The Prophet (p.b.u.h) said, "The first thing that we should do on this day of ours is to pray and then return to slaughter the sacrifice. So anyone who does so, he acted according to our Sunna (tradition), and whoever slaughtered the sacrifice before the prayer, it was just meat which he presented to his family and would not be considered as Nusuk." A person from the Ansar named Abu Burda bin Niyyar said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! I slaughtered the Nusuk (before the prayer) but I have a young shegoat which is better than an older sheep." The Prophet (ﷺ) I said, "Sacrifice it in lieu of the first, but it will be not sufficient (as a sacrifice) for anybody else after you."
The Two Festivals (Eids)
Sahih al-Bukhari 965
Hadith Commentary
This noble hadith establishes the proper sequence for Eid al-Adha: prayer precedes sacrifice. The Prophet (ﷺ) emphasized that slaughtering before prayer renders the animal ordinary meat, not an accepted Udhiyah (sacrificial offering).
The wisdom behind this sequence is profound. The Eid prayer symbolizes collective worship and submission to Allah, while the sacrifice represents individual devotion. Completing communal worship first elevates the personal act of sacrifice to a higher spiritual plane.
Abu Burda's case demonstrates the Shari'ah's flexibility in addressing genuine mistakes. The Prophet (ﷺ) permitted him to sacrifice another animal, showing divine mercy while maintaining the ruling's integrity. The restriction "not sufficient for anybody else" preserves the ruling's authority, preventing others from deliberately delaying their sacrifice.
Scholars derive from this hadith that the Eid prayer time begins when the sun has risen to spear-height and lasts until zawal (midday). The sacrifice period commences after the Imam's prayer concludes and continues through the Tashreeq days.
Legal Rulings
1. Eid prayer is a confirmed Sunnah (Sunnah Mu'akkadah) for capable Muslims
2. Sacrificing before Eid prayer invalidates the Udhiyah
3. The sacrifice must meet age and health requirements specified in Shari'ah
4. Making up for errors in worship is permitted with proper conditions
5. The ruling's wisdom takes precedence over mere ritual completion