Eid ul Adha is an event of great religious value for the Muslims because Muslims sacrifice animals (sheep, goats, cows, ox, and camels) in the memory of the sacrifice of Hazarat Ibrahim (Alaihissalam).
Every Muslim wants to buy an animal that is perfectly healthy, beautiful, and meets the instructions of Islamic religious laws (Islamic Sharia). This article will help you to guide about the major rules of Islamic Sharia and which animal will be eligible for sacrifice and which is not. In this article, we will discuss the major issues related to the selection of sacrificing animals and also who can take part in this beautiful sunnah.
The Sacrificing Animal:
The sacrificing animals for Eid ul Adha are sheep, goats, cows, and camels. Sheep and goats have only one part of the sacrifice, while cows and camels have 7 parts and seven persons can sacrifice one cow or camel. It must be remembered that a single person also sacrifices one cow or camel. This depends on the economic status of that person. This is the beauty of Islam that the poor can also take part in sacrifice (Qurbani) by sharing in cows and camels.
Who can sacrifice:
According to Islamic Sharia, every person is eligible for this great Sunnah that has 7 tolas gold or 52½ tolas silver or cash or property (more than his need) equal to the value of 52½ tolas silver. In easy words, we can say that a person that is eligible for Zakat is also eligible for the sacrifice. But it doesn’t mean that a person which is not eligible for Zakat also not eligible for sacrifice because some persons are not eligible for Zakat but also have a property of such value that makes them eligible for Sacrifice (Qurbani Wajib Hona).
Age of the sacrificing animal:
- In the case of sheep and goats, the animal’s age must be one-year minimum or more than one year. In certain cases, the age of the sheep is 6 months if the sheep appears to be good in health and weight. But it is good that the age must be more than one year. Because if you are selecting an animal of about 6 months you must know a little more information about that animal.
- In the case of cows, the minimum age must be 2 years. The age of the cow must be batter more than two years. To determine the age of a cow eligible for the sacrifice we must know that the animal is true-toothed (Donda).
- In the case of camels, the minimum age must be 5 years.
- Remember that animals other than these animals discussed above (either Halal in other ways) are not eligible for the Sacrifice (Qurbani), how costly or delicious that animal will be. So wild animals like deer, Nile Gai, or others will not fulfill the criteria for sacrificing animals (Qurbani Ka Janwar).
Characteristics of Sacrificing animal (Eid ul Adha Ke lie Qurbani Ke Janwar):
- The sacrificing animal must fulfill the criteria of age discussed above.
- These must not be pregnant (in the case of a female animal).
- The sacrificing animal must be eligible for the sacrifice according to Islamic Sharia.
- These animals must be preferably in good health and beautiful.
- These animals must not be crippled in any sense (Disease affected, damaged horns, blind from one or two eyes, damaged teeth, fractures legs, means free from any kind of defect).
Eid Ul Adha Mubarak to every brother and sister. May Allah Almighty help us to sacrifice in a best way and accept our sacrifices.