I was with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) on the day of 'Id al-Adha. While he had not returned after having offered (the Id prayer) and finished it, he saw the flesh of the sacrificial animals which had been slaughtered before he had completed the prayer. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: One who slaughtered his sacrificial animal before his prayer or our prayer ('Id), he should slaughter another one in its stead, and he who did not slaughter, he should slaughter by reciting the name of Allah.
The Book of Sacrifices - Sahih Muslim 1960a
This narration from Sahih Muslim establishes the proper timing for the Udhiyah (sacrificial slaughter) during Eid al-Adha, demonstrating the Prophet's meticulous attention to ritual sequence and divine order.
Timing of the Sacrifice
The hadith clearly indicates that the sacrificial slaughter must occur after the Eid prayer, not before. This timing is essential for the validity of the Udhiyah.
The Prophet's observation of meat already being prepared before prayer completion indicates some companions had slaughtered prematurely, violating the prescribed order of worship.
Legal Ruling and Rectification
For those who slaughtered before the prayer, the ruling is clear: they must offer another sacrifice to replace the invalid one. This demonstrates the seriousness of maintaining proper ritual sequence.
For those who hadn't slaughtered yet, the Prophet instructed them to do so while reciting Allah's name (Bismillah), which is a fundamental condition for the sacrifice's validity.
Scholarly Commentary
This hadith establishes that the Eid prayer is the starting point for sacrificial slaughter. The phrase "our prayer" indicates this timing applies to all Muslim communities following their local prayer times.
The requirement to recite Allah's name emphasizes the spiritual dimension of the sacrifice - it is an act of worship dedicated to God alone, not merely a cultural tradition.
Scholars derive from this that intentional violation of the timing requires compensation, while forgetfulness may be treated more leniently based on broader principles of Islamic jurisprudence.