Obligations and recommendations of sacrificial slaughter?

Sources

• ✓ 5:3 · Al-Maaida

  5:3 · Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall

  حُرِّمَتْ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْمَيْتَةُ وَٱلدَّمُ وَلَحْمُ ٱلْخِنزِيرِ وَمَآ أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ ٱللَّهِ بِهِۦ وَٱلْمُنْخَنِقَةُ وَٱلْمَوْقُوذَةُ وَٱلْمُتَرَدِّيَةُ وَٱلنَّطِيحَةُ وَمَآ أَكَلَ ٱلسَّبُعُ إِلَّا مَا ذَكَّيْتُمْ وَمَا ذُبِحَ عَلَى ٱلنُّصُبِ وَأَن تَسْتَقْسِمُوا۟ بِٱلْأَزْلَٰمِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ فِسْقٌ ۗ ٱلْيَوْمَ يَئِسَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِن دِينِكُمْ فَلَا تَخْشَوْهُمْ وَٱخْشَوْنِ ۚ ٱلْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِى وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ ٱلْإِسْلَٰمَ دِينًۭا ۚ فَمَنِ ٱضْطُرَّ فِى مَخْمَصَةٍ غَيْرَ مُتَجَانِفٍۢ لِّإِثْمٍۢ ۙ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ

  Forbidden unto you (for food) are carrion and blood and swineflesh, and that which hath been dedicated unto any other than Allah, and the strangled, and the dead through beating, and the dead through falling from a height, and that which hath been killed by (the goring of) horns, and the devoured of wild beasts, saving that which ye make lawful (by the death-stroke), and that which hath been immolated unto idols. And (forbidden is it) that ye swear by the divining arrows. This is an abomination. This day are those who disbelieve in despair of (ever harming) your religion; so fear them not, fear Me! This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed My favour unto you, and have chosen for you as religion al-Islam. Whoso is forced by hunger, not by will, to sin: (for him) lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

• ✓ 108:2 · Al-Kawthar

  108:2 · Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall

  فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَٱنْحَرْ

  So pray unto thy Lord, and sacrifice.

• ✓ Tafsir Ibn Kathir on 108:2

  Sunni

  Tafsir Ibn Kathir · 108:2

  Surah Al-Kawthar is primarily considered a Madinan revelation, though some say it is Makkan. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ once dozed briefly, then lifted his head smiling. When asked why he was smiling, he said it was because a surah had just been revealed to him, which he recited beginning with "In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate: Indeed, We have given you al-Kawthar." After completing it, he asked if they knew what al-Kawthar was. They replied only Allah and His Messenger knew best. He explained it is a river given to him by Allah in Paradise, abundant with goodness. His community will drink from it on the Day of Resurrection, and its vessels number as many as the stars. Some servants will be pulled away, and he will plead: "O Lord, he is from my nation!" but he will be told, "You do not know what they introduced after you." This report was narrated by Imam Ahmad through a strong and established chain. Additional details depict the basin (hawd) of the Prophet on the Day of Judgment, with two channels of water coming from the Kawthar river. The vessels along it are as many as the stars. This hadith is also transmitted by Muslim, Abu Dawud, and an-Nasa'i through similar chains from Anas ibn Malik, with some variations in wording but consistent meaning. Many Quranic reciters argue this surah is Madinan and that the Basmala ("In the name of Allah..." phrase) is part of the surah itself. Regarding the verse "Indeed, We have given you al-Kawthar," the Prophet and several companions declared it a river in Paradise. For example, Imam Ahmad narrates through Anas that the Prophet said: "I was given al-Kawthar, a river flowing without division, its banks lined with domed pearls; its soil, when struck by my hand, emits musk, and its pebbles are pearls." Other narrations describe the river with water whiter than milk and sweeter than honey, birds with necks like the necks of jars, and banks made of gold and silver adorned with rubies and pearls. Aisha, the Prophet's wife, described al-Kawthar as a great river with banks of hollow pearls and dishes as numerous as the stars. Some narrations indicate that the name 'al-Kawthar' denotes abundant good, not only the river but inclusive of all kinds of abundant blessings and the Prophet’s abundant goodness in this world and the Hereafter. Scholars like Ibn Abbas, Mujahid, Sa'id ibn Jubayr, and others concurred that al-Kawthar is abundant good and the river in Paradise. The instruction "So pray to your Lord and sacrifice" is understood to mean that just as Allah gave the Prophet abundant goodness—in this life and the Hereafter—he must devote his prayer and sacrifices solely to Allah, worshiping Him alone without associating partners, and giving sacrifice in His name alone. This opposes the polytheistic practices of praying or sacrificing for others besides Allah. Different interpretations exist for "sacrifice" (vanhar): some say it refers to actual animal sacrifice, others say it involves particular gestures of prayer like raising the hands at specific points, facing the Qiblah with the throat, or other ritual acts. Ibn Jarir and many other scholars hold the meaning as true sacrifice of animals. There is an isolated, weak narration suggesting an alternate interpretation about the hand placement during the sacrifice, but the most authentic and confirmed meaning is that it refers to actual sacrifice. The phrase "Indeed, your enemy is the one cut off" means that the opposing person who hates the Prophet and what he brought—guidance, truth, clear proof, and manifest light—is the one whose lineage and name will perish, disconnected and humiliated. Ibn Abbas, Mujahid, Sa'id ibn Jubayr, and others say this verse was revealed concerning Al-As ibn Wa’il, who used to mock the Prophet. Upon his death, people thought the Prophet’s lineage was cut off. This surah corrected that misconception. Others say it was revealed regarding 'Uqbah ibn Abi Mu'ayt, Abu Lahab, or Abu Jahl. The meaning covers all enemies of the Prophet who are cut off from lasting fame. The term "cut off" (abtar) traditionally meant one whose male descendants die leaving no offspring—such was the accusation against the Prophet after his sons died. Allah refuted this by declaring that the one who truly is cut off is his enemy, not the Prophet. In conclusion, the word al-Kawthar encompasses abundant goodness, especially the river in Paradise prepared for the Prophet and his community, along with other bounties. The command to pray and sacrifice signifies dedicating worship wholly and sincerely to Allah, as gratitude for these many blessings. And the last statement assures that those who oppose the Prophet will be the ones whose remembrance is truly cut off, not the Prophet himself. This concludes the tafsir of Surah Al-Kawthar by Ibn Kathir, all praise to Allah.

• ✓ Sahih Muslim 35:10

  Sunni SAHIH

  Sahih Muslim · Book 35, Hadith 10 · Narrated by Al-Bara ibn Azib

  The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said on the day of sacrifice: "The first thing we do on this day is to pray, then we return and slaughter. Whoever does this has followed our tradition. Whoever slaughtered before the prayer, his slaughter is merely meat offered to his family and does not count as sacrifice." My maternal uncle Abu Burda had slaughtered and said: "I have a young goat which is better than an old ewe." He was told: "Slaughter it; it will not suffice anyone after you." Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) addressed us after the prayer similarly.