SAEDNEWS: On the occasion of the blessed Eid al-Adha, one of the recommended acts for this day is the sacrifice of sheep, cattle (calves), and camels, which should be performed along with specific, prescribed prayers.
With the arrival of Eid al-Adha, Muslims around the world perform animal sacrifice (qurbani) such as sheep, camels, and cattle with the intention of drawing closer to God. This tradition has deep historical and religious roots and is also found in other religions, making it one of the oldest human rituals.
In the rites of Hajj, the sacrifice recalls the story of Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim) and Prophet Ishmael (Ismail), and the acceptance of this divine act of worship. In this section, supplications related to the Eid al-Adha sacrifice are presented.
There are two types of sacrifice in Islam: obligatory and recommended. Sacrifice during Hajj is obligatory, but sacrificing on Eid al-Adha—if one has the financial means—is a highly recommended (emphasized Sunnah) act. This applies whether a person has performed Hajj in the past or not.
Sacrificing an animal is not limited to pilgrims; all Muslims who are financially able may perform it. The following supplications are recommended during the act of slaughter.
It is narrated by Shaykh Tusi that the Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his family) said while sacrificing a ram:
اللهمّ تقبّل من محمّد و آل محمّد و من امّه محمّد
“O Allah, accept this from Muhammad, the family of Muhammad, and the nation of Muhammad.”
It is narrated from Imam Ali (peace be upon him):
“Only a Muslim should slaughter a Muslim’s sacrifice, and when slaughtering, he should say:
بسم اللَّه و اللَّه اکبر وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِی لِلَّذِی فَطَرَ السَّماواتِ وَ الْأَرْضَ حَنِیفاً مسلما وَ ما أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِکینَ، إِنَّ صَلاتِی وَ نُسُکی وَ مَحْیای وَ مَماتِی لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمِینَ، لا شَرِیک لَهُ وَ بِذلِک أُمِرْتُ وَ أَنَا أَوَّلُ الْمُسْلِمِینَ.”
It is narrated from Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) that when you purchase the sacrificial animal, turn it toward the Qibla and at the time of slaughter say:
وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِیَ لِلَّذِی فَطَرَ السَّماواتِ وَ الْأَرْضَ حَنِیفاً مُسْلِماً وَ ما أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِکِینَ،
إِنَّ صَلاتِی وَ نُسُکِی وَ مَحْیایَ وَ مَماتِی لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمِینَ لا شَرِیکَ لَهُ،
اللَّهُمَّ مِنکَ وَ لَکَ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَ اللَّهُ أَکْبَرُ
Meaning: “I turn my face toward Him who created the heavens and the earth, devout and Muslim, and I am not among the polytheists… My prayer, worship, life, and death are for Allah, the Lord of the worlds… O Allah, from You and for You; in the name of Allah, and Allah is the Greatest.”
Then slaughter and say:
اللَّهُمَّ تَقَبَّلْ مِنِّی
“O Allah, accept it from me.”
It is also recommended not to separate the animal’s head until it has died completely. After skinning, it is recommended to divide the meat into portions: one for oneself and family, one for neighbors and friends, and one for the poor. It is also recommended to give all parts, including skin and head, in charity and not to give the butcher a portion as payment unless he is needy.
It is narrated that during aqiqah (newborn sacrifice), one should say:
وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِیَ لِلَّذِی فَطَرَ السَّمٰاوٰاتِ وَ الْأَرْضَ حَنِیفاً مُسْلِماً وَ مٰا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِکِینَ إِنَّ صَلاتِی وَ نُسُکِی وَ مَحْیٰایَ وَ مَمٰاتِی لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعٰالَمِینَ لَا شَرِیکَ لَهُ، اللَّهُمَّ مِنْکَ وَ لَکَ اللَّهُمَّ هَذَا عَنْ فُلَانِ بْنِ فُلَانٍ
Meaning: “This is from so-and-so, son of so-and-so,” replacing the names with the actual person (e.g., Ali son of Muhammad, or Fatimah daughter of Muhammad).
According to Imam Khomeini’s Manasik al-Hajj, the recommended supplication at the time of slaughter is:
وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِیَ لِلَّذِی فَطَرَ السَّماواتِ وَ الْأَرْضَ حَنِیفاً مُسلِماً وَ ما أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِکِینَ إِنَّ صَلاتِی وَ نُسُکِی وَ مَحْیایَ وَ مَماتِی لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمِینَ لا شَرِیکَ لَهُ وَ بِذَلِکَ أُمِرْتُ وَ أَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِینَ،
اللَّهُمَّ مِنْکَ وَ لَکَ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَ اللَّهُ أَکْبَرُ، اللَّهُمَّ تَقَبَّلْ مِنِّی
“O Allah, from You and for You. In the name of Allah, and Allah is the Greatest. O Allah, accept it from me.”
