The Protocols Of Slaughtering During Eid!
Sharia Law for Dummies Animals Rights, Break The Chains, Islamic manners, Sharia Law Ahd Shaheen
Many people see Eid al-Adha as a barbaric festival in which Muslims are just thirsty for the blood of animals. But is that true?
Let’s first discover what does “Qurban” or slaughtering an animal mean?
After the days of Muslims’ Pilgrimage, which are full of total obedience and worship to God (the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth), comes the day in which a Muslim proves his ultimate love and submission to Allah the Almighty, the day of Eid. Eid al-Adha is not about killing. It is not about hunting. It is not killing animals for entertainment or sport.
The word “Qurban” is an Arabic word which carries the meaning of coming closer. Coming closer to God and to the community. But how does slaughtering a cow, a sheep, a goat or a camel bring people together? How can the death of a living creature bring another living creature closer to God?
The Qurban is merely a symbol that the believer has given up something for the sake of God. On the most prosaic level, the believer has given up money to purchase the animal. They then give up a large share of the meat to feed those less fortunate than themselves. Moreover, the believer gives up time to select an animal to be slaughtered with care. The animal can’t be too young or too old. It must be in good health, and if female, it can’t be pregnant.
Sacrifice, whether that of wealth or desires, is the practical proof of man’s devotion to his Creator. It is in fact religion in action.
As a symbol of sacrifice, as a means of bringing people closer, the Qurban must be slaughtered with great care.
1-No animal should be slaughtered in a place where it can smell the blood of another animal, or hear any sounds that might frighten it.
2-When being brought to the place where it is to be slaughtered it should not be frightened nor should excessive force be used to bring it to that place.
The Prophet 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.” [Anas Narrated]
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) demonstrated with this action how he calmed down the animals before slaughtering them.
3-It should be slaughtered by someone who knows what they are doing, to ensure that the animal does not suffer. That is, not only must the animal be physically healthy, it should be in a positive mental state, not afraid, and not angry, and it should die as quickly as possible. Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
Verily Allah has prescribed ihsan (perfection) in all things. Thus if you kill, kill well; and if you slaughter, slaughter well. Let each one of you sharpen his blade and let him spare suffering to the animal he slaughters.” [Muslim]
4-Its throat should be cut to allow all the blood flow to come out. The Prophet said,
Eat what is slaughtered (with any instrument) that makes blood flow out, except what is slaughtered with a tooth or a nail.’ [Narrated Rafi bin Khadij]
5-Complete care should be taken of the animal while it’s alive. Ibn ‘Umar narrated,
The Prophet cursed the one who did Muthla to an animal (i e., cut its limbs or some other part of its body while it is still alive)”.
Ibn ‘Umar also disliked the branding of animals on the face. Ibn ‘Umar said,
“The Prophet forbade beating (animals) on the face.”
Islam encourages sacrifice for the sake of God as it brings benefit to the person himself and to the community around him.
The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:
He who eats to satisfaction while his neighbour is hungry is not a mumin.”
► [Narrated by Al-Bayhaqi, Al-Sunan Al-Kubra, Vol. 10, Pg.3, Hadith #19452]
Allah says: ‘I asked you for food and you did not feed Me.”
– He (His slave) will say, ‘Lord,how could I feed You when You did not ask me for food and You are the Lord of the universe?’
He will say, ‘Do you not know that My slave so-and-so asked you for food and you did not feed him? Do you not know that if you had fed him, you would have found that action with Me?……”
► [Reported by Imam Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, Hadith #517]
Eid al-Adha isn’t only a festival in which animals are treated and slaughtered in the noblest manner. But it’s also a season which the poor wait for from year to year to have the most delicious food that they can’t afford to buy.
Walking around in Muslims’ streets, you can see and smell blood everywhere in their first, second, third and fourth days of Eid (Feast).
But what is the purpose behind this?
What’s the aim of shedding this amount of blood?
Is it just for the pleasure of torturing animals, or is there any other reason behind it?
The philosophy behind Slaughtering:
Islam has given its people the right to live honorably and with dignity, in all the fields of life, including the right to eat from the best kind of foods even if one doesn’t own it himself.
Allah the Almighty said,
Never will you attain the good [reward] until you spend [in the way of Allah ] from that which you love. And whatever you spend – indeed, Allah is Knowing of it.” [Quran 3:92]
This highly encourage the rich to give the poor from the best things that they have.
The concept of sharing is highly encouraged in Islam especially when it comes to food.
Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said,
O people, exchange greetings of peace (i.e., say: As-Salamu ‘Alaikum to one another), feed people, strengthen the ties of kinship, and be in prayer when others are asleep, you will enter Jannah in peace.” [At- Tirmidhi]
The main goal of this process is for the Muslim to sacrifice something huge in his life.
We as Muslims have learnt the act of sacrifice from Prophet Abraham may peace and blessings be upon him. He was ordered by the Lord to kill his son. He answered the call, sharpened his knife, and told his son to stay still; he did all that to prove to God that he trusts Him and believes Him. Yet Allah didn’t want to torture him, and since he proved his faith Allah has sacrificed a sheep instead of the son “Ismeal” my peace be upon him. The event is deeply described in the Quran,
Then when (the son) reached (the age of) (serious) work with him, he said: “Oh my son! I see in vision that I offer thee in sacrifice: Now see what is thy view!” (The son) said: “Oh my father! Do As thou art commanded: Thou wilt find me, if Allah so wills one practicing patience and constancy!” So when they had both submitted their wills (to Allah), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead (for sacrifice), We called out to him, “Oh Abraham! Thou hast already fulfilled the vision!” Thus indeed do We reward those who do right. For this was obviously a trial and We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice.”) [Quran, Surat As-Safat 37:102-107]
Since then, Muslims have copied that act, and they sacrifice their money each year to buy an animal, slaughter it, and spread it on the poor, to prove to Allah how much they love Him.
Islam has fulfilled the needs of the poor by different methods, throughout the year to ensure they have their needs all covered, without their asking or begging. Each year the rich give the poor a part of their money, at the end of Ramadan (The month of fasting) the rich should give the poor some food (like rice or dates), and in Eid Al-Adha it is preferable to slaughter and feed the poor meat. So, taking a look on how Islam has covered the needs of the poor without their asking, you will notice that the target is to consider the feelings of the poor as they already have enough suffers in their lives. And also to remind the rich that the money they own isn’t really theirs, but the owner is God who has given it to them.
Allah the Almighty said:
Believe in Allah and His Messenger and spend out of that in which He has made you successors. For those who have believed among you and spent, there will be a great reward.” [57:7]
The meat of the Udhiyah should be divided in three equal portions: one for oneself and the family, one for friends, and one for the poor and needy. If there are more poor people, then it is good to give all of it in charity to the poor and the needy.
The act symbolizes our willingness to give up things that are of benefit to us or close to our hearts, in order to follow Allah’s commands. It also symbolizes our willingness to give up some of our own bounties, in order to strengthen ties of friendship and help those who are in need. We recognize that all blessings come from Allah, and we should open our hearts and share with others.
It is very important to understand that the sacrifice itself, as practiced by Muslims, has nothing to do with atoning for our sins or using the blood to wash ourselves from sin. This is a misunderstanding by those of previous generations:
It is not their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah; it is your piety that reaches Him.” [Qur’an 22:37]
The symbolism is in the attitude — a willingness to make sacrifices in our lives in order to stay on the Straight Path. Each of us makes small sacrifices, giving up things that are fun or important to us. A true Muslim, one who submits himself or herself completely to the Lord, is willing to follow Allah’s commands completely and obediently. It is this strength of heart, purity in faith, and willing obedience that our Lord desires from us.
