The Book of ad-Dahaya (Sacrifices)

Sunan an-Nasa'i - Hadith Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 4398

Hadith Text

"We slaughtered the sacrifice with the Messenger of Allah on day, and the people slaughtered their sacrifices before the prayer. When he finished (the prayer) the Prophet saw that they had slaughtered their sacrifices before the prayer. He said: "Whoever slaughtered his sacrifice before the prayer, let him slaughter another in its place, and whoever did not slaughter his sacrifice until we had prayed, let him slaughter it in the name of Allah, The Mighty and Sublime," (Sahih)

Scholarly Commentary

This hadith establishes the fundamental ruling that the Eid prayer must precede the sacrificial slaughter on Eid al-Adha. The timing is of such importance that the Prophet commanded those who slaughtered before the prayer to repeat their sacrifice, treating the first as mere meat consumption rather than a valid udhiyah.

The wisdom behind this ruling is to distinguish the act of worship from ordinary slaughter and to maintain the proper sequence of rituals. The Eid prayer symbolizes the collective worship of the community, after which the sacrifice becomes an individual act of devotion accepted by Allah.

The command to slaughter "in the name of Allah" emphasizes the essential condition of tasmiyah (mentioning Allah's name) for the sacrifice's validity. This transforms the act from mundane animal slaughter into an act of worship through which one seeks nearness to Allah.

Legal Rulings Derived

1. The sacrifice is invalid if performed before the Eid prayer on Eid al-Adha

2. One who sacrifices prematurely must repeat the sacrifice for it to count as udhiyah

3. The proper time for sacrifice begins after the Eid prayer concludes

4. Mentioning Allah's name is obligatory during sacrificial slaughter

5. This ruling applies specifically to the Eid al-Adha sacrifice, not ordinary meat slaughter