EID AL ADHA

Eid Al adha

Furthermore, even when it comes to Eid al-Adha, the majority of scholars hold that the Qurbani (Udhiyah) on the days of Eid al-Adha is not an obligation but a Sunnah Muakkadah, that is, an emphatically recommended action following The Prophets way (pbuh). This is also the opinion of the first two rightly guided caliphs, Abu Bakr and Umar Ibn Al-khattab, God be pleased with them. It is authentically reported in the sunan of bayhaqi that Hudhayfa Bin Usayd said: I saw Abu Bakr and Umar would not perform Udhiyah (sacrifice) disliking that they’d be followed (by people in this tradition).

They specifically did not want people imitating them and turning it into a tradition or thinking it is an obligation. And yet the thing that the caliphs were afraid of is happening today. There is nothing wrong if you did not offer an animal sacrifice. You may do other forms of sacrifice. Allah says, "[but bear in mind: ] never does their flesh reach god, and neither does their blood: it is only your god-consciousness that reaches him. It is to this end that we have made them subservient to your needs, so that you might glorify god for all 10 the guidance with which he has graced you. And give thou this glad tiding unto the doers of good: " (Quran: 22: 37). Therefore, you are allowed to focus on other forms of sacrifice including the worthy cause of calling for compassionate treatment of animals and stopping cruelty. Ibn Hazm has authenticated and narrated from the Tabii Imam, Faqih said Bin Al-Musayab and Imam Shabi that they both have said: As spending three dirhams in charity is more dear to us than to sacrifice (Udhiyah). It is also authentically reported in another tradition, that Abu Masud Al-ansari said : I abstain from offering Udhiyah even though i am able to offer it, fearing that my neighbor would think that it is incumbent upon me. It is authentically demonstrated from Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) when he said: I wouldn’t care if I slaughtered a rooster, because spending that cost on an orphan or a poor person is more dear to me than to offer Udhiyah (sacrifice). Musannaf abd al-razzaq, the sanad has been classified as sahih by allama abu al-hasan al-sulaymani and sh mashhur hasan).

These were the closest companions of the prophet who understood his directives and commands best. Yet even so, they simply did not believe this was a required action and found other ways to fulfill the objective; which has always been about feeding the needy.