THE SACRIFICE SECTION · 1 – HADITH ON THE ESSENTIALITY OF PERFORMING THE SACRIFICE
Mihnaf ibn Sulayman (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
We were standing in Arafat in the company of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him).
The narrator said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said: “O people, it is obligatory for every household each year to sacrifice a sacrificial animal and to perform *Atirah*. Do you know what *Atirah* is? It is that which people call ‘Recebiya’ (the sacrifice slaughtered in the first ten days of Receb).” [522]
**Explanation:**
*Atirah*: It is explained as Recebiya.
Recebiya: Before Islam, Arabs would slaughter an animal in the first ten days of Receb and pour its blood on the idol. In the early days of Islam, Muslims would also slaughter an animal for the sake of Allah during the first ten days of Receb and distribute it to the poor. This was known among the people as *Recebiya*.
Abu Dawud says: *Atirah* has been abrogated. This is a report of abrogation. Thus, previously there was permission for *Recebiya*, but then it was abrogated with the hadith, “There is no sacrifice for blessing, and there is no *Atirah* or Recebiya.” (Its ruling has been lifted.)
2789 – Abdullah ibn Amr ibn ‘As (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said, "I have been commanded to celebrate the day of sacrifice." The Noble and Exalted Allah has designated this Eid as for this community.”
A man said, “If I do not find anything other than a female animal that I entrusted to someone for its milk, should I slaughter it?”
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said, "No, do not slaughter it. Rather, you cut some of its hair, and your nails, shorten your beard, and shave your garment. Indeed, this is your complete sacrifice in the sight of the Noble and Exalted Allah.”
[523]
EXPLANATION
Meniha: A sheep that is entrusted to someone for a period to benefit from its milk, then returned. Since this man had no other animal or means besides the animal he could entrust in this manner, it was not permitted for him to slaughter it. It has been stated that the bodily purification this sincere questioner will perform on the day of Eid al-Adha will be equivalent to the reward of sacrifice in the sight of Allah.