The essence of Eid el-kabir

Marital status and gender are not parts of the requirements for making the sacrifice. The annual event of Dahiyyah is to commemorate the initial sacrifice made by Prophet Ibrahim (AS). When Prophet Ibrahim (AS) consulted his son, Prophet Ismail (AS) that he saw a vision in which he was commanded to offer the son (Ismail) […]

Marital status and gender are not parts of the requirements for making the sacrifice. The annual event of Dahiyyah is to commemorate the initial sacrifice made by Prophet Ibrahim (AS). When Prophet Ibrahim (AS) consulted his son, Prophet Ismail (AS) that he saw a vision in which he was commanded to offer the son (Ismail) in sacrifice, the latter (Ismail) consented without any objections. So, when Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and his son Ismail (AS) had both submitted their wills to Allah (SWT) and the former had laid the latter prostrate on his forehead in readiness for the sacrifice, Ismail (AS) was ransomed with a substitute of a ram from heaven, for the sacrifice.

Prophet Ismail (AS)’s total submission to the will of his father and to the command of Allah (SWT) symbolizes genuine obedience, which is the basic essence of Dahiyyah. Obedience begets mercy; and the ransom that substituted the sacrifice of Ismail (AS) with a ram thus became a mercy for believers. Allah (SWT) is most Merciful to those who do right. Allah (SWT) states in Qur’an 37: 107 – 108 “And we ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice; and we left (this blessing) for him among generations (to come) in later times”.

Nonetheless, some Muslims in their observance of the rite of Dahiyyah become forgetful of the purpose and spirit of the sacrifice. The reward promised by Allah (SWT) should be the ultimate of every believer who offers the sacrifice and not necessarily the quantity of meat from the sacrificed ram or cow. Reward is not the priority of the group of Muslims who go for cow in order to have larger quantity of meat. For those who care to know, slaughtering a goat on the occasion of Eid el-kabir is more preferred than slaughtering a cow and even a camel.

In the Maliki school of Islamic jurisprudence, the reward for the Dahiyyah is given according to the type of animal offered in the following order beginning from the most preferred to the less preferred: un-castrated ram; then a castrated ram; then a sheep; followed by an un-castrated he-goat, then a castrated he-goat; then a she-goat; followed by a bull (male cattle); then a cow; followed by male camel; then a female camel. But the reverse (in the order of preference) is the case for those on pilgrimage to Makkah because the object of hadya (sacrifice) in hajj (pilgrimage) is to provide plenty of meat for the under-privileged. However, the intent of Dahiyyah (slaughter-animal), which is called “layya” in Hausa in the case of other Muslims in their home-countries, is to taste and enjoy the best of meats.

Due, perhaps, to economic hardships, we have in recent years seen different sizes of goats and rams including the under-aged ones being slaughtered as sacrifices on the Dahiyyah day. Nevertheless, it is important to emphasis that there is an age limit set aside by Islam for every category of slaughter-animal on the occasion of the Eid. According to Abdullahi bn Abi Zayd al-Qayrawaniy, author of the famous book of the Malikiyyah school, Ar-Risala; it is required that a ram or sheep should have attained a year or at least eight months. A goat is expected to have entered its second year. A cow should have entered its fourth year and a camel should not be less than six years of age. It is not right to use a sick, emaciated or blind (partial or full) animal that has one or other deformities for the sacrifice. A slaughter-animal with a broken horn or split ear(s) cannot also be used for the Dahiyyah (sacrifice). Maliki scholars are of the opinion that the one with a broken horn can be used if no blood gushed forth from the injury.

One of the principles of Dahiyyah requires Muslims to offer their sacrifices only after the religious leader (Emir, Chief or Imam) of the community in which they reside has made his sacrifice. Therefore, anyone who slaughters his animal before such a leader does so would be considered to have made no sacrifice. However, if one resides in a place that has no leader, he is advised to delay his slaughtering until when presumably the religious leader in the community nearest to him would have slaughtered his animal. Believers are free to slaughter their animals within the stipulated three days (10th, 11th and 12th of Dhul-Hijjah). However, the first day which is the 10th day of Dhul-Hijjah (and which in the case of this year is tomorrow Sunday November 6, 2011), is preferred over the succeeding two days (i.e. 11th and 12th of Dhul-Hijjah). The slaughtering on each of the days is preferred before sunset. Anyone who slaughters his animal at night shall have made no sacrifice. If for any reason, including loss of animal intended for the sacrifice, one was unable to make the slaughtering before sunset; it is recommended that he exercises patience until the following morning. It is not permitted that one sells anything out of the slaughter-animal; not even the hide or the waste products of the animal.

Conscious of the persistent hard times in the country, believers as family heads are encouraged especially on the occasion of the Eid el-kabir to overcome anger that usually and naturally proceed from pennilessness, or in contemporary vocabulary, kobolessness. Allah (SWT) does not place a burden on a soul greater than it can bear. If we do not have the means to slaughter animal this year or slaughter as big as we used to, that should not be a source of worry. All we need to do is to politely make our family members understand the realities of survival. It is not the animal or its size that matters but the will to act as commanded. Allah (SWT) is well acquainted with all our intentions, the declared and the undeclared. There is reward for every good intention. If one intends anything good but is unable (for reasons beyond his control) to practicalize it, he would yet receive a part of the reward for his intention. The reward would be in full when he accomplishes it.

Unlike the Eid el-fitr on which occasion Muslims are required to eat before going for the Eid payer, it is recommended that Muslims abstain from eating and drinking on the day of Eid el-kabir; and would eat or drink only after the Eid prayer had been offered. No intention is required for this short abstinence. Voluntary fasting, however, is recommended for Muslims who are not on pilgrimage; to be observed on the 9th day of Dhul-Hijjah, which is today.

It is recommended that the following supplication is recited after every obligatory prayer beginning from the noon (zuhr) prayer of the Eid el-kabir day (10th of Dul-Hijjah) and terminating at the morning (subhi) prayer of the fourth day of the Eid (i.e 13th of Dhul-Hijjah). The supplication is “Allah Akbar, Allah Akbar, Allah Akbar; La ilaha ila-llah; Allah Akbar, Allah Akbar; Wa li-llah il-Hamd” meaning “Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest; There is no God except Allah; Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest; All praise is due to Allah”. May Allah (SWT) accept our sacrifices, amin. Happy Sallah! Eid Mubaarak!! Kullu Aamin Wa Antum Bi Khairin!!!

Condolence:

We condole with the Muslim ummah in general and the entire Nupe speaking community of Nigeria in particular over the death of an erudite scholar, Sheikh Muhammad Sa’eed Enagi, who passed on last Monday November 31, 2011. May Allah (SWT) forgive and grant him eternal mercy, amin.