The Process of Qur’baani
The animal selected is brought down to lie facing the Qiblah.A large and sharp knife is employed.It is best that the sacrificing person slaughters the animal himself.He makes the Niyyath that he is making the sacrifice to Allah, on behalf of himself or on behalf of the persons (he must name them) on the occasion. He recites: INNEE WAJJAHTHU WAJ'HIYA LILLAZEE FATHARAS SAMAAWATHI VAL ARDA HANEEFAN'V VA MAA ANAA MINAL MUSHRIKEEN.INNA SALAAHEE VA NUSUKEE VA MAH'YA'YA VA MAMAATHEE LILLAHI RABBIL AALAMEENA, LAA SHAREEKA LAHU, VA BIZAALIKA UMIR'THU VA ANAA AWWALUL MUSLIMEEN. ALLAHUMMA MIN'KA VA LAKA (Here the actual sacrifice is made)
"I present myself before the Lord of the Heavens and the Earth. My devotion is to Him alone and I am not of the heretics. I pray to Allah, I offer my sacrifice to Him, I live and I will die for Him. No one can be equated with Allah. I make this sacrifice to Allah as I have been directed to and I am one of His blessed and devout believers. Whatever is from You, O Allah returns unto You". (Here make the actual sacrifice)
With this duty performed we pray to Allah: ALLAHUMMA THAKHAB’BALTHU MINNEE KAMAA THAKHAB’BALTHU MIN HABEEBIKA MUHAMMEDIN VA KHALEELIKA IBRAHIM ALAIHUMAS’SLAATHU VASSALAM.
"Allah, kindly accept this offering from me in the way You accepted the offering from Your Beloved Muhammed S.A.W.S. and Your Friend Ibrahim. May Your blessings be upon both of them!"
If we have been endowed the resources by Allah, we may offer one or more animals in sacrifice for Allah's sake on behalf of our Master, Syedina Muhammed S.A.W.S..
We can also offer the sacrifice on behalf of our elders who are no more.
As stated earlier,We can keep a third of the slaughtered animal(s) for ourselves. We must give away a third in charity and The other third must be distributed among relatives and friends.
If we are unable to make the Dua as above, we may make the Niyyath at heart and make the sacrifice saying:
BISMILLAHI, ALLAHU AKBAR.
If anyone is unable to slaughter the animal(s) himself/herself, he/she can ask another Muslim to do so on behalf of the person(s) making the sacrifice for Allah's sake.
The skin(s) should be sold and proceeds given away, as received, to the poor. The money must not be used to pay wages to the butcher assisting us in the Qurbani.
The Hadith confirms that among all our good deeds on the three days 10th, 11th and 12th of Zul Haj, our sacrifice is the most pleasing to Allah.
Even before a drop of the sacrificial blood falls to the ground, the good deed is recorded by angels at Allah's command and the rewards set apart for us.
Allah grants us 'sawaab' (rewards) for each strand of hair on the skin of each animal we sacrifice for Allah.
The Prophet S.A.W.S. has counselled us that whenever any disaster threatens us or someone dearest to us is seriously ill, it is best to offer Sadakha on behalf of the person affected.
Animal sacrifice is the best form of sadakha. In this case, the entire meat and everything of value from the animal is given away to the needy.
The Rites of Qurbaani during pilgrimage:
We go to the enclosure set apart for Qurbani and perform the rite. We must say BISMILLAHI, ALLAHU AKBAR. ALLAHUMMA MIN'KA VA LA'KA and we must see that the animal's face is towards the Holy Ka’abah. Qurbani is a must for the Qiraan Hajis and it is optional for others.
A sheep or goat is the unit of Qurbani, for each individual. Seven hajis can come together and give as Qurbani, one camel or one cattle, male or female. This category of livestock is considered equal to seven sheep.
The person performing the rite must mention the names of the Hajis who have paid for the animals and then sacrifice the animal for Allah.
Men go for a haircut or a total shave of the head. Women cut away an inch length from their hair.
Now we have come out of Ih’raam. We have a bath and put on normal dress. Except for conjugal relations, all prohibitions of Ih’raam are now over.
We go to Makkathul Mukarramah for Thawaaf-e-Ifaadah (also known as Thawaaf-e-Ziarat) at the Holy Baithullah and come back to Mina for rest and prayers.
Qurbani: In Mina, there is a special enclosure for this rite. Livestock (sheep, lambs and camels) brought in for sacrifice are grouped there for our purchase.
We must do the Qurbani in the sheds erected for the purpose. Here trained people are available for processing the meat after sacrifice. The stalls are kept clean and the requisite facilities and plentiful water are available.
The three days of our stay in Mina are characterized "the days for drying sacrificial meat".
This implies that the meat of the animals sacrificed must be eaten by us, distributed to the poor and also dried in the sun and taken home, if possible. A little effort and expense undertaken in this behalf will bring us good rewards, both delicious meat and liver dishes and spiritual fulfillment at a duty well done.
It may be noted that the meat of animals sacrificed as "dhumm" is not to be eaten. "Dhumm" is the penalty for contravening the prohibitions of Ih’raam. Even hair lost when we were in I’hraam, could render us liable for this.
For those who cannot afford the 'dhumm' sacrifice, it is permissible to observe ten days' fast instead. At least three days' fasting should be observed in the Haj season.
This is best done on the days preceding Arafaath Day. The remaining seven days' fast must be observed after returning home.
