The Law of Sacrifice and Its Virtue for Muslims According to Hadith

Dream – The law of sacrifice is the measure of the strength of the act of sacrifice during Eid al-Adha in Islam. Sacrifice in Islam is an act of worship performed by sacrificing animals that have been designated and then distributed to those in need.

Linguistically, sacrifice comes from the Arabic word qariba – yaqrabu – qurban wa qurbanan wa qirbanan, which means to draw near. It means an action to draw closer to Allah by obeying some of His commands.

Meanwhile, in religious terms, sacrifice is called 'udhhiyah', which is the plural form of the word 'dhahiyyah' which comes from the word ‘dhaha’ (forenoon time), meaning the slaughter in the forenoon time from the 10th to the 13th of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah. From this word, the term Idul Adha emerged.

The meaning of sacrifice in the religious sense is to slaughter an animal with the intention of drawing closer to Allah on the day of Hajj or Eid al-Adha and the three days of Tashreeq, which are the 11th, 12th, and 13th of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah. Considered a noble act of worship, what is the law of sacrifice in Islam? Now, in this article, Dream will discuss the law of sacrifice and its virtue for Muslims.

The Law of Sacrifice in Islam

In Islam, the law of sacrifice is Sunnah Muakkadah (highly recommended Sunnah) for Muslims who are capable of doing it. Here is a further explanation of the law of sacrifice:

The Prophet Muhammad always performed the act of sacrifice since it was prescribed until his death. Imam Malik and Imam Shafi'i affirmed the law of sacrifice as a highly recommended Sunnah (muakkadah). Meanwhile, according to Imam Abu Hanifah, the law of sacrifice is obligatory for those who are capable and not currently traveling.

Sacrifice is a form of sacrificing one's wealth as a sign of piety and obedience to Allah SWT. By sacrificing, a Muslim demonstrates their obedience and willingness to sacrifice something valuable to draw closer to Allah.

Sacrifice is performed as part of the worship during the celebration of Eid al-Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice. On the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah, Muslims around the world celebrate Eid al-Adha and perform the ritual slaughter of sacrificial animals as an act of worship.

The Virtue of Sacrifice for Muslims

The commonly sacrificed animals are cows, goats, or sheep. The animal to be sacrificed must meet certain criteria, such as being of sufficient age, healthy, and free from significant physical defects.

Sacrifice also has social and humanitarian purposes. A portion of the sacrificial meat can be given to those in need, especially the poor, orphans, widows, and the destitute. Sacrifice is an act of worship that holds sanctity and strengthens one's obedience to Allah. Through sacrifice, a Muslim is expected to strengthen their spiritual relationship with Allah and enhance the quality of their faith and piety.

This is why the act of sacrifice has important virtues that Muslims should be aware of. There is a hadith that explains the virtue of sacrifice, one of which is the following hadith narrated by Aisha radhiyallahu 'anha:

Aisha reported from the Messenger of Allah Shallallâhu Alaihi Wasallam that he said: There is no deed that the son of Adam (human) performs on the day of Eid al-Adha that is more beloved to Allah than the sacrifice of animals. Because the animal will come on the Day of Judgment with its horns, fur, and hooves. The blood of the animal will reach Allah before it touches the ground. Therefore, purify your soul to perform it. (Narrated by Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah, this hadith is classified as Hasan)  

The virtue of sacrifice during Eid al-Adha is also mentioned by Zain al-Arab. According to him, the most virtuous worship on the day of Eid al-Adha is to sacrifice animals solely for the sake of Allah. On the Day of Judgment, the sacrificial animal will come to the one who sacrificed it in a complete state, with none of its parts lacking, and all of it will be a source of reward. Metaphorically, it is believed that the animal will become a means of transport to cross the Sirat al-Mustaqim. This is a reward and proof of Allah's satisfaction for those who perform the act of sacrifice.

It is important to note that sacrifice is not obligatory (fard) for every Muslim, but it is highly recommended to do so if one has sufficient financial capability. The decision to sacrifice or not depends on the financial situation of each individual.