KavkazCenter - A few words before the holiday

A few words before the holiday

The main Muslim holiday is approaching: the holiday of the Sacrifice. It begins on 11th of Dhul-Hijjah and lasts 3 days. During those days, until the end of the prayer and until the sun dusk of 13th in Dhul-Hijjah the Muslims make sacrifices for Allah the Great, bringing animals sacrifice.

We would like to touch a number of most important issues related this type of worship.

Allah the Great said: "Pray ye unto thy Lord, and kill the sacrificial animal".

As most scholars agree, the act of sacrifice during the days of this holiday constitute an established and solid Sunnah. Among those, who think of it's requirement are imams Abu Hanifah, Awsai and Al-Laith, Allah have mercy upon them, but they think a wayfarer does not have to do it. Yet most think that the sacrifice is desired even for a wayfarer.

As in any worship, a requirement during the sacrifice is the presence of the intent to reach the contentment of Allah by the action.

A man sacrifices for himself, and for the members of his family. He may include other people in those, receiving the benefits for the sacrifice.

The sacrifice animals are camels, cows, sheep and goat.

A lamb is a good enough animal as a sacrifice for one person and his family, as states the hadith passed to Abu-Ayoub Al-Ansari, may Allah be content of him: "In the days of the Messenger of Allah, may he have Allah mercy, a man sacrificed a lamb for himself, and his household, and they ate its meat themselves, and gave some to the others." (Brought by Ibn Majja I-Tirmizi, who claimed this hadith as truthful, and Albany has also claimed it a truthful).

A camel or a cow are good enough animals as a sacrifice for seven persons, as Jabir and Ibn Abdullah, let Allah be content with them, have passed: "We have done a sacrifice at Hudaybiye with the Messenger of Allah, let Allah greet and bless Him , one camel was for seven, and one cow for seven". (Muslim).

The animal shall reach a certain age, which for a lamb is six months, for a goat is one year, for a cow is two years, and for a camel is five years. Sacrificial animal must have no defects, as defined in the hadith: "Four (animal types) must not be used for the sacrifice: one eyed animal, whose fault is vivid, ill animal, whose illness is vivid, limping animal, whose limp is vivid, and a very exhausted animal" (brought by Abu Daud and Nasay, Albany verified as correct)

Men or women intending to sacrifice, even if they do not intend to kill it themselves, as the month Thu El-Hijjah approaches must not cut or remove their hair and nails in any other form until the sacrifice, as it is noted in the hadith brought by Muslim.

It is desired for them not to eat anything on the day of sacrifice, until the animal's meat is not prepared, as pointed out numerous hadiths, part of which are correct.

A man is better of making the sacrifice himself, but if he does not, to at least be present during it.

During the killing one shall say: (In the name of Allah, Allah is Great! O Allah, this is from me and my family), and mention those people, in the name of which this sacrifice is made.

The meat is best divided into three parts: one third for the family, one third as a gift, and one third to be given as a charity.

Islamic scholars agree that it is not allowed to sell any of the meat, fat or the skin of the sacrificial animal.

The legality of collecting the means in one place and sending them for the sacrifice to another is a point of debate. Some scholars, e.g. Sheikh Muhammad Ibn Salih Al Usaymin, holds the following point of view: firstly, the meat of the animal is not a charity in itself, secondly, when the animal is killed in another location, it is unlikely that the sacrifice performer will mention the one who's sent the money for the purchase, thirdly, it is possible that such an important sign of Islam as the ceremony of sacrifice will be lost in the original location.

However it seems to us the most correct opinion is held by Sheikh Abdulla Ibn Jibrin, Allah have mercy upon him, who argued for the perspective that sending money from rich countries to the poor for performing the sacrifice there is an expression of Islamic solidarity.

From our side we'd like to add that in the condition when Ummah is under a defensive war, which in the current circumstances is the main obligation after the faith itself, there is no doubt whatsoever that the Muslims shall direct as much forces and means for the support of the Jihad. Therefore, we call our brothers and sisters to transfer means for the the sacrifice for the needs of the Mujaheddin. By doing so two great deeds are done: the sacrifice ceremony and the participation in the Jihad.

We'd also like to note as the needs of the Jihad are the financial and physical help to the Martyrs families, captives and Mujahideen, since those fighting on the path of Allah try hard to save their means for those who are weaker.

We would also like note that although generally the sacrifice is better than charity, even if the Mujaheddin do not succeed in buying and killing the sacrificial animals, and the money would be spent for other objectives, still, the more important task, namely the help to Jihad will be fulfilled.

And the means spent for buying and slaughtering a lamb somewhere in Germany or Denmark cannot be compared in the grace with the means spent today on Jihad on the path of Allah.

"Do you really compare the watering of a pilgrim and the maintenance of the Sacred Mosk with the deeds of those, who believed Allah and fought on Allah's path to the last day? They are not equal before Allah, and Allah does not lead unjust people in direct path".

And Allah knows best.

Zelihman Merjo.

Source: IA "HUNAFA"

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