out for the Sake of Allah The Almighty and therefore it is impermissible for one to withdraw it just like charity.

The butcher should not be paid for his work with a portion from the sacrificial animal.  This is based on the saying of ‘Ali as the Prophet ordered him not to give the butcher anything of it in return for slaughtering it. [Al-Bukhari] That is because giving in such a case is similar to selling a part of it. Nevertheless, if he gives him a part as charity or as a present after paying him his charge, this is permissible.

When the first ten days of Thul-Hijjah begin, it is a Sunnah for the person who intends to sacrifice not to cut his hair or any of his nails until he sacrifices.  In a Hadeeth, the Prophet said: “If you see the crescent of Thul-Hijjah and any one of you wants to sacrifice, let him refrain from cutting his hair and his nails until he sacrifices.”  [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] The wording of another narration reads: “…..let him refrain from taking anything of his hair or skin until he sacrifices.”

A person who wants to sacrifice is also required to have in his heart the intention of bringing himself closer to Allah The Almighty by his action and therefore he offers it with contentment and satisfaction. One also should present some of the meat to the closest to him of relatives and his charity to those who need it the most.