The Two Festivals (Eids) - Sahih al-Bukhari 983

On the day of Nahr Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) delivered the Khutba after the `Id prayer and said, "Anyone who prayed like us and slaughtered the sacrifice like we did then he acted according to our (Nusuk) tradition of sacrificing, and whoever slaughtered the sacrifice before the prayer, then that was just mutton (i.e. not sacrifice)." Abu Burda bin Naiyar stood up and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! By Allah, I slaughtered my sacrifice before I offered the (Id) prayer and thought that today was the day of eating and drinking (nonalcoholic drinks) and so I made haste (in slaughtering) and ate and also fed my family and neighbors." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "That was just mutton (not a sacrifice)." Then Abu Burda said, "I have a young she-goat and no doubt, it is better than two sheep. Will that be sufficient as a sacrifice for me?" The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, "Yes. But it will not be sufficient for anyone else (as a sacrifice), after you."

Commentary on the Sequence of Eid Prayer and Sacrifice

This hadith establishes the fundamental principle that the Eid prayer must precede the ritual sacrifice on Eid al-Adha. The Prophet (ﷺ) explicitly states that slaughtering before the prayer renders the animal mere meat for consumption rather than a valid Udhiyah (sacrifice). This timing is essential for the act to be accepted as an act of worship.

The wisdom behind this sequence is to synchronize the Muslim community in their acts of worship, following the Sunnah of the Prophet. The prayer represents the collective submission to Allah, after which the sacrifice becomes a manifestation of that submission.

Understanding Abu Burda's Situation

Abu Burda's case demonstrates the importance of intention and proper timing in Islamic worship. Though he acted with good intention, his misunderstanding of the proper sequence invalidated his sacrifice. The Prophet's response, while firm in stating the ruling, shows compassion in allowing him to make up for it with another sacrifice.

His question about the young she-goat being better than two sheep reflects his desire to compensate with a superior offering, showing his sincerity in rectifying the mistake.

Legal Rulings Derived from this Hadith

The time for sacrifice begins after the Eid prayer and continues until sunset on the 13th of Dhul-Hijjah. Any slaughter before the Eid prayer is invalid as Udhiyah.

A young she-goat (jadh'ah) is sufficient for one person's sacrifice, as the Prophet permitted this specifically for Abu Burda. However, this was a special concession for his particular situation.

The Prophet's statement "it will not be sufficient for anyone else after you" indicates that this ruling was specific to Abu Burda's circumstance and not to be taken as a general permission for all Muslims.

Spiritual Lessons

This incident teaches the importance of following the Prophetic example in both the sequence and manner of worship. It demonstrates that good intentions alone are insufficient without proper implementation of the Sunnah.

The exchange also shows the mercy of Islamic law, where mistakes made out of ignorance can be rectified, and the importance of seeking knowledge to properly fulfill religious obligations.