On Sunday the 10th day of Zulhijjah in the year 1432Hijriah (ie 6th Nov 2011), Muslims worldwide will celebrate Eiduladha or Eid-al-Adha, or the "Greater Eid" or the "Festival of Sacrifice" to commemorate the willingness of Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim) AS in obeying the command of Allah SWT to sacrifice his son Ishmael (Isma'il) AS, before God intervened to provide him with a ram (or sheep) to be sacrificed instead. The basis of Eiduladha is spelt out in the Quran Surah al-Baqarah verse 196 in which Allah SWT commanded,
"And complete the Hajj and 'umrah for Allah . But if you are prevented, then [offer] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals. And do not shave your heads until the sacrificial animal has reached its place of slaughter. And whoever among you is ill or has an ailment of the head [making shaving necessary must offer] a ransom of fasting [three days] or charity or sacrifice. And when you are secure, then whoever performs 'umrah [during the Hajj month] followed by Hajj [offers] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals. And whoever cannot find [or afford such an animal] - then a fast of three days during Hajj and of seven when you have returned [home]. Those are ten complete [days]. This is for those whose family is not in the area of Masjid al-Haram. And fear Allah and know that Allah is severe in penalty."
Zulhijjah is the last month or the 12th 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.
The first ten days of Zulhijjah are among the most magnificent days in Islamic calendar. The Holy Prophet, Muhammad SAW 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-Qadar".
Every Muslim should avail of this wonderful opportunity by performing during this period as much ibadah (acts of worship) to Allah SWT as he or she possibly can.
The 9th day of Zulhijjah or the 'Yaumul Arafah' (The Day of Arafah) is the date when the Hujjaj (Haji pilgrims, plural of Haajj) assemble on the plain of 'Arafat, six miles away from Makkah where they perform the most essential part of the prescribed duties of hajj, namely, the 'Wuquf of Arafat (the stay in Arafat).
For those not performing hajj, it is 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 'Yaumul Arafah’ according to the lunar dates of their own country.
The fast of 'Yaumul Arafah' has been emphasized by Prophet Muhammad SAW as a desirable act. According to a hadith, the fast of this day becomes a cause or reason, hopefully so, of forgiveness for sins committed in one whole year.
Beginning from the Fajar of the 9th Zulhijjah up to the 'Asar prayer of the 13th, it is obligatory on each Muslim to recite the Takbir of Tashriq after every fardu prayer.
It is obligatory on each Muslim, to recite this takbir after every solat fardu (compulsory prayer of five times daily). For women, it is recommended though not obligatory. Whether you are performing solat collectively in a group or praying on your own (individually) makes no difference. You must recite the takbir. However, male Muslims should recite loudly while females should recite it in a low voice.
The Eid prayer has two raka'at performed in the normal way, with the only addition of twelve takbir, seven of them in the beginning of the first raka'at, and five in the beginning of the second raka'at.
In this Eid prayer, khutbah is sunnat and is delivered after the solat, unlike in the solat of Jumaat (Friday) where khutbah is fardu and is delivered before the solat. However, listening to the Eid khutbah is wajib or compulsory and must be listened to in perfect peace and silence.
The Arabic word Qurban 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 else 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 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 Ibrahim AS when he, in obedience to a command of Allah SWT conveyed to him in a dream, prepared himself to slaughter his beloved son, Prophet Isma'il AS, and he actually did so but, Allah SWT, 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 Muslim who can afford.
The following animals can be slaughtered to offer a Qurban:
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 Qurban. 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 Qurban 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.
The following defective animals are not acceptable in Qurban:
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 Qurban:
1. A castrated he - goat. (Rather, its Qurban 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, its Qurban 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 Qurban unlawful.
In Malaysia the sacrificial animal is usually a cow or buffalo or a goat (or sheep) and the slaughter done on the Eiduladha day just before noon.
If an animal is sacrificed by more than one person, like a cow or a 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 to syari'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 approximate 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 Qurban can keep all its meat for his own use, 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 Qurban or its skin, he must give the accrued price as sadaqah to a poor man who can receive zakat.
