In Islam, sacrifice is one of the most prominent rituals of Eid al-Adha. It embodies the meanings of sacrifice, altruism, and compliance with the commands of God Almighty.

Sacrifice is a means of promoting social solidarity, as a portion of the sacrificial meat is distributed to the poor and needy, strengthening the sense of brotherhood and love among Muslims and encouraging charity and giving.

As for the ruling on sacrifice, the most likely opinion is that sacrifice is a confirmed Sunnah (prayer) for those who are able, and not obligatory for every Muslim. This is the opinion of the majority of scholars, who affirm that sacrifice is not obligatory for every Muslim, but it is a recommended Sunnah (prayer) for which Muslims are rewarded.

Despite being a Sunnah (prayer), sacrifice holds a great status in Islam, representing an act by which a Muslim draws closer to God Almighty and reflects an individual's willingness to sacrifice for the sake of God.

Evidence of the Legitimacy of Sacrifice from the Qur'an and Sunnah

The legitimacy of sacrifice in Islam is established by evidence from the Qur'an and the Sunnah, making it one of the important rituals Muslims adhere to on Eid al-Adha. In the Qur'an, the noble verse in Surah al-Kawthar states: "So pray to your Lord and sacrifice." This verse is one of the explicit commands directed to Muslims to perform the Eid prayer and sacrifice an animal. This verse serves as evidence of the legitimacy of sacrifice on Eid al-Adha as an act of worship that brings them closer to God.

As for the Sunnah, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) explicitly states: "Whoever is able but does not offer a sacrifice, let him not approach our place of prayer." This hadith clearly demonstrates that sacrifice is a confirmed Sunnah for the able-bodied Muslim. It indicates that whoever has the financial ability to perform the sacrifice must do so, and that refraining from doing so will result in missing out on a great reward.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also stated in another hadith: "No action performed by the son of Adam on the Day of Sacrifice is more beloved to Allah than the shedding of blood. On the Day of Resurrection, blood will come with its horns, hair, and hooves. Indeed, blood reaches a place with Allah before it falls to the ground, so be content with it." This hadith demonstrates that sacrifice is not only a physical act of worship, but also carries a profound spiritual meaning. The blood shed by the sacrifice is accepted by Allah Almighty, and a great reward is recorded for the Muslim.

What are the conditions for sacrifice that must be observed?

Sacrifice requires a set of conditions that a Muslim must observe to ensure the validity of their worship and its acceptance by Allah Almighty. These conditions relate to the type of sacrifice and the time of its slaughter. Some of these conditions include the following:

1. The sacrifice must be from livestock:

The sacrifice must be from livestock, meaning camels, cows, or sheep.

It is not permissible to slaughter other animals, such as poultry or impure animals such as mules and donkeys.

2. The sacrificial animal must be free of defects:

The sacrificial animal must be free of any visible defects that affect its quality. This includes:

Obvious blindness (which prevents the animal from seeing).
Obvious lameness (which prevents the animal from walking).
Obvious illness.
Severe emaciation that prevents the animal from moving normally.

Therefore, the animal must be healthy before purchasing it.

3. It must be of the specified age:

The sacrificial animal must have reached the age required by Islamic law. Camels must have completed five years, cows must have completed two years, and sheep must have completed one full year.

Overage age is a prerequisite because the sacrificial animal must be strong and fit for slaughter.

4. The sacrifice must be slaughtered at the specified time:

The time for slaughtering the sacrifice begins after the Eid al-Adha prayer and continues until the last day of Tashreeq, i.e., until sunset on the thirteenth day of Dhul-Hijjah. The sacrifice must be performed at this time for it to be valid and acceptable.

5. Intention and Drawing Closer to God:

A Muslim must intend to sacrifice his sacrifice seeking the pleasure of God Almighty, and the sacrifice must be made with a pure intention for the sake of God.

6. The sacrifice must be owned by the person making the sacrifice:

The sacrifice must be owned by the Muslim who is making the sacrifice. It is not permissible to slaughter the sacrifice if it is owned by someone else.

Following these conditions ensures that your sacrifice is accepted and achieves its purpose, which is to draw closer to God Almighty.

Rulings on the person making the sacrifice: Who is he and what he must know?

Who is the person making the sacrifice?

A sacrificial animal is someone who intends to offer a sacrifice on Eid al-Adha as an act of worship to God Almighty. Certain legal conditions must be met for their sacrifice to be accepted. They must also be familiar with the rulings related to sacrifice to ensure proper performance of this act of worship.

Sacrifice is not limited to a specific group of people; rather, it is a confirmed Sunnah for those who are able. The person offering the sacrifice must be an adult, sane, and capable of performing it for their sacrifice to be accepted.

The following are some things the person offering the sacrifice should know before slaughtering the sacrifice:

1. Pure Intention:

The person offering the sacrifice must have a sincere intention for the sake of God Almighty when performing this act of worship. This means that the sacrifice should be an act of worship to draw closer to God, not merely a custom or tradition.

2. Financial Ability:

It is preferable for the person offering the sacrifice to be financially able to bear the costs of the sacrifice, as the sacrifice is not obligatory, but rather a confirmed Sunnah for those who are able. It is not recommended for a Muslim to sacrifice unless he is able to do so.

3. Performing the Slaughter at the Specific Time:

The person offering the sacrifice must adhere to the specified times for slaughtering.

The time for the sacrifice begins after the Eid al-Adha prayer and continues until the end of the Days of Tashreeq (the thirteenth day of Dhul-Hijjah).

4. Permissible Distribution of the Sacrifice:

The person offering the sacrifice must adhere to the method of distributing the sacrifice in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). It is recommended to distribute the meat among the poor, relatives, and friends, and the person offering the sacrifice may also set aside some of the meat for himself.

5. Avoiding Cutting Hair and Nails:

The person offering the sacrifice must refrain from cutting his hair or trimming his nails from the beginning of Dhul-Hijjah until the sacrifice is slaughtered.

This tradition is followed to promote humility and obedience to God Almighty.

Therefore, the person offering the sacrifice must adhere to the conditions related to it for it to be a complete and correct act of worship that contributes to drawing closer to God Almighty.

The Role of Sacrifice in Promoting Social Solidarity Among Muslims

Sacrifice is not merely a religious ritual limited to worshipping God Almighty; it is also an opportunity to strengthen social ties and solidarity among members of the Islamic community.

Its role extends to include important humanitarian aspects that contribute to fostering cooperation and a sense of responsibility toward others. These aspects include:

- Distributing meat to the poor and needy:

Sacrifice is an effective means of alleviating the suffering of the poor and needy. By distributing meat to them, the sacrificer contributes to improving their living conditions, albeit temporarily, thereby enhancing their sense of belonging to the community.

This act reflects the principle of social solidarity advocated by Islam and encourages Muslims to be supportive of one another.

- Strengthening Ties Between Relatives and Neighbors:

Through sacrifice, social relationships between family members and neighbors are also strengthened. Mutual gifts or sharing of meat with relatives and neighbors fosters a sense of affection and cooperation among members of society.

Strengthening a sense of collective responsibility:

When a Muslim sacrifices and participates in distributing the meat to those around them, they feel a sense of responsibility toward others and contribute to supporting them. Sacrifice represents an opportunity for Muslims to demonstrate compassion for one another, especially for vulnerable groups in society, reinforcing the value of collective responsibility among them.

Reviving the culture of giving and solidarity:

Sacrifice contributes to reviving the culture of giving and social solidarity in Muslim society. Through this ritual, Muslims learn how to provide support and assistance to others, and understand that giving is not limited to money alone, but can also include their time, effort, or even distributing food to those in need.

By distributing meat to the poor and needy, and providing assistance to relatives and neighbors, sacrifice fosters a spirit of solidarity and participation within society, reflecting the values ​​of giving and cooperation that Islam instills in Muslims. This contributes to strengthening social ties and mitigating class differences, making society more cohesive and cooperative.