Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) addressed us on the day of Nahr and said: None should sacrifice the animal unless he has completed the ('Id) prayer. A person said: I have a milch goat of less than one year, better than two fat goats. Thereupon he said: Sacrifice it, and no goat of less than a year of age will be accepted as sacrifice after you.
The Book of Sacrifices - Sahih Muslim 1961h
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) addressed us on the day of Nahr and said: None should sacrifice the animal unless he has completed the ('Id) prayer. A person said: I have a milch goat of less than one year, better than two fat goats. Thereupon he said: Sacrifice it, and no goat of less than a year of age will be accepted as sacrifice after you.
Commentary on the Prohibition of Sacrificing Before Prayer
The Prophet's prohibition against sacrificing before the Eid prayer establishes the proper sequence of worship. The prayer must precede the sacrifice, demonstrating that communal acts of worship take precedence over individual rituals. This order reflects the hierarchy of Islamic obligations where congregational prayers hold greater significance.
Scholars explain that this timing ensures the sacrifice remains connected to the Eid prayer as an integrated act of worship rather than a separate ritual. The wisdom behind this is to maintain the unity of the Muslim community in performing these acts collectively on this blessed day.
Commentary on the Age Requirement Exception
The companion's question regarding his young goat reveals an important legal principle in Islamic jurisprudence. Though the goat was under the required age, its superior quality and the companion's specific circumstance warranted an exception. The Prophet's permission demonstrates the flexibility within Islamic law when genuine benefit exists.
However, the Prophet immediately clarified that this was a specific dispensation not to be taken as general permission. Scholars note this establishes that specific exceptions don't abrogate general rules. The age requirement for sacrificial animals remains obligatory for all subsequent cases, preserving the standards of Udhiyah while acknowledging situational wisdom.
Legal Rulings Derived
1. Sacrificing before Eid prayer is prohibited and invalidates the Udhiyah
2. The minimum age for sacrificial goats is one year, with this case being a unique exception
3. Quality can sometimes compensate for technical deficiencies in specific circumstances
4. Prophetic dispensations for individuals don't establish general legal principles
5. The timing of Eid rituals follows a specific sequence ordained by the Prophet