Message #10907

[Zainab_M]

I had also put up this article in my blog. Today a blog reader sent me a question on email which I presume is after reading this article.  I responded saying that he should put his query on the blog comments.  I don't take questions on email as all my works must be public.  Thus, I'm posting that question and my response here .. in case he reads it, he might not need to put it up on the blog.

Question from the blog reader.
QUOTE:
"please guide me about the Eid ul Edha with references from holy quran. whether it is compulsory/farz? If so, then whether it is necessary to slaughter goat or cow or camal only? type of cattle to be slaughtered?  whether it should be observed on 10 of zil haj?"
UNQUOTE:

My response:

Eid-al-Adha in the Quran is not mentioned as a universal celebration for all Muslims. It's one of the obligations of Hajj in commemoration of the incident in Prophet Abraham's (pbuh) life which I'm sure you know.  From my understanding, what we call Eid-al-Adha today, is a sacrifice incumbent for pilgrims only, and the food is primarily for feeding the needy and to ourselves too.  But it is surely NOT for the purpose of extravagant celebrations involving the rich or privileged as is done at present in almost all parts of the Muslim world.  I definitely see it as fard or obligatory for those performing Hajj.   But for those not on Hajj, I don't see it as compulsory.  However, if those not on Hajj also desire to give sacrifice at the same time for the purpose of feeding the poor for the sake of Allah, it will surely be an additional good deed for them.  Probably a very important additional good deed as Zil Hajj is an important month, the month of visiting the Kaaba especially for those who have never been there and who can afford to go.   After all, Ibadah and all good deeds for the sake of Allah are plus points for our souls at all times.

Obviously the sacrifice to be observed by pilgrims should be at the end of Hajj, which is already referred in the Quran.  I suppose a day or two or a few days later might also be okay.  These are minor issues and I wouldn't bang my head too much over them.  As long as the intentions are for serving Allah Almighty alone, we can simply use our common sense on the basis of Quranic values and make our decisions.  If Allah wills, He will accept them.  But the ulemas and "scholars" must not make their own rules and dub them as "Islamc laws."  That's thoroughly unethical.

The Quran does not specify which animal to be slaughtered.  Thus, we can presume it can be any animal, the meat of which is Halal as per Quranic principles i.e. cattle, sheep or camel or poultry.   Many pilgrims and non-pilgrims nowadays also substitute this practice with sending an equivalent amount of money (or whatever one can afford to pay) as charity to the needy.  I think this is fine too, provided one does it with pure intentions (niyyah).