Al-Udhiyyah
Definition
Al-udhiyyah — the sacrificial animal offered during Eid al-Adha — commemorates Ibrahim and Ismail's trial every year in the act of every Muslim who performs the ritual slaughter. Ibn Kathir is moved by the theological depth of this practice: it connects an entire global community, in a single day, to a moment between a father and his son in the desert of Arabia thousands of years ago. The animal is not the point; the surrender is. When a Muslim slaughters their udhiyyah saying 'In the name of Allah, Allah is the greatest,' they are rehearsing the most important spiritual act the human will can perform — the deliberate, chosen offering of something one values to the One who gave it.
As understood in the classical tradition of Ibn Kathir and the scholars of his school.
How the scholars use Al-Udhiyyah.
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"hand, and kiss it if possible. If not, touch it and kiss your hand. If crowded, gesture towards it and say, in the name of Allah, Allah is the greatest, in faith in you, belief in your book, fulfillment of your covenant, and following the sunnah of your Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. Then circumambulate with the right side facing the Kaaba, moving quickly with short steps until reaching the Yemeni corner, touching it without kissing it. Upon reaching the black stone again, that completes one circuit. Continue the second and third circuits in the same manner, saying throughout, O Allah, make it an accepted hajj, a"
— Shaykh Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani, Al-Ghunya li-Ṭālibī Ṭarīq al-Ḥaqq — Volume One
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"saying that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, wrote to Amr bin Hazm, "Hasten Eid al-Adha and delay Eid al-Fitr." The hadith that he offered two white rams in sacrifice, slaughtered them with his hand, and said, "In the name of Allah, Allah is the Greatest. This is from me and from those who haven't sacrificed from my nation" is agreed upon except for the phrase "from me," which is mentioned in Abu Dawood and Tirmidhi from Jabir, with Tirmidhi calling it strange and incomplete."
— Imam al-Ghazali, Book 4: The Book of Prayer
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"Seventh, one should offer a sheep for sacrifice, as the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, sacrificed two white rams and slaughtered them with his own hand, saying, "In the name of Allah, Allah is the Greatest. This is from me and from those in my nation who have not offered a sacrifice. He also advised that whoever sees the crescent of Dhul Hijjah and intends to sacrifice should not cut anything from their hair or nails."
— Imam al-Ghazali, Book 4: The Book of Prayer
Appears in
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