"The Messenger of Allah stood up on the Day of Sacrifice and Said: 'Whoever turn toward our Qiblah and prays as we pray and offers the same sacrifice as we do, let him not offer his sacrifice until he has prayed; My maternal uncle stood up and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, I hastened to slaughter my sacrifice, so that I could feed my family,. And the members of my household,; or my family and my neighbors,; The Messenger of Allah said; 'Offer another sacrifice,; He said: 'I have a suckling she-goat kid that is dearer to me than two sheep raised for meat,' He said: 'Sacrifice it, for it is the better of your two sacrifices. But no Jadh'ah will do as a sacrifice for anyone after you."' (Sahih )
The Book of ad-Dahaya (Sacrifices) - Sunan an-Nasa'i 4394
This narration from Sunan an-Nasa'i establishes crucial rulings regarding the timing and conditions of the Udhiyah (sacrificial animal) during Eid al-Adha. The Prophet's instruction clarifies that the prayer must precede the sacrifice, establishing the proper sequence of rituals.
Scholarly Commentary on the Sequence of Rituals
The prohibition against sacrificing before the Eid prayer is absolute for those attending the congregation. This ruling ensures uniformity in practice and maintains the proper hierarchical order of Islamic rituals, where communal prayer takes precedence over individual acts of worship.
Scholars explain that this sequence symbolizes complete submission to Allah's commandments, where the collective act of prayer demonstrates unity before individual expressions of devotion through sacrifice.
Analysis of the Exception and Its Conditions
The case of the maternal uncle demonstrates the principle that unintentional errors in ritual timing can be rectified. His sincere intention to feed his family was acknowledged, yet the prophetic instruction required corrective action to maintain ritual validity.
The acceptance of the young she-goat, despite its age, shows flexibility in specific circumstances while maintaining the general prohibition against Jadh'ah (animals less than one year old). This particular permission was granted as a unique case and not as general legislation.
Legal Implications and Contemporary Application
Classical scholars derived from this hadith that the Eid prayer is a condition for the validity of the sacrifice for those capable of attending. Those in remote areas or with valid excuses may sacrifice at the appropriate time even without attending prayer.
The final prohibition against Jadh'ah establishes the permanent ruling that sacrificial animals must have reached the appropriate age (typically one year for goats, two years for cows, and five years for camels), ensuring the sacrifice represents a meaningful offering.