• Ritual Slaughter (Udhiyyah/Qurbani)
  By Abu Lubaba
  
  
• The Way of Your Father, Ibrahim
  By Muhammad Shafi
  
  
• Is Your Qurbani/Udhiyyah Fit for Human Consumption
  By Dr Yunes Teinaz, The Muslim Weekly 22 Dec/06

RITUAL SLAUGHTER (UDHIYYAH/QURBANI)
Compiled by Abu Lubaba

The following are the rules with regards to the worship of Qurbani (also known as Udhiyyah).

Virtues of Qurbani

• So turn in prayer towards your Lord and sacrifice (animals). (108:2)
  
  
• There is nothing dearer to Allah during the days of Qurbani than the sacrificing of animals. The sacrificed animal shall come on the Day of Judgement with its horns, hair, and hooves (to be weighed). The sacrifice is accepted by Allah before the blood reaches the ground. Therefore sacrifice with an open and happy heart. (Tirmizi, Ibne Maajah)
  
  
• Zayd Ibne Arqam radhiyallahu anhu relates that the Companions radhiyallahu anhum asked, “O Rasoolullah! What is Qurbani?” He replied, “It is the sunnah of your father Ibraaheem alayhis salaam.” They asked again, “What benefit do we get from it?” He answered, “A reward for every hair (of the sacrificed animal).” “And (what reward is there for animals with) wool, O Rasoolullah?” they asked. “A reward”, he said, “for every fibre of the wool.” (Ibne Maajah)
  
  
• When a person slaughters a Qurbani animal, he is forgiven at the fall of the first drop of blood, and verily, the animal shall be brought forward on the Day Of Judgement with its blood, meat etc., and shall be increased in weight seventy times more than its own weight, and thereafter it will be placed on the scale of deeds. (Kanzul ‘Ummaal).

Who is Required to Perform Qurbani

• Every adult Muslim, male or female, who owns 612.36 grams of silver or its equivalent in money, personal ornaments, stock-in-trade or any other form of wealth which is surplus to his basic needs, is under an obligation to offer a ritual slaughter (Qurbani/Udhiyyah)
  
  
• Each adult member of a family who owns the above mentioned amount must perform his own Qurbani separately. If the husband owns the required quantity but his wife does not, then slaughtering will be obligatory on the husband only and vice-versa. If both of them have the prescribed amount of wealth, both should perform the Qurbani separately
  
  
• If the adult children live with their parents, Qurbani is obligatory on each one of them possessing the prescribed amount. The sacrifice offered by a husband for himself does not fulfil the obligation of his wife, nor can the Qurbani offered by a father discharge his son or daughter from their obligation. Each one of them should care for his/her own Qurbani
  
  
• However, if a husband or a father, apart from offering his own ritual slaughter, offers another on behalf of his wife or his son, he can do so with their permission.

The Time of Qurbani (Udhiyyah)  

• Qurbani is only valid during three days of Dhul Hijjah, 10th, 11th, and 12th. Qurbani cannot be performed on any other day of the year
  
  
• Although Qurbani is permissible on each of the three days, the first day (10th of Dhul Hijjah) is the most preferable and desired day
  
  
• Qurbani is not allowed before Eid Salah
  
  
• Qurbani can be performed during night time. However, it is preferable to perform it during the daytime.

Conditions for the Qurbani Animal

• The animals eligible for Qurbani are goats, sheep, cattle and camels, male or female. No other type of animal is allowed for Qurbani
  
  
• Castrated animals may be used for Qurbani
  
  
• Barren animals may be used for Qurbani
  
  
• Goats and sheep have to be at least one year oldHowever, a healthy sheep that looks one year old may also be used, provided it is above six months
  
  
• Cattle must be at least two years old
  
  
• Camels must be at least five years old.

Rulings on Defects in the Qurbani Animals

• An animal that was born without horns or the horns had broken off from the middle, is eligible for Qurbani
  
  
• If the horn has broken off from the root, or the horn has been uprooted, then it will not be eligible for Qurbani
  
  
• Those animals that are totally blind or have lost one-third or more of their eye-sight, or one-third or more of one ear is cut, or one-third or more of the tail is cut, are not eligible for Qurbani
  
  
• An animal which limps and walks on three legs and cannot put the injured (4th) leg onto the ground, or it is able to put the injured leg onto the ground, but is unable to walk on it, is not eligible for Qurbani. However, if it is unable to walk on it, but can still take support from it, then it is eligible for Qurbani, even though it is limping
  
  
• Animals having no teeth at all are not eligible for Qurbani. If an animal has lost some teeth only, and has most of the teeth, it is eligible for Qurbani. If most of the teeth are lost, it is not eligible for Qurbani
  
  
• Animals born without ears are not eligible for Qurbani. Animals with very small ears are eligible for Qurbani
  
  
• Thin and extremely weak animals, unable to walk to the place of slaughtering, are not eligible for Qurbani
  
  
• lf an animal sustains an injury whilst being slaughtered, the Qurbani is valid.
  
  
• If an animal is purchased in a healthy and eligible state. Thereafter, an accident occurs which renders the animal unfit for Qurbani. In such a case, if the purchaser is not wealthy (Owner of Nisab) it will be permissible to offer the same animal for Qurbani. If the purchaser is owner of nisab, then it is compulsory upon him to obtain another animal in place of the injured animal
  
  
• lf an animal purchased for Qurbani gives birth (before being slaughtered), then the newly born animal should also be slaughtered.

Specifying Qurbani Animals for the Individual’s Qurbani

Since Qurbani is carried out at abattoirs on behalf of the Muslim community, it is imperative that animals are specified (for them) before slaughter and that the specified carcass finally reaches them. To ensure this takes place whilst recognising the technicalities at abattoirs in this country, the following steps should be adhered to:

• It is important that the animals are purchased before the Qurbani is performed or at least identified and specified for purchase and Qurbani on behalf of the person wishing to perform Qurbani. This should be done in the form of tagging a label that displays the individual’s name or an assigned number.
  
  
• If the Qurbani orders are placed through an agent (or a butcher), the agent (or the butcher) should list all names with exclusive numbers and keep securely. The agent (or the butcher) should also provide the assigned number to the customer at this stage for their information. Thereafter, the complete list (or at least the exact total number) should be forwarded to the abattoir before Qurbani commences.
  
  
• It is then the responsibility of the supervisor or slaughterer at the abattoir to specify animals for each agent (or butcher) according to the number given. Furthermore, a particular animal must be specified for each name or assigned number provided by the agent (or butcher) and labelled accordingly as the examples below:
  
  a) Label or tag marked with name of butcher and name of customer: e.g. (Butcher) XYZ & (Name) XYZ
  
  or to make it easier;
  
  b) Label or tag marked with the name of butcher and specified Qurbani number: e.g. Butcher XYZ Customer No 1, Butcher XYZ Customer No 2, Butcher XYZ Customer No 3, and so forth.
  
  Hence each animal must be at least numbered and this must be done before slaughter and at the latest when bought into the slaughter bay.
  
  
• Mere slaughter without specifying is not sufficient although the intent would be to specify and number the carcasses at a later stage e.g. whilst loading
  
  
• Finally, care should be taken that each individual receives the appointed and numbered carcass after slaughter and subsequent processes.

Case Scenario
Abdullah Butchers has an order of 50 Qurbanis. He would form a list of the names of customers who have placed an order with him and assign a specific number for them, e.g. Muhammad Rashid - 1, Ismail Abdur Rahim - 2, etc. A copy of this list would be given to the slaughterhouse and one copy retained by the butcher. When each animal is about to be slaughtered, the slaughterers or supervisors would specify that this particular animal is for order number x of Abdullah Butchers. The animal would then be labelled specially to distinguish it as that particular Qurbani, so that when the order is collected or delivered, the butcher clearly identifies which customer's Qurbani it is, according to the list he had drawn up.

Dhabh (Slaughter) of the Qurbani Animal

• It is Mustahab (preferable) that the owner of the Qurbani animal slaughters it personally, provided he is able to slaughter properly
  
  
• If the owner is unable to slaughter, it is better to delegate the task to another Muslim who is acquainted with the requirements of Islamic slaughter
  
  
• If the slaughter has been delegated, it is desirable that the owner of the Qurbani animal is present
  
  
• The Islamic slaughter requires that the throat, the external jugular veins and the wind-pipe of the animal to be swiftly and clearly severed with a very sharp knife, together with invoking Allah’s name
  
  
• If only two of the passages and veins are cut, the slaughter will be incorrect. If any three of the four are severed, the slaughter will be correct
  
  
• It is Mustahab (preferable) to face the Qiblah while slaughtering
  
  
• It is preferable to sharpen the knife before slaughtering in order to ease the suffering of the animal
  
  
• After slaughtering, the animal should not be skinned or cut up into pieces before it turns completely cold. An animal should not be slaughtered in the presence of another animal
  
  
• It is preferable to read the following whilst laying the throat of the animal towards the Qiblah:
  
  "For me, I have set my face firmly and truly towards Him, Who created the heavens and the earth. And never shall I give partners to Allah. Verily, my worship and my sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah; Lord of the worlds. O Allah this sacrifice is from you and is for you."
  
  
• Whilst slaughtering the animal read: “Bismillah, Allahu Akbar” (“In the name of Allah, Allah is the Greatest”)
  
  
• If the above are not memorised then make intention of Qurbani and merely recite “Bismillah”. The Qurbani will be correct.

The Meat and Skin of the Qurbani Animal

• It is allowed for a person who performs Qurbani (Wajib or Nafl), to either eat the meat or to give it to whomsoever he pleases, rich or poor, Muslim or non-Muslim
  
  
• It is preferable that the meat be divided into three parts. One part for the home, one part for relatives and friends, and one part for the poor and needy
  
  
• The meat or skin cannot be sold, or given to an employee or to a butcher in payment of his labour. It maybe given as a gift
  
  
• The skin of the Qurbani can be kept for one's personal use or given to anybody else for their personal use
  
  
• The Qurbani skin cannot be given in lieu of any type of services. Thus, the skin cannot be given to an Imam or Mu'azzin in lieu of their services
  
  
• If the skin is sold, it is necessary to give the money in charity as Sadaqah
  
  
• It is not permissible to eat the meat of the following types of Qurbani:
  
  a) Qurbani that is carried out as a Kaffarah for a Jinaayat (error) committed during Hajj.
  
  b) Qurbani performed for a deceased person due to his Wasiyyah (will)
  
  c) Qurbani performed due to a Nazr (vow) one had made.
  
  The meat of the above-mentioned types of Qurbani has to be distributed to the poor and needy only.
  
  
• The meat of a Nafl (voluntary) Qurbani, for example, for a deceased person, can be eaten by all, similar to one's own Qurbani
  
  
• If more than one person participates in the Qurbani of an animal that has seven shares and each share-holder requests his share of the meat, it is necessary to distribute the meat equally by weight. If one person's share is more than the others, it will not be permissible as this will become interest
  
  
• If one person's share of meat is less than the others, but with the meat, he is given the skin or the head or legs of the animal, it will be permissible. Great care should be taken in order to distribute the meat equally. 

Distribution of the Meat

• If an animal is sacrificed on behalf of more than one person, like a cow or camel, its meat should be distributed equally among its owners by weighing the meat strictly and not at random or by mere guess. Even if all the partners agree on its distribution without weighing, it is still not permissible according to Shariah
  
• However, if the actual weighing is not practicable due to some reason, and all the partners agree to distribute the meat without weighing, distribution by guess can be done with the condition that each share necessarily contains either a leg of the animal or some quantity of its liver
  
  
• Although the person offering a Qurbani can keep all its meat for his own use, yet, it is preferable to distribute one-third among the poor, another one-third among his relatives and then, keep the rest for his personal consumption
  
  
• All parts of the sacrificed animal can be used for personal benefit, but none can be sold, nor can be given to the butcher as a part of his wages. If somebody has sold the meat of the animal or its skin, he must give the accrued price as Sadaqah to a poor man who can receive Zakah

No Alternate for Qurbani

• Some people think that instead of offering a ritual slaughter (Qurbani) they should give its amount to some poor people as charity. This attitude is totally wrong. Actually, there are different forms of worship obligatory on Muslims. Each one of them has its own importance and none of them can stand for the other. It is not permissible for a Muslim to perform Salah instead of fasting in Ramadhan, nor is it permissible for him to give some charity instead of observing the obligatory Salah. Similarly, Qurbani is an independent form of worship and this obligation cannot be discharged by spending money in charity.
  
  
• However, if an individual, out of ignorance or negligence, could not offer it on the three prescribed days (10th, 11th and 12th of Dhu’l Hijjah) then, in that case only, he can give the price of a ritual slaughter (Udhiyyah) as Sadaqah to those entitled to receive Zakah. But during the days of Udhiyyah, no Sadaqa can discharge the obligation.

Cutting and Clipping the Hair and Nails

• It is mustahab (desirable) for one who intends to perform Qurbani to refrain from cutting hair or clipping nails from 1st Zul Hijjah to 10th Zul Hijjah, (i.e. until after Qurbani
  

THE WAY OF YOUR FATHER, IBRAHIM
By Muhammad Shafi

Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim
al-hamdu lillahi wa salamun 'ala rasulillah


Udhiyyah, or the sacrificing of animals in the days of 'Eid al-Adha, is about a lot more than just eating more meat. When the Sahabah asked about what it means, the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam, replied, "It is the way of your father, Ibrahim."

The way of our father, Ibrahim.

Ibrahim, 'alaihis-salam, the father of the monotheistic traditions, their prophets and people, was faced with unimaginable challenges in his unflinching submission before Allah alone, and in every instance came through triumphant. Before the whole world and the whole of humanity, his life shines as an incredible example of unwavering devotion to Tawhid, the epitome of which is commemorated by the Udhiyyah.

We all know the story, how, after spending almost a century childless and then finally being granted a son, the overjoyed father is commanded to take the newborn and his young mother out to the wilderness of the desolate valley of Makkah… how, after having got there, he is abruptly ordered to turn around without another word and return alone… how, once out of sight, he raises up his hands with a heavy heart and flowing tears before his Maker and entrusts to Him his young and utterly defenceless family… how years were to pass before he is permitted to return to Makkah to visit but not to dismount from his camel… he sees his young one now walking and thrilled at the arrival of his father, and the mother of his child washes his feet before seeing him off with a brave face and resolve as firm as his own… then how, after years again, he is now permitted to return and this time to stay for some time with the child and his mother, making up for lost time as a father and a husband, every day a source of increased delight with the unravelling of the father/son relationship… how it is then when all fatherly feelings of love are at a passionate peak, having been rekindled after years of separation, his commitment to Allah is put to the ultimate test: he is commanded through a vision to put the child to the knife… how father and son brace themselves to submit completely before the Devine Will, demonstrating once and for all that devotion to the Allah overrides the love of all else… and how finally, when the child has been blindfolded and laid out at the alter and the father has sharpened his knife and is about to sacrifice the dearest of all worldly possessions ever entrusted to him, the grace of the Overwhelmingly Merciful intercedes, a ram replaces the resolute son on the alter, and it is triumphantly declared, "O Ibrahim, you have truly fulfilled the vision! Thus do we reward those who do good!"

This is the way of our father Ibrahim that Believers the world over enact in the days of 'Eid al-Adha. It is a symbol of the solid determination with which we are supposed, if we do truly believe, to surrender our all before the Will of the Cherisher of the Heavens and Earth, the One whom we serve and adore. The spirit of what the Udhiyyah represents does not simply begin at the butcher's and end with biryani, it is a statement from those in a state of submission – Muslims – of how complete and true that submission is.

And just as submission is the only state that finds the pleasure of the Maker – "The only way of life (acceptable) before Allah is Submission (al-Islam)" (3:19) – the expression of submission is the most beloved of expressions, too. "No person performs an act more dear to Allah on the Day of Sacrifice ('Eid al-Adha) than the flowing of blood (of the sacrificial animal)," said the Messenger, "and truly the animal will come forth on Judgement Day with its horns and hair and hooves intact (to be weighed in the scales of good deeds). And truly the blood takes its place with Allah before it lands on the earth, so perform (the sacrifice) with an open and happy heart." (at-Tirmidhi)

And precisely because this act brings about so much pleasure from Allah, the four days of 'Eid al-Adha are days of celebrating and rejoicing – and the meat of the slaughtered animals is Allah's hospitality towards those that demonstrate the spirit of selfless surrender through the Udhiyyah. The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam, is reported to have said, "I had previously forbidden you from (storing) the meat of the sacrificed animals beyond three days, but now eat yourselves, feed others and store what you wish." (Muslim & at-Tirmidhi)

The general practice of our community here of arranging for the Udhiyyah to be carried out 'back home' does not, in the light of the above, fulfil this aspect of the sacrifice. If the feast of sacrificed animals is hospitality extended from Allah to us, what ungracious guests are we to pass the plate on to others! The Prophet Ayyub, 'alaihis-salam, was once bathing when all of a sudden, golden locusts began to shower down on him. Immediately, he began to gather them all up in his garment. Allah addressed him saying, "O Ayyub, had I not enriched from the need of what you see?" "Yes, indeed, by Your Honour! But I am never above being in need of your Grace," replied the true servant of Allah, Ayyub.

Sure, it's tempting to place orders for Udhiyyah in countries where you can get away with it for a tenner or less – solely out of our thoughts for the poor and needy, of course – but by not having at least one Udhiyyah performed here we don't only deprive ourselves and our families of the Grace of the most Gracious, we completely lose sight of the whole point of 'Eid al-Adha – the Festival of the Sacrifice. We don't even remember what it is we're rejoicing – not that that stops us rejoicing regardless, though, thanks to not having our eyes anywhere near the ball, our 'rejoicing' often finds its way into hired limos and from there to untold crazy places with behaviour reflecting anything but submission. It has to be worrying that more rebellion is displayed to Allah on the day of celebrating the most breathtaking example of obedience than on any other. If "…good deeds are loved by Allah in these ten days (of Dhul-Hijjah) like no other" (al-Bukhari), how abhorrently offensive must blatant disregard for His Commandments be in them? Both of the 'Eids are powerful symbols of powerful truths – Allah's mercy and the total submission of true faith, and Allah does not take kindly to His symbols being shown disrespect to. "And whoso reverences the Symbols of Allah, that surely is from the piety of the hearts." (22:32)

A final note on the Udhiyyah: Jabir, radiyallahu 'anhu, relates that he saw the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam, make a sacrifice of two rams saying, "O Allah, (these were) from you and (and are now an offering back) to you, from Muhammad and his Ummah" (Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah & ad-Darimi). Abu Dawud & at-Tirmidhi relate 'Ali, radiyallahu 'anhu, would make two sacrifices saying, "My beloved asked me to make one for him." Enough said?

IS YOUR QURBANI/UDHIYYAH FIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION?
By Dr Yunes Teinaz, The Muslim Weekly 22 Dec/06


At Eid-ul-Adha, more cases of food poisoning are reported than at any other time of year, and more illegal meat sold to the Muslim community, with animals illegally slaughtered for Qurbani without going through public health control.

These can not only spoil the celebrations, but can be potentially life-threatening, especially for people who may be particularly vulnerable, such as, young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and anyone whose resistance may be low because they are ill.

Food can get contaminated at any stage in the food chain: buying, shopping, storage, preparation and cooking of food.

Many cases of food poisoning occur because people do not know, or do not put into practice, the basic food safety rules, called 'the four Cs'. These are:

• Cross contamination
• Cleaning
• Cooking
• Cooling

Cross contamination

1. Avoid contaminating cooked food with germs from raw food. (Cross contamination).
   
2. Wash hands before handling food, and especially after going to the toilet or changing a baby's nappy, after handing raw meat, poultry or eggs, after touching pets, after handling refuse, and after blowing your nose.
   
3. After preparing raw food, especially raw meat, wash everything that it has touched: knives, equipment, worktops, dishcloths.
4. Cover septic cuts, wounds and boils with a waterproof plaster.
5. Keep pets out of the kitchen and off of food preparation surfaces.
6. Store raw foods in the fridge below cooked food.
7. Check that the food is in date, especially the ‘use by’ dates.
8. Wash raw vegetables and salads, which will not be cooked before eating

Cleaning

1. Clean as you go.
   
2. Wash dishcloths thoroughly and often. Soak them overnight in bleach.

Cooking

1. Cook turkeys, chickens, and burgers thoroughly, until the juices run clear.
   
2. Cook eggs well. Avoid lightly-cooked dishes containing eggs.
3. Follow cooking instructions, especially the cooking time and temperature.
4. If reheating any left-over food, make sure it is piping hot before serving.

Cooling

1. Check the temperature of the fridge. It should be below 8oC.
2. Don’t prepare perishable food too far in advance, and minimise the time food is kept at room temperature.
3. Cool any left-over food quickly and put it in the fridge. E.g. Put the roast meat in a cold clean place to cool down. Or divide the food into small portions.

The safest rule is: "If in doubt – throw it out!"

Eating out

If you have concerns about a restaurant, take-away or food shop report them to your local authoty’s Environmental Health. They will investigate your concerns and take action where appropriate.

Qurbani/Udhia

The law now permits Qurbani/Udhia to be made:

• By a licensed Muslim slaughterman
  
• By the Islamic method, and
• In a licensed slaughterhouse which is under official veterinary supervision.
• Qurbani / Udhia is not permitted in fields or in farm buildings or in domestic or other premises.

Muslims who wish to make Qurbani / Udhia are encouraged to make arrangements with reputable suppliers in good time before Eid-ul-Adha.

Halal Slaughter

Suppliers and consumers of halal meat are reminded that the statute law (The Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995 (Statutory Instrument (SI) No 1995/731 as amended by SI No 1999/400).) permits slaughter by the Islamic method to be done without stunning:

• By a licensed Muslim slaughterman
• In a licensed abbatoir or licensed poultry slaughterhouse which is under official veterinary supervision (or in other officially regulated poultry slaughterhouses)

Slaughter is not permitted in any other place, even for personal consumption.

Only cattle, sheep, goats, turkeys, chickens, hens, guinea-fowl, ducks, geese and quail may be slaughtered using the Islamic method of Al-Dabh (slaughtering).

By being aware of potential risks, and following good hygiene practices, you can effectively minimize the risk of food poisoning - and maximise your chances of a happy holiday.

For additional food safety advice visit the Food Standards Agency's web site at: www.food.gov.uk

If you have any queries about Qurbani/Udhia, please call the Defra Helpline on 08459 33 55 77.