RITES OF HAJJ SECTION · 19 – THE SACRIFICIAL ANIMAL PERISHING BEFORE REACHING ITS DESTINATION
1762 – It is narrated from Nāciya al-Aslamī (may Allah be pleased with him): The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) sent him with a sacrificial animal (to Mecca). The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “If any of the sacrificial animals perishes on the way, slaughter it, dye its sandals with its blood, then leave it among the people (so that whoever wishes may eat from it).” [538]
EXPLANATION
‘Atiba: It becomes exhausted, unable to walk. That is, if it perishes. By ‘sandals’ is meant the sandals hung on the neck and side of the sacrificial camels so that it is known to be a sacrificial animal. If a sacrificial animal dies on the way, it is slaughtered. Its blood is smeared on the collars. Passersby know it is a sacrificial animal and eat from it.
1763 – It is narrated from Ibn ʿAbbās (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) sent so-and-so from the Aslam tribe and with him eighteen camels (as sacrificial animals). The man said, “If one of these becomes overburdened on the way, falls into hardship, and cannot walk, what do you advise me to do?” Our Master said, “Slaughter it, then dye its sandal (hoof) with its blood and hang it on the animal’s side. Neither you nor your companions should eat from it, nor should those who are fit for your companionship eat from it.” Abū Dāwūd said: The part of this hadith in which Abū al-Tayyāh is unique is the statement, ‘neither you nor any of your companions should eat from it.’ In the narration of ʿAbd al-Wārith, it is stated: ‘Strike the animal’s sandals on its side, put it in its place.’ [539]
EXPLANATION
Uzḥifa: Weak, feeble, exhausted. When, out of exhaustion, it does not lift its nose from the ground, they say zahaf al-baʿīr.
1764 – It is narrated from ʿAlī (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: During the Farewell Pilgrimage, the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) slaughtered thirty of his sacrificial camels with his own hand, and he commanded me regarding the rest, and I slaughtered them.
1765 – It is narrated from ʿAbdullāh ibn Kurd (may Allah be pleased with him): The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “The greatest of days in the sight of Allah is the day of sacrifice (ʿĪd al-Aḍḥā), then the day of ‘karr’.” According to the narration of ʿĪsā and Thawr among the transmitters, the ‘karr’ day is the second day of the festival of sacrifice. The narrator, ʿAbdullāh ibn Kurd, said: Five or six camels were brought near to the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him). The camels would approach the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) as if to say, ‘Which of us will be first?’ When the camels were slaughtered and lay on their sides, the narrator says: The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) recited a word quietly, but I could not understand it. I asked what he had said to the one in front of him. He replied, “Whoever wishes may cut from the meat of this animal and take it.”
EXPLANATION
Yazdalifna: Means ‘they were drawing near’. Yawm al-karr: The second day of the festival of sacrifice. It is called yawm al-karr because, on that day, people settle in Mina after descending from ʿArafāt and Muzdalifah. From this noble hadith, it is understood that the day of ʿĪd al-Aḍḥā is superior to other days of the year. Fridays are also the most virtuous among the days of the week. There is a difference of opinion as to which is superior. The most virtuous day of the year is the day of ʿĪd al-Aḍḥā, and the most virtuous day of the week is Friday.
1766 – It is narrated from ʿArafa ibn Ḥārith al-Kindī (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: I was present with the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) during the Farewell Pilgrimage. The sacrificial camels were brought. He said to me, “Call the father of Ḥasan (ʿAlī).” ʿAlī was called. He said to ʿAlī, “You hold from beneath this spear,” and he himself held it from above. Then he stabbed the camel, and when the slaughter was finished, he mounted his mule and seated ʿAlī behind him.