The Fiqh of Slaughter on Eid al-Adha
Sacrifice on Eid al-Adha
The following is a summary from the book Reliance of the Traveller by Ahmad ibn Naqib al-Misri and translated into English by Sheikh Nuh Ha Mim Keller. If you have a copy of the book please refer to page 357 for a full explanation of the fiqh surrounding the sacrifice of Eid al-Adha.
. Eid al-Adha sacrifices are a confirmed sunnah(considered obligatory in the Hanafi school).
. It is recommended for someone who intends to sacrifice not to cut his hair or trim his nails on 10 Dhul Hijja until he slaughters.
. The time for slaughter begins when it is long enough after sunrise to have performed the Eid prayer and it ends at the last day of the three days following Eid.
. Only camels, cattle, sheep or goats may be slaughtered. Camels must be over 5 years old, cattle and goats over two years and sheep over one full year.
. The best animal to slaughter is a camel, then cow, then sheep and lastly goat.
. The animal must be free of defects that diminish the quality of the meat.
. It is best to slaughter an animal oneself. If one does not know how it is better to have someone do it for you.
. The intention to sacrifice must be made at the time of slaughter - if someone authorises someone else they should make then intention when doing so.
. It is recommended that a third of the meat be eaten, a third given away and a third to charity (i.e. the poor).
. It is obligatory to give away some of the (raw) meat as charity and the hide also given as charity or used at home.
. It is not permissible to sell the hide or meat.
Allah knows best.
