The Two Festivals (Eids) - Sahih al-Bukhari 985

On the day of Nahr the Prophet (ﷺ) offered the prayer and delivered the Khutba and then slaughtered the sacrifice and said, "Anybody who slaughtered (his sacrifice) before the prayer should slaughter another animal in lieu of it, and the one who has not yet slaughtered should slaughter the sacrifice mentioning Allah's name on it."

Commentary on the Sequence of Eid Rituals

This hadith establishes the proper sequence for Eid al-Adha: prayer first, followed by the khutbah (sermon), then the sacrifice. This order is of paramount importance as it distinguishes the Islamic sacrifice from pre-Islamic practices where slaughter often preceded worship.

The Prophet's instruction that those who sacrificed before the prayer must offer another sacrifice demonstrates the gravity of maintaining this divinely prescribed sequence. It transforms the act from mere animal slaughter into an act of worship ('ibadah) performed in obedience to Allah's command.

Legal Rulings Derived

The sacrifice is only valid when performed after the Eid prayer. This timing applies to residents of cities and towns where congregational Eid prayers are held.

Mentioning Allah's name (saying "Bismillah") is a condition for the validity of the sacrifice. Without it, the meat becomes impermissible to consume.

The ruling emphasizes that intentional reversal of the prescribed order invalidates the sacrifice, requiring repetition to fulfill the religious obligation properly.

Spiritual Significance

This sequence teaches Muslims to prioritize communal prayer and remembrance of Allah over individual rituals. The collective worship strengthens community bonds while the subsequent sacrifice symbolizes complete submission to Allah's will.

The prohibition against pre-prayer slaughter prevents the sacrifice from becoming a mere cultural tradition, ensuring it remains fundamentally an act of worship tied to the completion of prescribed prayers.