Time to Sacrifice

Eid al-Adha is one of the two festivals of Muslims, the first being Eid al-Fitr. It is also known as the festival of sacrifice, and reminds us of the supreme sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim (may Allah be pleased with him).

On the Day of Eid al-Adha the first thing the believers are expected to do is to go to Eidgah to offer the Eid prayer and then return to slaughter the sacrifice. These two acts of the Day are the most pleasing in the eyes of Allah. The Holy Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be with him) gives good tidings that whoever does so, he acts according to his Sunnah. He also warns that whoever reverses these two acts viz. first slaughters the sacrifice and then offers the Eid prayer, he will have to repeat the sacrifice; for, slaughtering the sacrifice before the Eid prayer is no sacrifice at all – it is just presenting meat to his family or friends. The Holy Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be with him) further clarifies that whoever slaughters the sacrifice after the prayer, he slaughters it at the right time and follows the tradition of the Muslims.