Book Sixty Eight – The Book Al-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice)

Hadith Number 453.

Narrated by Al-Bara (Radhi Allahu Anhu): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said (on the day of ‘Id Al-Adha), "The first thing we will do on this day of ours, is to offer the ('Id) prayer and then return to slaughter the sacrifice. Whoever does so, he acted according to our Sunnah (tradition), and whoever slaughtered (the sacrifice) before the prayer, what he offered was just meat he presented to his family, and that will not be considered as Nusak (sacrifice)." (On hearing that) Abu Burda bin Niyar got up, for he had slaughtered the sacrifice before the prayer, and said, "I have got a six month old ram." The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, 'Slaughter it (as a sacrifice) but it will not be sufficient for any-one else (as a sacrifice after you). Al-Bara' added: The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "Whoever slaughtered (the sacrifice) after the prayer, he slaughtered it at the right time and followed the tradition of the Muslims."


Hadith Number 454.

Narrated by Anas bin Malik (Radhi Allahu Anhu): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "Whoever slaughtered the sacrifice before the prayer, he just slaughtered it for himself, and whoever slaughtered it after the prayer, he slaughtered it at the right time and followed the tradition of the Muslims."


Hadith Number 455.

Narrated by 'Uqba bin 'Amir Al-Juhani (Radhi Allahu Anhu): That the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) distributed among his companions some animals for sacrifice (to be slaughtered on 'Id-al-Adha). 'Uqba's share was a Jadha'a (a six month old goat). 'Uqba said, "O Allah's Messenger! I get in my share of Jadha'a (a six month old ram)." The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "Slaughter it as a sacrifice."


Hadith Number 456.

Narrated by 'Aisha (Radhi Allahu Anha): That the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) entered upon her when she had her menses at Sarif before entering Makkah, and she was weeping (because she was afraid that she would not be able to perform the Hajj). The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "What is wrong with you? Have you got your period?" She said, "Yes." He said, "This is a matter Allah has decreed for all the daughters of Adam, so perform all the ceremonies of Hajj like the others, but do not perform the Tawaf around the Ka'bah." 'Aisha added: When we were at Mina, beef was brought to me and I asked, "What is this?" They (the people) said, "Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) has slaughtered some cows as sacrifices on behalf of his wives."


Hadith Number 457.

Narrated by Anas bin Malik (Radhi Allahu Anhu): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said on the day of Nahr, "Whoever has slaughtered his sacrifice before the prayer, should repeat it (slaughter another sacrifice)." A man got up and said, "O Allah's Messenger! This is a day on which meat is desired." He then mentioned his neighbors saying, "I have a six month old ram which is to me better than the meat of two sheep." The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) allowed him to slaughter it as a sacrifice, but I do not know whether this permission was valid for other than that man or not. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) then went towards two rams and slaughtered them, and then the people went towards some sheep and distributed them among themselves.

Hadith Number 458.

Narrated by Abu Bakra (Radhi Allahu Anhu): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "Time has come back to its original state which it had on the day Allah created the Heavens and the Earth. The year is twelve months, four of which are sacred, three of them are in succession, namely Dhul-Qa'dah, Dhul Hijjah and Muharram, (the fourth being) Rajab Mudar which is between Juma'da (ath-thani) and Sha'ban. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) then asked, "Which month is this?" We said, "Allah and his Messenger know better." He kept silent so long that we thought that he would call it by a name other than its real name. He said, "Isn't it the month of Dhul-Hijjah?" We said, "Yes." He said, "Which town is this?" We said, "Allah and His Messenger know better." He kept silent so long that we thought that he would call it by a name other than its real name. He said, "isn't it the town (of Makkah)?" We replied, "Yes." He said, "What day is today?" We replied, "Allah and His Messenger know better." He kept silent so long that we thought that he would call it by a name other than its real name. He said, "Isn't it the day of Nahr?" We replied, "Yes." He then said, "Your blood, properties and honor are as sacred to one another as this day of yours in this town of yours in this month of yours. You will meet your Lord, and He will ask you about your deeds. Beware! Do not go astray after me by cutting the necks of each other. It is incumbent upon those who are present to convey this message to those who are absent, for some of those to whom it is conveyed may comprehend it better than some of those who have heard it directly." (Muhammad, the sub-narrator, on mentioning this used to say: The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) then said, "No doubt! Haven't I delivered (Allah's) Message (to you)? Haven't I delivered Allah's message (to you)?"


Hadith Number 459.

Narrated by Nafi': 'Abdullah (bin 'Umar) (Radhi Allahu Anhuma) used to slaughter his sacrifice at the slaughtering place (i.e the slaughtering place of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam)). Ibn 'Umar said, "Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) used to slaughter (camels and sheep, etc.,) as sacrifices at the Musalla."


Hadith Number 460.

Narrated by Anas bin Malik (Radhi Allahu Anhu): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) used to offer two rams as sacrifices, and I also used to offer two rams.


Hadith Number 461.

Narrated by Anas (Radhi Allahu Anhu): Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) came towards two horned rams having black and white colors and slaughtered them with his own hands.


Hadith Number 462.

Narrated by 'Uqba bin 'Amir (Radhi Allahu Anhu): That the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) gave him some sheep to distribute among his companions to slaughter as sacrifices ('Id-al-Adha). A kid was left and he told the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) of that whereupon he said to him, "Slaughter it as a sacrifice (on your behalf)."


Hadith Number 463.

Narrated by Al-Bara' bin 'Azib (Radhi Allahu Anhuma): An uncle of mine called Abu Burda, slaughtered his sacrifice before the 'Id prayer. So Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said to him, "Your (slaughtered) sheep was just mutton (not a sacrifice)." Abu Burda said, "O Allah's Messenger! I have got a domestic kid." The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "Slaughter it (as a sacrifice) but it will not be permissible for anybody other than you" The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) added, "Whoever slaughtered his sacrifice before the ('Id) prayer, he only slaughtered for himself, and whoever slaughtered it after the prayer, he offered his sacrifice properly and followed the tradition of the Muslims."

Hadith Number 464.

Narrated by Al-Bara' (Radhi Allahu Anhu): Abu Burda slaughtered (the sacrifice) before the ('Id) prayer whereupon the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said to him, "Slaughter another sacrifice instead of that." Abu Burda said, "I have nothing except a Jadha'a." (Shu'ba said: Perhaps Abu Burda also said that Jadha'a was better than an old sheep in his opinion.) The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "(Never mind), slaughter it to make up for the other one, but it will not be sufficient for anyone else after you."


Hadith Number 465.

Narrated by Anas (Radhi Allahu Anhu): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) slaughtered two rams, black and white in color (as sacrifices), and I saw him putting his foot on their sides and mentioning Allah's Name and Takbir (Allahu Akbar). Then he slaughtered them with his own hands.


Hadith Number 466.

Narrated by 'Aisha (Radhi Allahu Anha): Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) entered upon me at Sarif while I was weeping (because I was afraid that I would not be able to perform the ,Hajj). He said, "What is wrong with you? Have you got your period?" I replied, "Yes." He said, "This is a matter Allah has decreed for all the daughters of Adam, so perform the ceremonies of the Hajj as the pilgrims do, but do not perform the Tawaf around the Ka'bah." Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) slaughtered some cows as sacrifices on behalf of his wives.


Hadith Number 467.

Narrated by Al-Bara' (Radhi Allahu Anhu): I heard the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) delivering a sermon, and he said (on the Day of 'Id-Allah.), "The first thing we will do on this day of ours is that we will offer the 'Id prayer, then we will return and slaughter our sacrifices; and whoever does so, then indeed he has followed our tradition, and whoever slaughtered his sacrifice (before the prayer), what he offered was just meat that he presented to his family, and that was not a sacrifice." Abu Burda got up and said, "O Allah's Messenger! I slaughtered the sacrifice before the prayer and I have got a Jadha'a which is better than an old sheep." The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "Slaughter it to make up for that, but it will not be sufficient for anybody else after you."


Hadith Number 468.

Narrated by Anas (Radhi Allahu Anhu): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "Whoever slaughtered the sacrifice before the 'Id prayer, should repeat it (slaughter another one)." A man said "This is the day on which meat is desired." Then he mentioned the need of his neighbors (for meat) and the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) seemed to accept his excuse. The man said, "I have a Jadha'a which is to me better than two sheep." The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) allowed him (to slaughter it as a sacrifice). But I do not know whether this permission was general for all Muslims or not. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) then went towards two rams and slaughtered them, and the people went towards their sheep and slaughtered them.


Hadith Number 469.

Narrated by Jundab bin Sufyan Al-Bajali (Radhi Allahu Anhu): I witnessed the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) on the Day of Nahr. He said, "Whoever slaughtered the sacrifice before offering the 'Id prayer, should slaughter another sacrifice in its place; and whoever has not slaughtered their sacrifice yet, should slaughter now."


Hadith Number 470.

Narrated by Al-Bara' (Radhi Allahu Anhu): One day Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) offered the 'Id prayer and said, "Whoever offers our prayer and faces our Qiblah should not slaughter the sacrifice till he finishes the 'Id prayer." Abu Burda bin Niyar got up and said, "O Allah's Messenger! I have already done it. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "That is something you have done before its due time." Abu Burda said, "I have a Jadha'a which is better than two old sheep; shall I slaughter it?" The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "Yes, but it will not be sufficient for anyone after you."


Hadith Number 471.

Narrated by Anas (Radhi Allahu Anhu): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) used to offer as sacrifices, two horned rams, black and white in color, and used to put his foot on their sides and slaughter them with his own hands.

Hadith Number 472.

Narrated by Anas (Radhi Allahu Anhu): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) offered as sacrifices, two horned rams, black and white in color. He slaughtered them with his own hands and mentioned Allah's Name over them and said Takbir and put his foot on their sides.


Hadith Number 473.

Narrated by Masruq: That he came to 'Aisha (Radhi Allahu Anha) and said to her, "O Mother of the Believers! There is a man who sends a Hadi to Ka'bah and stays in his city and requests that his Hadi camel be garlanded while he remains in a state of Ihram from that day till the people finish their Ihram (after completing all the ceremonies of Hajj)" (What do you say about it?) Masruq added, I heard the clapping of her hands behind the curtain. She said, "I used to twist the garlands for the Hadi of Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) and he used to send his Hadi to Ka'bah but he never used to regard as unlawful what was lawful for men to do with their wives till the people returned (from the Hajj)."


Hadith Number 474.

Narrated by Jabir bin 'Abdullah (Radhi Allahu Anhuma): During the lifetime of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) we used to take with us the meat of the sacrifices (of Id al Adha) to Medina. (The narrator often said. The meat of the Hadi).


Hadith Number 475.

Narrated by Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (Radhi Allahu Anhu): That once he was not present (at the time of 'Id-al-Adha) and when he came. some meat was presented to him and the people said (to him), 'This is the meat of our sacrifices" He said. 'Take it away; I shall not taste it. (In his narration) Abu Sa'id added: I got up and went to my brother, Abu Qatada (who was his maternal brother and was one of the warriors of the battle of Badr) and mentioned that to him He Sad. 'A new verdict was given in your absence (i.e., meat of sacrifices was allowed to be stored and eaten later on)."


Hadith Number 476.

Narrated by Salama bin Al-Akwa' (Radhi Allahu Anhu): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "Whoever has slaughtered a sacrifice should not keep anything of its meat after three days." When it was the next year the people said, "O Allah's Messenger! Shall we do as we did last year?" He said, ' Eat of it and feed of it to others and store of it for in that year the people were having a hard time and I wanted you to help (the needy)."


Hadith Number 477.

Narrated by 'Aisha (Radhi Allahu Anha): We used to salt some of the meat of sacrifice and present it to the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) at Al-Madinah. Once he said, "Do not eat (of that meat) for more than three days." That was not a final order, but (that year) he wanted us to feed of it to others, Allah knows better.


Hadith Number 478.

Narrated by Abu 'Ubaid: The freed slave of Ibn Azhar that he witnessed the Day of 'Id-al-Adha with 'Umar bin Al-Khattab (Radhi Allahu Anhu). 'Umar offered the 'Id prayer before the sermon and then delivered the sermon before the people, saying, "O people! Allah's Messenger has forbidden you to fast (on the first day of) each of these two 'Ida, for one of them is the Day of breaking your fast, and the other is the one, on which you eat the meat of your sacrifices."


Hadith Number 479.

Narrated by Abu 'Ubaid: (In continuation of 478). Then I witnessed the 'Id with 'Uthman bin 'Affan (Radhi Allahu Anhu), and that was on a Friday. He offered the prayer before the sermon, saying, "O people! Today you have two 'Ids (festivals) together, so whoever of those who live at Al-'Awali (suburbs) would like to wait for the Jumua prayer, he may wait, and whoever would like to return (home) is granted my permission to do so." Then I witnessed (the 'Ids) with 'Ali bin Abi Talib (Radhi Allahu Anhu), and he too offered the 'Id prayer before the sermon and then delivered the sermon before the people and said, "Allah's Messenger has forbidden you to eat the meat of your sacrifices for more than three days."


Hadith Number 480.

Narrated by Salim: 'Abdullah bin 'Umar (Radhi Allahu Anhuma) said, "Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "Eat of the meat of sacrifices (of 'Id al- Adha) for three days." When 'Abdullah departed from Mina, he used to eat (bread with) oil, lest he should eat of the meat of Hadi (which is regarded as unlawful after the three days of the 'Id).